A new year brought a new realty company to town with RE/MAX Property Pros LLC opening an office along Highway 10 west in Detroit Lakes.
With experience in development properties, local RE/MAX owner/agent Kyle A. Johnston recently opened the lakes area's newest real estate office in the fall of 2005.
"I bought the franchise in June of 2005 and opened our office in October," he explained. "I have been amazed at how busy we have been in only four months, as most of our marketing to this point has been word of mouth."
Located at 1265 Highway 10 West in Detroit Lakes, between Forever Summer Tanning and H & R Block, Johnston commented, the local RE/MAX has been busy adding personnel, as well as property, to their local place of work.
"We are hoping to develop another eight to 10 agents," said Johnston.
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Currently Johnston, partner Dave Brainard, administrative assistant Jessi Gronvold and marketing assistant Nick Woodard run the Detroit Lakes RE/MAX Property Pros LLC office. Gronvold and Woodard are in the process of earning their licenses, soon to be RE/MAX agents as well.
A 2001 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a B.A. in Business Administration, Johnston added his offices work ethic coupled with Brainard's years of real estate experience give their customers the best of both worlds: sales expertise and a drive to accomplish their goals.
Said Johnston: "We have a lot of 20 year olds in the office but Dave also brings 30 to 40 years of sales experience to the office, so people really see results, which is why we have done what we have done in only four months."
Although their office is on the grow, Johnston noted they are not looking to surround themselves with numerous agents.
"One of my biggest jobs with RE/MAX is to recruit new agents and develop them," he explained. "We are looking for quality, not quantity, though."
RE/MAX has recruitment quotas, emphasizing agent retention and development as well.
"We are very big on teams at RE/MAX," added Johnston, "and work together for our clients."
Wearing two distinctive hats, that of realtor and property developer, Johnston is also involved with K. Johnston Investments LLC and Village Concepts in addition to his duties as an owner/agent for RE/MAX.
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"At Village Concepts, I am the chairman and CFO and at K Johnston Investments LLC, I am the president," says Johnston.
He also adds one more hat to the mix: Johnston is the volunteer coach of the Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls baseball team.
Part of the Brainard Village and Village Park Place development properties, Johnston noted his affiliation with RE/MAX has afforded a great marketing tool.
"RE/MAX is one of the largest realty companies in the world and wanted to be in this area. When we showed them what we were already doing in the lakes area (with our developments) they were as excited as were we were."
Based in Denver, RE/MAX International oversees a network of more than 114,000 agents in more than 60 countries. The RE/MAX network is made up of more than 70 regions, varying in size from a metropolitan area to an entire country.
For more information about the local REMAX Property Pros, call 218-846-1400, 218-841-2744 or log onto www.lakespros.com . Johnston can also be reached via email at kylejohnston@remax.net .
