Up, up ... and RE/MAX away!!
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Ena Loakman, general manager RE/MAX Town & Country of Portlaoise, Newbridge and Naas, with managing director Columb Brazil, and Newbridge office manager Maura Donohue, at the official launch of the business in Newbridge.
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NEWBRIDGE, 4 July 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Newbridge auctioneer Columb Brazils business quite literally took off last week when the logo of the worlds largest estate agency business, RE/MAX, took to the skies over the town in the official opening of his affiliation to the organisation.
The hot-air balloon was launched at Kilbelin from the Paddy Byrne Construction development for which Columb has the selling rights. The event was attended by Dennis Curtin, RE/MAX Regional Owner; and Co-Regional Director of RE/MAX Ireland, Tamara Libby; and a number of invited guests from the locality.
RE/MAX, started in Denver, Colorado, in 1973, operates in 34 countries and plans to set up 75 franchises throughout Ireland linked by a computerised system. It now has 15 franchised offices, ahead of schedule. It hopes to expand this by another 15 franchises this year. The RE/MAX operation includes a high-tech communications system between all its franchise owners, and an internet web site for each on which prospective owners can check out properties available in their area, or somewhere else to where theyre thinking of moving.
Ena Loakman, the manager for Columb Brazils offices in Portlaoise, Newbridge and Naas - now operating under the style RE/MAX Town & Country - says business has increased by around 30% since the operation affiliated to RE/MAX on June 1. Columb Brazil says one in 12 people who read a RE/MAX property website buys from the company. He believes the majority of properties will soon be marketed through technology rather than through front window auctioneers, with would-be purchasers viewing properties on the internet, in the comfort of their own homes.
The hot-air balloon which will be used in promotions all over Ireland is eight stories high and can hold four people. It is powered by a pair of gas burners outputting 20 million BTUs.