The Team at EXIT Realty

Real estate agents, brokers and staff from EXIT Realty offices as well as community volunteers will have the opportunity to particpate in a life-changing experience as they swing hammers and raise paint brushes to build a safe and protected home for a deserving Cornwall Ontario family.

EXIT Realty's corporate blitz building week kicks off on October 2nd and promises to be a heartwarming, fun and satisfying experience for everyone involved.

Groundbreaking for this Cornwall home took place on Saturday, August 20 at 711 St. Antoine Street in the city's north end. Karen McIntosh, whose family was chosen to partner in the project, was on hand to turn over the sod. She was accompanied by her daughter Meagan, as well as Habitat Chair Dick Aubry and EXIT Realty Seaway Broker, Judi Auger. EXIT Realty Corp. International has donated $100, 000 to the project.

Karen expressed her gratitude for the help and support she and her family have received from Habitat. Her son Matthew is autistic, and needs a safe and protected environment. The build will include a fenced yard. Karen has been busy completing the 250 volunteer hours that will serve as a down payment on the house. The family is hoping to move into the completed home by Christmas.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide initiative that envisions a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. It helps individuals and families in financially vulnerable situations build and buy quality affordable homes by reducing barriers to homeownership. These barriers are reduced by selling Habitat for Humanity homes with no down payment, no-interest mortgages, payments are set at 25% of gross income (principal and taxes) and homeowner training and support services.

Habitat for Humanity is EXIT Realty Corp International's charity of choice, and to date, it has pledged over $1.68 million to the cause and has corporately sponsored over a dozen home builds across the continent.

For more information about the work of Habitat for Humanity in Cornwall, please contact Susan Reed, Publicity Chair, 613-938-6396. For more information about EXIT Realty's work with Habitat for Humanity across North America, please visit our website. EXIT Realty Associates can register to participate in the building blitz by logging into the EXIT Resource Center.

The recent flooding in Tennessee didn't directly affect EXIT Realty Clarksville sales rep, Tracy Duffy. "That's why I knew I wanted to help the people who lost so much," she said. "It's so important to give back to the community; after all, they're the reason we have a paycheck!"

On the Monday morning following the weekend devastation, Tracy asked franchisees Verisa Reynolds and Cheryle Strong if she could use space at the back of the office to set up a "store" where donations from the community could be collected and flood victims could come and "shop" for what they need free of charge. The women got busy: Tracy contacted the local real estate board who put out a call for help to the real estate community and notified the press. In just 2 weeks, they've filled and emptied the store four times! Mattress sets, couches, washers, dryers, sheet sets; all manner of household items and clothing have been collected. Tracy has even arranged for volunteer delivery since many of the flood victims arrive at the brokerage office by public transit to "shop" and have no way to get their donated items home.

"The response has been amazing," said Verisa, "both from the point of donations received and flood victims being served. We're grateful to have the opportunity to be of service to the community in this way. Tracy has done a wonderful job pulling it all together."

"I may have been the catalyst," said Tracy, "but I never could have done it without Verisa, Cheryle, other REALTORS^® and the community at large."

To find out more about EXIT Realty Clarksville's flood relief efforts, contact them at 931-647-9900 or sales@exitrealtyclarksville.com

EXIT MidSouth, the regional subfranchisor of EXIT Realty Corp. International for Tennessee and Kentucky has issued a challenge to all real estate agents and brokers to donate a portion of their commissions to the Red Cross for flood relief. Read more about that here.

Congratulations to EXIT Four Seasons Realty in Dahlonega, GA; they were recently named "Best Real Estate Company in 2009" by the local residents of Lumpkin County. Jeffrey Knight, Broker/Owner, says that the best part of doing business in Lumpkin County is the personal relationships that he and his sales associates have developed throughout the years.

EXIT Four Seasons Realty, one of the first EXIT Realty Franchises in Georgia, has been a part of the EXIT Realty Georgia Region for eight years. "I am so proud of the REALTORS^® and staff of this office - always representing their community with such high standards of work ethics and integrity," says Mike Glass, Regional Owner.

For more information on real estate franchise opportunities in Georgia, please contact Mike Glass, Regional Owner, 770-916-1177.

EXIT Realty Montana was one of the proud sponsors of the Bitterroot Classic Triathalon last weekend, held in benefit of the Ronald McDonald House in Missoula, MT. Tami Bonnell, President of the US Organization of EXIT Realty Corp. International was on hand and completed her first such event.

Joining Tami were Max Coleman, Regional Owner EXIT Realty Montana, Shelley Cole, Sales Representative and Darla Coleman, Franchisee, EXIT Realty Bitterroot Valley. "Tami finished despite a lingering cramp in her foot and a nagging torn miniscus," said Max.

"I am so proud of EXIT Realty Montana and the people who participated in this triathalon; a company and a community working together for a good cause. It doesn't get any better than that," said Tami.

The Bitterroot Classic Triathalon is the largest triathalon in Montana.

Who would take over a real estate office in this market? People with vision and the right system like Susan and Dan Bathurst, that's who.

When they bought an existing EXIT Realty franchise earlier this year, Susan and Dan had a vision of the kind of real estate brokerage they wanted EXIT Realty Welcome Home to become, as Arrissia Owen Turner of BigBearGrizzly.net reports:

They found their dream in EXIT Realty. The customer-service oriented couple is revamping the offices with the help of their broker, Emily Dunn, offering what they describe as a general store-type office. "We want to present a more low-key atmosphere," Dan says.

"I had the pleasure of meeting Dan and Susan at Broker/Owner Training earlier this year," said Susan Harrison, EXIT Realty Corp. International's Senior VP Web Development. "They are a warm and focused couple dedicated to building a real estate brokerage that truly puts the needs of their customers first."

The article goes on to say:

"The market is turning," Dan says. "Things are improving. I just saw that there was a 7.5 percent increase in housing sales nationwide." And they feel they have an edge with the technology that being a part of the EXIT family affords them, like an online magazine, e-tours and recorded tours available to agents and customers. As far as attracting agents, the Canada-based company EXIT offers a beneficiary and retirement program for employees.

Read the full article here.

For more information on real estate career opportunities with EXIT Realty Welcome Home, please contact:

Dan and Susan Bathurst, Franchisees
EXIT Realty Welcome Home
909.878.0522
susan.bathurst@yahoo.com

For more information on real estate franchise opportunites in Southern California, please contact:

Bob Keeran, Regional Owner
EXIT Realty Southern California
760.952.2345
exitrealtysocal@hotmail.com