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Unprecedented has been the phrase of the 2020s, with a worldwide pandemic, political strife, cultural upheaval, financial volatility, and a once-in-a-lifetime run in housing exercise — and a historic downturn — making it harder than ever precisely learn the tea leaves.

Fortunately, Nick Bailey isn’t precisely fascinated about predicting the long run. As an alternative, the RE/MAX president and CEO is specializing in a relentless and common reality: folks will all the time need and want a spot to name dwelling.

“Guess what’s going to occur in 2023? Individuals are going to purchase and promote homes,” he stated throughout his R4 keynote speech on Tuesday. “What drives our enterprise, not all of the headlines on the information that you simply see, is marriage, it’s having youngsters, transferring to take care of a cherished one, a job, divorce, all of these life occasions that drive our enterprise.”

He added, “These life occasions aren’t gonna cease simply due to [Federal Reserve] and the financial system. None of that stops.”

With that in thoughts, Bailey has a daring imaginative and prescient for RE/MAX’s quick and long-term prospects, which embrace reaching 200,000 brokers worldwide by 2028 — a purpose that might catapult the Denver-based franchisor past Keller Williams, its nearest competitor, which boasted a worldwide agent rely of greater than 194,000 brokers throughout its final earnings report.

With the R4 convention within the rearview mirror, Bailey sat down with Inman to mirror on RE/MAX’s first 50 years within the trade, look at its tech strides over the previous yr, and share the technique behind his 200,00o-agent purpose.

Inman: In your keynote speech, you stated you imagine RE/MAX might attain 200,000 brokers worldwide within the subsequent three to 5 years.

Nonetheless, there appear to be two main challenges. One is a direct results of a risky market and curiosity from would-be brokers sliding due to that. The second problem comes from there already being extra brokers than stock to promote.

With that stated, what’s the recruitment and retention technique for with the ability to develop the worldwide agent rely by 38 p.c over the subsequent three to 5 years? How does that technique differ between the new-agent base and the existing-agent base?

Bailey: The steep change we noticed within the housing market on the tail finish of 2022 was extremely uncommon and I’m already optimistic in regards to the rebalance the U.S. housing market is experiencing. The previous three years have been very atypical, so the rebalancing market goes to be totally different – and lots of brokers shall be questioning whether or not they have the instruments and assist providers they want.

Have they got a neighborhood dealer who’s invested of their success? Have they got a full suite of expertise that isn’t costing them 1000’s of {dollars} a yr? Have they got advertising and marketing instruments which might be serving to them connect with potential purchasers? We’re very assured that RE/MAX presents all of this and extra, so our price proposition goes to be much more engaging within the subsequent few years.

Be mindful we’re within the early phases of our MAX/Tech powered by kvCORE rollout. We’re ADDING no-cost providers whereas opponents are chopping again or nickel and diming their brokers. When this tech is absolutely rolled out – which is able to occur very shortly – our brokers may have a complete new stage of their recruiting and retention.

One more reason: final July we launched two main progress initiatives – one for groups and one for mergers, conversions and acquisitions. These aren’t in a single day propositions. In time, we imagine they’ll each considerably add to our community agent rely.

Yet one more: We’re a worldwide model, and our international areas have continued to develop all through the previous few years. Certain, we’ve been a pacesetter within the U.S. and Canada for many years, however our international progress story continues to be comparatively new. Our international areas and brokerages are positioned for much more explosive progress within the years forward.

I actually assume the easiest days of RE/MAX are nonetheless to return.

It appears RE/MAX has actually hit a stride in its tech after struggles with booj. What has RE/MAX management realized about tech and driving adoption over the previous few years? How does expertise play into your short-term and long-term technique?

The evolution of RE/MAX expertise is all about serving to RE/MAX brokers and groups keep forward. The easiest way we are able to do that’s to accomplice with a confirmed trade chief within the house and once we can, combine the tech suite with the very best of present RE/MAX applied sciences. Our purpose is to create an unbeatable mixture of offering the best international community with a premier expertise answer to assist them do their jobs higher and extra effectively.

Within the more and more aggressive trade, brokers who’re related with always up to date instruments, cultivated leads and transaction-ready consumers and sellers may have a transparent edge. Rollout for RE/MAX associates started on the finish of 2022 in Canada and has been accelerated to areas within the U.S. in 2023 – all at no extra value to brokerages and brokers and it’s a vital ingredient to our quick and long-term technique.

We’re offering instruments brokers want now and we imagine it should propel them ahead as they give the impression of being to leverage this providing to develop their workplaces.

Each you and RE/MAX founder Dave Liniger centered on adaptability in your common session keynotes. The place has RE/MAX excelled in adaptability? The place is there room for enchancment?

Simply the truth that we celebrated our first 50 years a number of quick months in the past is a testomony to our unwavering adaptability. Our mannequin has confirmed to achieve success in just about any market whatever the financial atmosphere – as a result of folks purchase and promote homes yearly and RE/MAX is the only option for shoppers who wish to purchase or promote a house. It’s that straightforward.

We’re constructed on greater than our financial mannequin. We additionally present the instruments, training, sources and advertising and marketing to our community which is a real benefit in any financial atmosphere. RE/MAX doesn’t need simply anybody, we wish to onboard the suitable agent. Productive, pushed brokers (or these aspiring to be one) who’re right here for the suitable cause, to promote houses, to not recruit.

What are you most enthusiastic about in 2023? The place do you hope RE/MAX shall be on the finish of the yr, no matter how the true property market develops?

Each at RE/MAX and within the trade as a complete, I’m actually enthusiastic about the place expertise is taking us. I’m not involved tech will exchange the agent, I solely warning brokers who don’t embrace expertise that they are going to be changed. MAX/TechSM powered by kvCORE is a very pivotal milestone for us and outdoors of RE/MAX alone, the developments in [artificial intelligence] and instruments like ChatGPT are fascinating. It’s enjoyable to see the world evolve and I stay up for us persevering with to adapt to it.

As for RE/MAX, I’ve realized that RE/MAX outperforms the competitors in good occasions and unhealthy so irrespective of how this yr finally ends up, I can’t assist however say I’m trying ahead to that.

What’s the ultimate message you could have for RE/MAX brokers because the franchise goes by its fiftieth yr? What’s the No. 1 factor they’ll do to advance their private {and professional} lives?

Bear in mind how you bought right here and the onerous work you do for your self and on behalf of others each day.

There’s not sufficient downline, revenue share, break up or no matter to allow unproductive brokers to remain in our trade long-term when markets are altering as they’re as we speak. That is yours for the taking. Thanks for bringing us alongside for the experience.

E mail Marian McPherson