United Country Real Estate Celebrates Top Ten Offices, Sales Agents for 2007

Kansas City, Mo. (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- United Country Real Estate today announced the company's top ten offices and sales associates for 2007. The top-ranked winner in each category also was revealed: office United Country--RealQuest Realty, LLC, in Grand Junction, Colo., and sales associate Rob Paramore of United Country--Clemens Real Estate in Burns, Ore.

"These offices and sales agents share their customers' passion for an idyllic lifestyle," said Dan Duffy, chief executive officer, United Country Real Estate. "It's this passion combined with local experience and United Country's marketing programs that allows them to excel at helping people 'find their freedom' in scenic communities across America."

United Country's Top Ten offices (in order of ranking) for 2007 are located in Grand Junction, Colo.; West Plains, Mo.; Salida, Colo.; McAlester, Okla.; McComb, Miss.; Savannah, Tenn.; Columbia, Mo.; Chama, N.M.; Wytheville, Va.; and Poteau, Okla. The Top Ten United Country sales associates (in order of ranking) are Robert Paramore, Burns, Ore.; Scott Campbell, McComb, Miss.; Mike Krieg, Grand Junction, Colo.; Bruce Witt, Cameron, Mo.; Fred Bennett, Bethany, Mo.; Curt Dobbs, West Plains, Mo.; Suzy Smith Woodward, South Fork, Colo.; Will Jett, West Plains, Mo.; Jason Wallingford, Columbia, Mo.; and Thomas Nolen, Appomattox, Va.

The number one office, United Country--RealQuest Realty, LLC, in Grand Junction, Colo., reached United Country's highest award level, the Summit Elite, with a sales volume of more than double that of 2006. RealQuest Realty, LLC, is owned by Craig Ginter and Dave Woodward and became affiliated with United Country in April 2005.

Ginter credits his franchise's success to good employees, good tools and not limiting themselves when listing properties.

"Our broker associates have an incredible ability to use the tools given to them to excel," Ginter said. "As a company, we look at every type of listing. We don't focus on one kind of real estate property. With United Country tools and credibility, we are able to market ourselves much more effectively."

Technology and mutually beneficial relationships have been a contributing factor, according to Woodward. "The best part is the progressive attitude of United Country toward integrating technology into our business. Additionally, many affinity arrangements have been made to benefit the local offices in their business," he said.

Top-ranked sales associate Robert Paramore of United Country--Clemens Real Estate in Burns, Ore., earned United Country's highest sales associate award, the Pinnacle Elite. Clemens is located in the Eastern part of Oregon and sells everything from hunting ranches, waterfront properties (http://www.unitedcountry.com/waterfront-property/), recreational land and commercial real estate to bare land and homes. Harney County is the largest county in Oregon, but is home to only 7,000 people, which makes selling real estate (http://unitedcountry.com/resources/index.htm) an adventure, according to Paramore. Fortunately, United Country provides the tools to help agents get the job done, he said.

"United Country's phenomenal website has been a key tool for me, along with the company's credibility," Paramore said. "Most clients have already looked at the site before they ever walk though the door."

Personal relationships have been a critical element in driving his real estate sales (http://unitedcountry.com/resources/index.htm) figures, Paramore said. "Positive thinking can only get you so far, but plowing snow from people's driveways and helping unload moving vans go a long way toward building a relationship of trust," he said.

United Country Real Estate

United Country Real Estate is the only national real estate franchise system specializing in rural properties in and around the small cities and towns of America. Based in Kansas City, Mo., the company has been an innovator in rural real estate (http://unitedcountry.com/aboutus/companyprofile.htm) marketing since 1925. United Country supports more than 700 offices nationwide with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes the leading website in the rural real estate (http://unitedcountry.com/aboutus/companyprofile.htm) market (www.unitedcountry.com), proprietary real estate catalogs, an extensive buyer database and national advertising of properties to over 90 million homes a week. United Country has been named as a Top 25 Franchise by the Wall Street Journal and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500®. In January 2007, the company introduced United Country Auction Services, becoming the nation's largest integrated network of traditional real estate agents and real estate auctioneers.

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

2820 NW Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64154

816-420-6200 www.unitedcountry.com

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