Assist-2-Sell is an American real estate franchise organization operating in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1987 by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle E. Martin and is based in Reno, Nevada.
History
Assist-2-Sell was founded in 1987 by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle E. Martin, who had been conventional real estate agents for 10 years prior to founding Assist-2-Sell.[1] They did not want to spend a significant portion of their time looking for clients so created a discount real estate firm in the hopes that with lower prices, clients would directly come to Assist-2-Sell.[2] Assist-2-Sell is founded in and based in Reno.[3]
According to The Commercial Appeal, Assist-2-Sell "falls between using a traditional real estate firm and selling your home yourself".[4] The Portland Press Herald said in 2000, "Word of Assist-2-Sell's rates and reputation has gotten around the realty circle with reaction ranging from skepticism to intimidation."[5]
Reno Gazette-Journal in 2002 called Assist-2-Sell "[o]ne of North America's largest residential discount realty companies".[6] In 2006, it had 630 offices in Canada and 46 American states.[7]
Its main competitor is the company Help-U-Sell.[8] Newsweek said Help-U-Sell and Assist-2-Sell are "the two largest flat-fee brokerages" that in 2004 had a combined almost 900 offices.[9]
Services and franchise program
Assist-2-Sell has two advertising options for clients to choose from.[8] In the first option, "Direct to Buyer", the real estate agent acts like a conventional agent by marketing the property and dealing with the documents.[8] In the second option, "MLS for Less", sellers get all of the benefits from the previous method as well as having their house listed on the MLS.[8] It advertises houses through newspapers, magazines, mail, and signs, as well as the iHouse2000.com website.[10][11] The company receives a commission only after a house is sold.[12]
Assist-2-Sell started its franchise program in 1995.[13] Every franchisee is managed and held independently.[14] Assist-2-Sell provides coaching for its franchisees by teaching them how to establish and operate a back office, how to hire real estate agents, how to draw in customers, and how to display houses.[3] In 2004, Assist-2-Sell charged franchisees $19,500 in addition to a 5% cut of each sold home.[15]
External links
References
- Kathryn Helmke. Helping hands: Discount real estate firms boast of lower or flat fees for their services Naples Daily News, 2005-01-16, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Bridget McCrea. Real Estate Agent's Field Guide: Essential Insider Advice for Surviving in a Competitive Market AMACOM, 2004, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Orenstein, Beth W. (2007-08-12). "Top of its class: Valley's Assist 2 Sell franchise is nation's No. 1 for the past 18 months" (pages 1 and 2). The Morning Call. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2019-11-30. Retrieved 2019-11-30.^
- Linda A. Moore. Flate-Rate Agents Offer Real Estate Option - Assist-2-Sell More Help Than FSBO, Cheapter Than 6% The Commercial Appeal, 2003-03-02, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Cathy Genthner. Real Estate Firm Sets Its Fees in a Different Way Portland Press Herald, 2000-03-31, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Cartwright, Vanessa. (2002-07-05). "Assist-2-Sell, Help-U-Sell say they offer discounts, quality" (pages 1 and 2). Reno Gazette-Journal. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2019-11-30. Retrieved 2019-11-30.^
- Stefan Swanepoel. Swanepoel Trends Report 2007: Top 10 Real Estate Trends RealSure, 2006, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Arnold M. Knightly. New ways to sell real estate are popping up: Help-U-Sell, Assist-2-Sell use bare-bones approach to cut traditional fees Las Vegas Business Press, 2006-04-24^
- Daniel McGinn. Breaking the Brokers - As housing prices keep heading through the roof, more sellers are balking at paying full commissions. Some agents are even joining in this homegrown rebellion. Newsweek, 2004-04-05, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Julie Levin. Real Estate Services at Discount Miami Herald, 2005-02-13, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Robert Irwin. The for Sale by Owner Kit Dearborn Trade Publishing (Kaplan, Inc.), 2002, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Joe Gardyasz. $etting up a lower standard: Assist-2-Sell shaking up real estate world with flat fee The Bismarck Tribune, 2000-02-06, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Andrea Jares. Flat-Rate Brokerage Opens Here - Assist-2-Sell hopes flat rates per sale will undercut competition Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 2000-02-01, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Beth W. Orenstein. Discount Brokers - Pennsylvania Marketplace Reflects New Alternatives to Conventional Agencies The Morning Call, 1997-07-27, retrieved 2019-11-30^
- Dan Rafter. Browsing To Buy Fortune, 2004-11-01, retrieved 2019-11-30^