Real Estate Firms Favor Virtual Offices

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Without losing a single real estate professional associate, RE/MAX Dolphin Real Estate got rid of 11 expensive offices and 40 percent of its operating expenses.Today, most of its 60 professionals work from home offices, coffee shops and even their cars, although the company does have one central office in San Mateo, Calif., and three satellite locations. But even those aren’t staffed by employees.

“This is not a geocentric business anymore. The office has become less of a focus,” says Allan Bernardi, CEO of RE/MAX Dolphin. “Technology has reduced the need to get the client into the office. You need to go where your clients are.”

Competing companies in the area are doing the same thing. The offices of Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate closed its main office in 2007, opting for a smaller, unstaffed location with a conference room and office equipment to serve 20 associates who otherwise work remotely.

“Sitting here in a brick-and-mortar office really is a thing of the past,” says Keith Miller, manager for the Contra Costa County operations. “All the paperwork and all the contracts are accessible online. [The associates] can sit down at a Starbucks and do everything. It’s totally cost-effective.”

Source: Inman News, Gilbert Mohtes-Chan (03/09/2009)

April 1, 2009 by Greg

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