Re/Max 2000 of Phoenix Shuts 13 Offices
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Re/Max 2000, one of the larger brokerages operating out of Gilbert, Arizona has shut down 13 of their offices. The firm is facing difficult circumstances with a slowing Phoenix market and to “save the company” they have ceased operations in these offices.
What I can not understand is why they let go the agents? Paying for office space and support personnel is expensive obviously in a slow sales market, but why kick all of your agents to the curb. That seems so old school thinking.
I would have consolidated the support services for the agents that want to remain in another office, provide remote access to the agents for the services they need, and allow the agents to keep beating the bushes for sales.
Sure, closings and some support services would need to be held at locations that take a longer drive but the concept of a real estate office is a bit passé in the internet world.
“The market has impacted us tremendously, and it was something we basically had no control over,” Kline said. “We cannot any longer invest our personal resources into the business.”
The closure puts 350 agents and 20 other employees out of work.
But Kline’s attorney, Dax Watson, said owners are mulling options for reopening the franchise on a smaller scale.
“It appears there may be some opportunity to save Re/Max 2000 and work through some of these issues,” Watson said.
He said Dave Liniger, co-founder and chairman of Denver-based Re/Max International Inc., flew to Phoenix to meet with Kline to discuss options. He said Liniger and other employees from Re/Max’s corporate headquarters plan to meet Wednesday for further discussion. via BusinessWeek.
I didn't realize all of the various haunted houses in the Columbus area. It really is the dead zone. 
There are a large number of great looking and expensive properties where Montecito Real Estate is concerned but Cleese’s home ...
This happening is a clear illustration of how hard times have struck everyone. It's one way of making the most ...
Comment by Robert Coté on 27 December 2007:
From what I’ve read of the business model the agents weren’t paying. I’m also pretty sure the office space was leased to the company so consolidating wouldn’t save money unless those leases could be dismissed. I think outright closure was the cleanest solution. Business of the Year 2006, business bust 2007.
Comment by bob z on 3 January 2008:
YOU ARE A DISHONEST MAN SIR.
.
Didn’t you do the same thing in NY with your 6 restaurants too? Shut them down over night and flee to Arizona? Where were you going to go from here? Mexico? Hawaii?
In my opinion, Re/Max International is as guilty as you are, letting you get away with this.
You, Both have lost respect and credibility in the eyes of the public as well as the whole real estate community.You have turned a lot of lives upside down.
Here is what I think: As soon as your lawyer moves all your assets where they need to go, you are going to do this again. I feel sorry for the good hearted agents that are trapped in your web thinking otherwise.
All the producing and wise agents are gone regardless of your threats and cheap tactics. I hear you are holding their listings hostage demanding 25% before they can go to another agency. Way to go Mr. Kline. You are really showing your true face now Sir and if you are doing that with your good agents, folks just figure out what he is going to do to you.
Dear agents, Do you really think that people are going to do business with you under his name, ” Re/Max 2000″? Wake up and smell the roses. He’ll be the last person any body trusts and wants to do business with. I heard Citi Mortgage disassociated themselves with him and closed all their doors at his offices and MOVED ON. They don’t need any part of this embarrassment.
You have made your money Sir. Let these poor agents go make their own. Don’t hold them hostage.
You had no mercy telling them to go get lost the day before Christmas. Did you? What makes you think they are going to trust you any more except that they are afraid of you. You are a vicious man. An Ugly Moster. A discusting, dishonorable and unworthy man.
Had it not been for Re/Max twisting your arms to save their face, You would have never kept any of those offices open. Would you?
You are so low sir that you put your hands in the pockets of the weak and the venerable to feed your family. I wonder what your children are going to think of you when they find out. As if your children are the only ones that have to be fed. You are a thief Sir.
None of the other Re/Max franchise owners in the Valley want to associate themselves with you or wanting to do anything with you AT ALL. You have dragged and brought them down to your level. you NOW hate Re/Max EVEN MORE for not letting you flee the scene and you will do anything to drag us down with you. Dirty (inappropriate term).
I hear you open your books up to the agents that are leaving you telling them, ” look, see how many agents were not paying their dues”, LOL, Sir, go get a life, tell that to the tourists. Well, that’s what you get for being greedy and stupid. If you were such a fool that didn’t understand the market conditions and keep buying these franchises till a few months ago, Mr. Leader, what do you expect from your followers?
Such a captain you are sir. Putting the ship on fire with everyone on board and fleeting the scene. Is that what they do in NY?
At the end, whether you believe in God or not Sir, it is all going to come back to you. “you reap what you sew.”
You should leave the country and go hide somewhere that no one has ever seen you or heard of your name. If I were one of your children, I would have requested the authorities to change my last name or give my custody over to someones else. Anybody is better than you at this time Mr. Kline.
I know If it really were me doing what you did, I would have killed myself. You might want to consider that. SHAME ON YOU.
Comment by TAMI on 12 January 2008:
BOB, DO NOT LISTTEN TPO THESE PEOPLE!!!! THEY MUST BE SOME OF THE LOSER AGENTS YOU HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!