With a long and proven track record behind them the name of Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate stands next to success in Oakland County.
Manager/coach Bill Clark said the staff has worked hard to earn their sterling reputation by keeping agents educated, informed and dedicated to thorough service.
‘The reason we are the best is we do pay attention to detail,? Clark said. ‘We have the best training program in the state.?
That training includes a 90-day program for new agents at their Sterling Heights headquarters. By offering such comprehensive training and support for their staff, Coldwell Banker Schweitzer has retained scores of agents since being founded in 1989. The end product is a staff as knowledgable as they are familiar to their clients.
‘We have a good, experienced, helpful staff,? said Clark.
The Clarkston office was founded as Clarkston Real Estate Services in 1989, later affiliated with the national Coldwell Banker company and merging with Schweitzer (the third largest agency in southeast Michigan) in 1999.
The 50 agents and five office staff know what it takes to help buyers and sellers and the eyes of industry have noticed. Real estate agents have several national designations to which they can aspire, and the Clarkston office has 10.2 percent of all the national designations in the North Oakland County Board of Realtors.
The agents believe in giving back to the community, and have done so with annual participation in the Toys for Tots campaign, last December collecting around 1,500 toys. They’ve also adopted up to 100 senior citizens through Lighthouse Emergency Services each year for the past nine years, and helped raise $43,000 for the agency in a February event at which three top sponsors were from the agency. The Clarkston office also holds a Fire Safety Day in October, inviting the community to participate in learning about fire safety from the Independence Township fire department.
Since 2005, the Clarkston office has been the headquarters for the Oakland Liver Transplant Fund. As part of this, the office is helping Teresa Tersigni, a loan originator with a mortgage company in the same building. Teresa needs a liver transplant, and the Clarkston office is helping to raise money for her expenses. They have run a variety of fund-raisers during the year to assist in uncovered medical costs, which will exceed $400,000.
An account has been set up at Clarkston State Bank. Donations can be made out to Oakland Liver Transplant Fund, c/o Coldwell Banker Schweitzer, 7151 N. Main St., Clarkston, MI 48346 or dropped off at any branch of CSB.
The majority of the business is in residential real estate, although two agents also help commercial customers. Some specialize in new home construction.
While some are still concerned about the state of the economy, Clark said ‘all the indicators? show a comeback. In the Clarkston area, the real estate market is always a busy one.
‘Clarkston is a premier area,? he said, with quality neighborhoods, shopping and schools. ‘It’s everything anybody would want.?
Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate is located at 7151 N. Main St. Hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday. Telephone is 248-625-1000. For more information, visit www.cbschweitzer.com.