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The RE/MAX Network: 90,311 Associates | 6,275 Offices | 84 Countries Coldwell Banker Veteran Chooses to 'Raise the Bar' BIG OR SMALL: Max Mitchell (right), a longtime hot-air balloon pilot, helps set up a RE/MAX cold-air ballon at a breast cancer walk. AMONG FRIENDS: Mitchell (rear left) joins his new colleagues from RE/MAX Realty Associates in giving back. By Amanda Okker, RE/MAX Times Online Editor He's a real estate agent and hot air balloon pilot named Max, so he probably should have realized long ago that RE/MAX was the right place for him. Better late than never, Max Mitchell is finally on board. Mitchell joined RE/MAX Realty Associates in Champaign, Ill., on Sept. 1, after a successful 20-year career with Coldwell Banker. Several factors motivated Mitchell to consider a change. He is the 2011 president of the Champaign County Association of Realtors, so he wanted to make a move before his term began. And when his Coldwell Banker brokerage was sold, Mitchell's decision wasn't difficult. He knew exactly where to go. "There are no strangers at RE/MAX Realty Associates," says Mitchell, who has been an active industry leader for many years. "I've been selling real estate in the same market since 1975, so when I visited the office for what was supposed to be a 10-minute tour, I was there for two hours catching up with friends. The folks at RE/MAX are all highly productive, ethical and committed to giving back to the community. I'm glad I'm here now." Mitchell has been connected to RE/MAX in other ways for years. One example: His wife's cousin, Susan Ramsey, is a Platinum Club member and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient with RE/MAX Integrity Realtors in Glendale, Ariz. "She loves RE/MAX and never could understand why I wasn't part of it," Mitchell says. Another is his love of ballooning. Mitchell pilots the trademarked Felix the Cat special-shaped balloon, and has built a network of contacts that includes many RE/MAX Balloon Pilots across the United States. Since 1980, he has attended all but two Albuquerque Balloon Fiestas, the same festival where the RE/MAX Balloon flew for the first time. For years, Mitchell and longtime RE/MAX Balloon pilot Russ McLain even shared a balloon site. As a witness to bits of RE/MAX history from the outside, Mitchell says he's looking forward to experiencing it from the inside. "Being affiliated with RE/MAX is cause to raise the bar," he says. "I'll be able to become a better agent for buyers and sellers in today's market." © 2010 RE/MAX, LLC. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

Agents: ‘Keller Williams Can’t Touch RE/MAX’ DENNIS BOTTCHER KATHLEEN COOPER By Deborah Ball Kearns, RE/MAX Times Online Associate Editor Kathleen Cooper was recruited to Keller Williams from her independent brokerage last year with guarantees of a new office, 100 percent commissions and the opportunity to be a coach within the system. After one year of false promises and little support, she joined RE/MAX in mid-October. Her impression so far? “I wish I had joined RE/MAX a year ago,” says the new Broker Associate with RE/MAX Professional Associates in Sturbridge, Mass. “When Keller Williams recruited me, they told me that RE/MAX was really ‘FEE/MAX,’ but that’s simply not true. I get more services, education and training for free at my new office than I ever did with Keller Williams.” Cooper isn’t alone. A total of five former Keller Williams agents joined the Sturbridge RE/MAX office in October with the support of Broker/Owner Lorraine Herbert and Recruiting Manager Pam Crawford. Gaining the new agents effectively stopped Keller Williams’ plans to open a new satellite office in town, Crawford says. “We are constantly fighting the misconceptions about RE/MAX that our competitors perpetuate to recruits,” Crawford says. “When I sit down with agents and show them how much more they earn with us than with other companies, they finally get it. Keller Williams aggressively promotes a 70/30 split, but that only works in your favor if you’re not producing.” The opportunity to put more money in his pocket also attracted Dennis Bottcher to RE/MAX Professional Associates. He had been with Coldwell Banker for five years before Keller Williams recruited him with the ill-fated promise of a new office in Sturbridge. When the project fell through, he switched to RE/MAX so he could stay in town. “RE/MAX is a major hitter with better tools, resources and operational systems than any company I’ve been with,” Bottcher says. “When I had joined Keller Williams, my friends asked me ‘Who’s Keller Williams?’ RE/MAX, however, needs no introduction; everyone knows the brand.” Bottcher reports that he has already received several referrals and action on his listings since joining RE/MAX. He’s working a listing, just sold another house and is closing on three others – all within a month of making the switch. As Cooper puts it, moving to RE/MAX is a step up. “Everything – the training, education, support and technology – is top-quality at RE/MAX,” Cooper says. “If you want to sell real estate and be successful, RE/MAX is the place to be.” © 2010 RE/MAX, LLC. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.