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Updated RecentlyRealty Direct vs United Country Real Estate Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Realty Direct vs United Country Real Estate including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $39,600 - $67,700 | $10,935 - $50,440 |
| Franchise Fee | $19,900 | $10,395 - $28,110 |
| Royalty Fee | 6% | 6% - 12% |
| Advertising Fee | 0.25% | - |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1925 |
| Year Franchised | 2003 | 1997 |
| Term Of Agreement | 6 years | 5-10 years. |
| Term Of Agreement | 6 years | 5-10 years. |
| Renewal Fee | $2K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/No | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | 4 � day training workshop in Kansas City, Mo., must be completed within 60 days of effective date of Franchise Agreement. - Additional webinars, regional training sessions, and an annual training convention are held every year. |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
| Marketing | Co-op advertising, National media | - |
| Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | The Broker Office, if conducting any brokerage business, must be managed by an individual having a valid real estate broker's license for that state. If your Broker Office will only be conducting an auction business, and will not engage in real estate brokerage, the manager need not have a real estate broker's license but must hold any license required of auctioneers operating in any state in which you conduct auctions. Your Franchise Agreement does not require you to be such manager or participate directly in the operation of your Broker Office. We recommend, though, that you remain involved and informed about your Broker Office operations. The Broker Office manager must devote his or her fulltime efforts to such position. Such manager must attend and successfully complete the initial training workshop for new Broker Offices and any other training programs or seminars at which attendance is required. The Broker Office manager need not own an equity interest in a corporate or similar entity franchisee. In the event of the resignation, termination, disability, incapacity or death of your manager, a successor manager must be appointed and must attend and successfully complete our initial training. A tuition charge for a successor manager's attendance at such training (currently $895) is payable to us for the successor manager's lodging and meals as furnished to new franchisees in attendance You may operate the franchise granted you only as a United Country Broker Office. You are prohibited from offering or selling any products or services not authorized by us, and you may not use the Broker Office premises for any purpose other than operation of a real estate brokerage office or auction business unless consent for such other use has been granted by us and such other business is clearly identified as not operating under the Licensed Marks. We have the right to change the types of authorized products and services used or offered and sold in United Country Broker Offices, and there are no limits upon our right to do so. Franchisee shall appoint a full-time manager with a valid real estate broker's license to be in charge of the business operations of the Broker Office (the "Manager"). If the Broker Office shall only be conducting an auction business, and shall not engage in real estate brokerage, the Manager need not have a real estate broker's license but must hold any license required of auctioneers doing business in the State where the Broker Office is located. Franchisee shall cause the Manager to devote full-time efforts to such position. |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | Yes |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Realty Direct
Realty Direct was created by recognized leading entrepreneurs in real estate. Tip Powers, CEO, has a continuous and consistent track record of building businesses that provide a win-win for all involved. The Powers management team is formed by top industry executives in Real Estate, Technology and Consulting. That approach of experience, technology innovators and being able to educate clients on options in the ever changing real estate market is the power solution for all clients. Outstanding service to our clients is the result we achieve. Our focus as leading industry experts is on: 1. Strong and Consistent Training Programs for All Agents using Online Learning Tools and Live Webinars Weekly 2. Technology Savvy Innovations to Provide Clients Exceptional Marketing Venues as well as Help clients Looking to Find Properties from Many Sources 3. Education for our Clients and Customers on Topics that Interest them in our Monthly Client "Need to Know" Sessions 4. Electronic Management of Transactions to Reduce Inefficiencies and Increase Effectiveness 5. Comprehensive Service Offering so our Clients Find the Process as Simple as Possible What we are achieving: 1. Over 3 Billion in Sales! 2. Top 500 Franchises Nationwide -" Entrepreneur Magazine 2006 and 2008 3. Top Real Estate Brokerage Franchises in 2011 -" Realtor Magazine 4. High Customer Satisfaction Rating for over 15 Years! 5. Comprehensive Service Offering so our Clients Find the Process as Simple as Possible Work with Realty Direct today and enjoy the experience!
About United Country Real Estate
As the nation's largest integrated organization of real estate and auction professionals, United Country Real Estate is uniquely positioned to provide global solutions that help buyers and sellers accomplish goals with resources unparalleled in the real estate space. Like all real estate companies, we offer local marketing, a local website and property signage. However, only United Country offers extensive specialty websites, exclusive national real estate catalogs, national newspaper and magazine coverage, e-marketing, social media marketing, a large buyer database and much more. Some of the advantages of listing property with United Country include: Marketing
* National brand since 1925 * Over 90 years of experience * Wholly owned marketing services company * Central services model * Significant buying power * Owned media assets * Established relationships with over 60 industry insiders * Nationally recognized * Dedicated marketing project managers * Strategic partnerships * Extensive post auction reporting * Advertising on over 200 selective 3rd party real estate websites * Custom websites for you property found at the top of internet searches * Exclusive national real estate catalogs (3 a year) o First real estate catalog in 1928 o Only national real estate catalog today o Annual readership of over 1.5 million * Advertising of lifestyle real estate in targeted national magazines * Advertising of lifestyle real estate in over 100 newspapers * Advanced social media marketing * Virtual fliers *"Just listed/ Just sold" postcards and mailing programs * Lifestyle and Area Listing Brochures * Sells area first, then sells listings *Mail to buyer leads
Technology * UnitedCountry.com #1 lifestyle real estate website * More than 3,500 top preforming websites * Websites that receive over 3,000,000 visitors per month * More visitors per agent than any other real estate company * Page 1 performance on hundreds of google searches * Every listing has its own website * SPG websites (property type / niche marketing) * Daily buyer leads sent to agents * Continual SEO * Listing syndication * Bullseye * iPhone app * Automated marketing tools * Leadership team from two-time Microsoft Global Partner of Year
Infrastructure
* Nearly 500 offices globally * Over 400 offices nationwide * Over 5,000 associates * More than $3 billion transaction volume * Buyers from roughly 30 countries * Website visitors from over 150 countries per month * Private opt-in buyer database of over 550,000 * Hands-on executive team * Dedicated local team * Auction and conventional sales capabilities * Largest auctioneer network * Business consultants Leverage the largest integrated traditional and auction real estate network! United specializes and is organized to serve its clients in over 35 core market segments or property types, including: small city and town residential and commercial, ranches, farms, timberland, land, resort, vacation, second home, mountain, coastal, vineyard, recreational, horse, hunting and fishing, waterfront, ski, golf and other "lifestyle" properties.