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Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Pacesetter and Arlene Steel Realtors merge
Firm will be affiliated with Coldwell Banker, putting new company on national stage
By Andrea Jares
Caller-Times
Two of the city's largest real estate firms have merged into one company that has affiliated with the national franchise Coldwell Banker.
Pacesetter Realtors and Arlene Steel Realtors have merged, giving them the selling power of 80 agents. In joining with Coldwell Banker, the dual companies hope to cover more of the market in Corpus Christi.
"Switching over to Coldwell Banker brings many, many advantages," said April Magnuson, who brokered the deal between the firms. "They have wonderful technology and access to training tools."
Tommy Steel and Lynda Martin are managing partners. The offices of the two real estate companies will operate as branches of the same company.
Steel's parents, Arlene and Bob Steel, who started Arlene Steel Realtors, referred phone calls to Magnuson.
The changes are designed to make the new Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel Realtors into a one-stop location for home buyers and sellers.
The merged company will be accessible on the Internet through its affiliation with www.coldwellbanker.com. Potential customers can search the Web for houses in a specific area code or price range. Magnuson said Corpus Christi addresses will appear on the site within a month.
The addition of this technology is expected to have the largest effect with people who are moving to Corpus Christi from elsewhere.
The new Coldwell Banker affiliate will also add a concierge program that provides service after the sale of a home. Homeowners can tell their agent about the services that are needed, and the agent will have the work done through a network of contractors. Magnuson said setting up the concierge program locally will take about a year. Pacesetter will continue to be a member of C endant Mobility, the world's largest supplier of relocation services. Cendant Corp. owns both Coldwell Banker and Cendant Mobility.
Magnuson also sees opportunity in the training opportunities that Coldwell Banker has prepared for its affiliated agents.
She said the two companies have similar strengths that will work well together. The market share of Arlene Steel Realtors and the training of Pacesetter agents complement each other, she said.
Customers are already hearing the new name by calling the Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel Realtors offices. Soon they will start to see signs using the new name in yards around Corpus Christi.
"We've had a lot of meetings with our agents and staff," Magnuson said. "It's been very, very, very positive. It's been well received."
Business writer Andrea Jares can be reached at 886-3678 or by e-mail at jaresa@caller.com
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