“All of our agents, managers and staff strive to be the very best at what we do as real estate professionals.” —Mike James
Last fall, Coldwell Banker’s acquisition of Novato-based Frank Howard Allen (FHA), a 103-year-old real estate institution, caught many analysts by surprise. The move, which shifted 13 FHA offices under the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage umbrella, represented one of the biggest real estate transactions in the North Bay in decades. It also signified a blend of two companies with outstanding reputations, strong cultures and robust bottom lines.While corporate signage and business cards may have changed as a result of the merger, one thing that’s stayed the same is the consolidated company’s success in the eyes of NorthBay biz readers. This year, Coldwell Banker has picked up where FHA left off, earning the annual award for BEST Real Estate Company.
“We’re excited and very proud to be named as the best real estate brokerage in the North Bay,” says President Mike James. “This year’s recognition actually follows 12 years of Frank Howard Allen winning that award. Now that FHA and Coldwell Banker have merged into one company, it’s gratifying to see that tradition of excellence continue.”
The tradition of excellence James refers to starts and ends with service to the company’s clients. “All of our agents, managers and staff strive to be the very best at what we do as real estate professionals,” he says. “But behind that, we have a culture of providing outstanding service every single day to home buyers and sellers. We believe in recruiting the best professionals in real estate and giving them the tools and support they need to succeed and grow their business.”
Like FHA, Coldwell Banker has more than a century of experience in serving homebuyers and sellers in the Bay Area. “By bringing the two enterprises together, we’ve created a real estate services company that no one else can match,” James says.
One of the biggest benefits of the merger is the international presence Coldwell Banker brings to the market. “The former clients of FHA now have a nationwide network of Coldwell Banker agents to help them all along the way,” says Noreen Smith, regional vice president. “That improves convenience and accessibility.”
Besides professional expertise, the company’s sheer size, scale and scope provide numerous advantages for its clients. “Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is not only the market leader in the North Bay with all of the local knowledge and connections that go with that, but it’s also the national and international leader in the industry,” James points out. “With that comes the depth and breadth of world-class marketing tools, cutting-edge technology and national and international connections and referrals for our agents, and buyers for our clients’ homes. No other company in the world compares.”
In the months ahead, Coldwell Banker will be unveiling new products, services and tools for both its clients and agents. “They will address the increased use of mobile computing as well as our market-leading position in the North Bay luxury market,” Smith says. “We’re very excited about some of these tools, which will enable us to provide even more value to our agents and consumers.”
