After nearly six years with Sperry Van Ness, we have made the decision not to renew our franchise.
Effective September 1, 2011, we are WHITNEY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES – providing the highest quality of professional service in COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, and GENERAL CONTRACTING.
Whitney Commercial Real Estate was ranked #15 in the nation by Sperry Van Ness International during the first half of 2011, while competing against almost every major market in the country. Against such odds, we are proud that Austin Walker and Tim Harrison ranked #1 and #2 in North Carolina. Austin and Tim, as well as Jeff Soto and Jason Burk were also ranked in the top 100 SVN brokers nationwide. The Chicago office was the only franchise in the U.S. to have more brokers listed among SVN’s Top 100 brokers! We are parting from SVN as friends, on good terms, and as a highly regarded affiliate.
We thought you would like to know some of the thoughts that went into making this decision:
SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY
In recent years, software programs and other technology for our industry have become far more abundant and much less expensive to acquire. Because of these advances, we can now provide the exact same level of service as an independent firm that we have as an SVN franchisee. Our commitment to staying on the cutting edge of technology will allow us to stay at the top of the industry.
NETWORKING
We have formed many wonderful relationships across the U.S with SVN affiliates, and expect to continue these friendships and business relationships. However, we are also affiliated with the CCIM Institute, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, the Institute of Real Estate Management, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Organization. While we will miss our friends at SVN, our new path will actually provide more time to absorb what these other fine organizations have to offer, by attending more of their regional and national conferences, participating in more of their online classes, and by better utilizing the plethora of innovative software that these organizations have each worked so hard to develop for our benefit.
RE-BRANDING
Our property management and general contracting divisions are among the best in the region, but at times they have been overshadowed by the prominence of the SVN brokerage division. Our new branding provides for all signs, cards, letterhead, websites, and other marketing items to promote all three divisions. This is expected to have a tremendous impact on public awareness that we are not only accomplished brokers, but outstanding property managers and general contractors as well.
We are enthused about the changes coming to our firm and thank each of you for the support you have shown us over the past 10 years. We look forward to working with you for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Richard D. Whitney, CCIM, SIOR, CPM, GC