On the eve of commemorating its centennial, Frank Howard Allen has a lot to celebrate. In 2008, it was voted not only Best Real Estate Company in the North Bay but also the Best Company to Do Business with in Marin County, an auspicious double dip for a firm that’s swept the Best Real Estate Company award every year since it was introduced in 2002.
“We’re very excited about being named best company,” says Noreen Smith, president/CFO. Smith, a 22-year veteran with the company, became responsible for Frank Howard Allen’s day-to-day activities last year. “It’s a great honor to receive this award. And it feels even better to know we were also recognized as the best real estate company.”
Frank Howard Allen has 370 agents within Marin and Sonoma counties and more than 600 total located at more than 20 regional offices. Privately owned and operated, it’s one of Marin’s oldest and most respected companies, and by virtue of its strong heritage, it’s helped to shape the history of the North Bay as a whole.
The secret of its success after nearly 100 years? “We bring in the best agents in the business,” Smith says. “They come to a company that has a culture of giving, and they quickly adapt to that philosophy, and we all do it together.” More than 40 percent of Frank Howard Allen agents have been with the company more than 10 years, a statistic that’s amplified by the fact that the vast majority of the company’s business comes from referrals and repeat customers.
Based on the principle, “Love where you live, give and work,” Frank Howard Allen’s operating philosophy has been driven by an unwavering commitment to the community. “Our owners instilled that belief in giving back to the community, and our agents do the same,” Smith says. For example, the company sponsors a matching grants program, in which each of its local offices chooses a worthy program and offers its support. Its agents also play a big role in the Rebuilding Together program, where teams of employees take part in community refurbishment projects ranging from repairing the homes of the elderly to volunteering at homeless shelters.
The economy, aggravated by the mortgage and credit crisis, has presented a tremendous challenge to Frank Howard Allen over the past 18 months. “It’s been tough, and it’s impacted both existing and new homes,” Smith admits. “We’ve stayed strong by keeping focused on the positives. Our market share in Marin County in 2008 was about 24 percent in units—the number one spot—but we were also number one in the North Bay in market share for sales volume. That gives us an excellent platform for growth as we approach our 100th anniversary.”
The company has recently launched several new initiatives, including a foray into social networking designed to increase communication between agents and their clients. You can now log on to Frank Howard Allen blogs in both Marin (Guidemehome2marin.com; Guidemehome2marinluxury.com) and Sonoma (Guidemehome2sonoma.com) counties to get the latest updates on issues in the industry. “It gives consumers a chance to have their voices heard,” Smith points out. “We’re excited about opening up this new channel of communication with the public.”
http://fhallen.com
