Hunter Museum celebration
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, on Tuesday announced that Prudential RealtyCenter.com will join the network and operate as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Center starting Tuesday.
The family-owned real estate agency, founded in 1982, will become part of a brokerage network that has grown to 34,548 agents and 1,075 offices in 47 states since the brand launched in fall 2013. Already, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was named 2014 “Real Estate Agency Brand of the Year” by consumers in the 26th annual Harris Poll EquiTrend study and “Startup of the Year” among all U.S. industries at the 2014 American Business Awards.
“We couldn’t have chosen a better brand,” said CEO and Founder Ben Kelly, who with wife Karen leads the company. “Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is inspired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporations. We’re thrilled to join this brand and represent all it stands for.”
Officials said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is built on Berkshire Hathaway’s core values of trust, integrity, stability and longevity, which Mr. Kelly said is an ideal foundation for his brokerage. “We strongly believe that real estate consumers will embrace our brand, and that top real estate professionals will want to join us,” he said. “The Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices name carries weight and will provide even more distinction for our agents, listings and services.”
General Manager Byron Kelly, son of Ben and Karen Kelly, added that the combination of this prestigious brand and his skilled agents – who he said collectively generate the highest average selling price among the top five brokerages in the marketplace – will be tough to beat. “We’re excited,” he said. “The future looks incredibly bright from our perspective.”
With their transition, Realty Center agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ Global Network Platform – a suite of online tools, applications and services – plus ongoing business consultation, professional education and marketing support. Resources include lead generation, a handy mobile app, and other tools driven by the cleanest, most accurate real estate data available, it was stated.
Gino Blefari, incoming CEO of HSF Affiliates, applauded the brokerage’s transition. “The Kelly family and Realty Center are respected for the expertise, guidance and customer service,” he said. “They’re also terrific corporate citizens and we’re proud to welcome them to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.”
Realty Center, which has 155 agents, commemorated its brand transition on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga.
Ben Kelly said at one time independent realty firms did about 50 percent of the business in Chattanooga. He said now 85-90 percent are large firms, leaving just 10 percent independent.
He said many agents can make $100,000 or more, and he said some exceed $1 million.