Christie’sGreat Estates – News for the Network – July 2009

CONFERENCE FOR SALES ASSOCIATES

More than 240 affiliated brokers from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean attended the 2009 Conference for Sales Associates at Christie’s in New York’s Rockefeller Center. A survey was e-mailed to all attendees, inviting comments on the conference. Responses pointed to favorite parts of the program—such as the presentations on jumbo mortgages, social networking, and the peer panel of luxury experts. “The conference was very helpful,” wrote Michael Williams of Coach Realtors. “I am new to the company and was pleased with what I felt was the full support of Christie’s for my business.” To view complete presentation materials, including PowerPoints, handouts, full agenda, and roster, plus a DVD on “Keeping in Contact with Your Clients”, go to Conferences and Events on the home page of www.christiesgreatestates.net.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

AvenueOne Merges with Mary Nell Garrison Realtors Fourteen-year affiliate AvenueOne Properties of Austin, Texas, has joined forces with the city’s other premier residential real estate firm, Mary Nell Garrison Realtors. The combined company has over 67 years of experience and will retain the name AvenueOne Properties. “Our new firm will be ready and well positioned to take advantage of the impending recovery of the real estate market,” says newly appointed President, Homer “Trey” Garrison III.
Carol Jones, Realtors Welcomes New Leadership Denton See was recently appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Carol Jones, Realtors in Springfield, Missouri, following the retirement of Carol Jones, who founded the company in 1983. ”Carol Jones is a real estate institution in this area and Denton brings a wealth of experience in business development and specialized sales training, which includes using the international Christie’s brand,” says Kathleen Coumou, Vice President of Christie’s Great Estates. Denton has held executive positions with two HomeServices of America companies, with which Carol Jones, Realtors is also associated: Edina Realty of Minnesota and Long Realty of Arizona.
IRG International Realty Group Appoints New Executive IRG International Realty Group solidified its profile both nationally and internationally with the appointment of João Manso as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. “It is a huge boost for our company that we are able to attract a talent like João Manso,” says Ole Jespersen, owner and managing director of IRG. “João has cultivated business relationships at the highest executive levels both nationally and internationally. IRG’s rich multi-national corporate culture will continue to grow with João as COO.”

REAL TIME: FROM THE AFFILIATES

Building Business with Christie’s Great Estates Magazine
Société Privée de Gérance of Geneva, Switzerland, has ordered 5,700 copies of the next edition of Christie’s Great Estates magazine. Here are the highlights of how one affiliate puts this powerful marketing tool to effective use in its local market:

Magazines are sent to an exclusive client list
Banks, attorneys, four- and five-star hotels, and upscale health spas receive the magazine free of charge for display in their lobbies
Baboo Airlines, the Geneva-based regional airline, makes the magazine available to passengers on-board
A special stand at the Four Seasons Hotel invites guest to enjoy a complimentary issue
An advertisement in local newspapers (see right) offers to send a copy of the magazine to any potential client at their request

Bespoke Marketing: A Success for Piping Rock Associates
The historic 20-acre Phipps Estate located in Old Westbury, New York, and listed for US$11.5 million sold last month. Piping Rock Associates represented the property and enrolled it in the Bespoke Marketing Program to allow the property to benefit from enhanced international auction house exposure. “This is the highest priced residential sale in all of Nassau County since the global financial markets collapsed last September,” says Patrick Mackay, President. “The Bespoke Program resulted in responses from Christie’s contacts in Dubai, Italy, and Hong Kong to name a few, connecting the Christie’s brand to our local Long Island, New York, brokerage. It gave our firm the international credibility that we could never have received without the Christie’s affiliation.”

NEWS FROM CHRISTIE’S GREAT ESTATES

No Charge to Advertise New Developments on Web Site The New Developments section of www.christiesgreatestates.com, launched last month, offers an exclusive opportunity for you to showcase your luxury development projects at no cost to you. Simply submit text, photos, and a list of available amenities for qualified developments to your Client Services Representative the same way you submit materials for the magazine. You will be provided with a draft to approve before your page goes live on the site.
Now is the Time to Buy A customizable press release with the message “Now is the Time to Buy” is available for you to distribute to your local media. Simply download the document from www.christiesgreatestates.net, insert relevant statistics from your company, and fill in other small details where noted on the release. The press release positions your company as the real estate expert in your market while reminding your community about your affiliation with the international Christie’s Great Estates network. Your Client Services Representative is available to answer questions.
Why Advertise on www.christiesgreatestates.com? Potential homesellers ask the question and here are the top six reasons your clients will want their properties posted on the Web site. A crisp, graphical presentation makes the information easy to grasp. Each bullet point, showing how the Christie’s Great Estates site compares to the competition, is clearly sourced and verified. An effective tool at listing presentations, this one-sheet can be downloaded from the “Marketing Initiatives and Announcements” link on the home page of www.christiesgreatestates.net.
Data Feed Service: Bonus International Exposure One third of the affiliates are already realizing savings and additional international web exposure on The Wall Street Journal, Country Life, Robb Report Vacation Homes, and Robb Report Collection with the Data Feed Service. New enrollees this month are: Sibarth Real Estate, Saint Barthélemy, French West Indies; John Foster Real Estate, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Judice & Araujo Imóveis, Rio de Janiero, Brazil. For details—including the three pricing plans and the Data Feed Guide—go to Use the Web on www.christiesgreatestates.net.

FOR PRINCIPALS AND OWNERS

Global Annual Conference for Owners and Senior Management
October 14–16 in Boston, Massachusetts
The Fairmont Copley Plaza
Registration information will be available soon.

SIGNIFICANT SALES

N.T. Callaway Real Estate, LLC, Princton, New Jersey. List Price: US$8,750,000.

Wetag Consulting Ascona, Switzerland. List Price: CHF6,900,000.

Fenton Lang Bruner and Associates, Jupiter Island, Florida. List Price: US$9,900,000.

Village Properties, Montecito, California. List Price: US$8,200,000.

Rimontgó, Denia, Alicante, Spain. List Price: US$7,200,000.

Fenton Lang Bruner and Associates, Jupiter Island, Florida. List Price: US$6,000,000.

LandVest Inc., Wareham, Massachusetts. Sale Price: US$5,500,000.

Village Properties, Montecito, California. List Price: US$5,495,000.

Report all recent sales to your Client Services Representative.
Sales from the network are regularly updated for the public at www.christiesgreatestates.com.