Expanding up and down the East Coast, Realty Exchange is redefining the term teamwork in real estate.

When Shane Radcliff and several agents were dissatisfied with the franchise practices at a large franchise, they decided to leave it behind and start their own brokerage. In 2013, they founded Realty Exchange, which has since grown from a four-agent firm to one with over 70 agents spanning four states, with further expansion in the works.

"In 2013, myself and a few other agents worked for a national franchise, and we just thought there had to be a better way to treat agents," says Radcliff. "We decided to go out on our own and open a company, and we've been growing ever since. We went from four agents to about 70 agents, and from an unknown company to the number one company in our market area within a short time, nine years."

A Team Effort 

When it comes to hiring agents, Realty Exchange looks for team-oriented people. At Realty Exchange, the agents are there to look out for each other and their clients. They want agents who enjoy what they do and want to help their customers no matter what it takes. They don't want those who are simply looking for a paycheck.

"We want people who are team players," says Radcliff. "That's one thing coming from the other company. We would have agents internally that would compete with each other, whereas in this company, we have a lot of agents who get along really well. They help each other and cover for vacations and medical issues, and it's really a team effort at this company."

At Realty Exchange, they want agents who not only blend with the team culture but also want to work there over other brokerages. Radcliff believes it should be the agent's choice who they work with, not the other way around.

"A lot of companies will go out and seek agents from the management down; I don't do that," Radcliff remarks. "I think that the agents themselves should pick who they want to work with, and that has driven our success because we try not to recruit people that we just don't want to work with and don't fit our team profile."

It's All About the Agents

Once an agent joins the team at Realty Exchange, they have the opportunity to share their insights regularly. The staff believes it's important to ensure that the agents are satisfied and have everything they need to do their jobs. 

"We don't do anything without the agents' input and feedback," says Radcliff. "It's not a top-down driven company; it's a sideway driven company where we respect and treat agents as equals and want their input. They do the job daily, so I think they have a better knowledge of what we need."

With the agents' feedback in mind, Realty Exchange has an excellent system for providing training and support for agents. They offer both group and one-on-one training.

"We have two full-time trainers," Radcliff says. "At least once or twice a week, we will have classes on various tech issues, ethics issues, pretty much anything that the agents want. We also have one-on-one time where they can schedule an appointment to come in, and for anything they're having trouble with, the trainers sit down with them and go over the process or go over the tech that they need help with so they are better prepared to serve their clients."

Competing in the Big Leagues Without Breaking the Bank

Realty Exchange started working with Delta Media Group® after they found that having a basic website that didn't cater to the needs of the real estate industry wasn't doing the job. They found Delta while doing research online and are more than happy with the results.

"When we first started, we actually had a software developer working on a website for us, and it just wasn't what we wanted as far as being driven toward real estate," says Radcliff. "It was a basic website. So we researched for quite a while, and we found Delta Media, and just being real estate driven, it's a great tool for what we are, and the industry we're in."

They believe that the tools Delta provides, especially the newer products like Delta Pitch, have contributed to their brand's growth. It also allows them to compete with large franchises without needing to pay as much for the same level of technology.

"With the expansion of Delta Pitch and some of the new things that have come out, it's just really helped us grow our brand and be able to offer our agents the same tools that franchise companies offer, but for a fraction of the cost," says Radcliff.

Making the Winter Count

Knowing the wintertime is typically the slowest time of year, Realty Exchange understands that means it's the time to advertise the most. They feel that with the tools they have through Delta, such as their website and Social Connector, ramping up marketing and advertising is simple, and they can achieve results in a short amount of time.

"When business is slower, that's the time you need to advertise the most," Radcliff says. "So with the tools on the new website, we reach out via social media and have a lot more time to do marketing, Facebook, and upload flyers that we're able to create. There's not as much business, but we can maintain the level of business based on the overall percentages. That's the key for us, to keep busy through the winter. Even if it's not selling houses, it's marketing for the spring."

Radcliff and the team at Realty Exchange also think that the winter is the perfect time to focus on training. This winter, they plan on taking the opportunity to get agents up-to-date with all the new tools in DeltaNET®.

"With the new website and Delta Pitch, we're excited to get the agents on board to learn the new tools," says Radcliff. "When you're busy, it's great, but you don't really have time to do anything else. So now that the market is changing a little bit, we're taking the opportunity to train the agents on how to maintain their level of business through technology, which I think is the key for the future."

A New Year For Expansion

Looking ahead to the new year, Realty Exchange is on the path to further growth and expansion. They are planning to open offices in Georgia and North Carolina in 2023. They are also looking to expand to South Carolina and Virginia soon, and hope to begin that process during the coming year.

"The big goal for the next year or two is to drive the growth into other markets," says Radcliff.

Radcliff says they chose these states because they are excellent real estate markets to tap into and, as a broker living in Florida, he can easily travel to those states and play an active role in building the business. 

"I'd like to keep it a regional company because I like to have contact with every agent that works for me," Radcliff continues, "And with those states there, I can have monthly contact in person."

The Future Looks Bright

With their eyes set on expansion and the right tools and strategies to grow, the future looks bright for Realty Exchange. And by zeroing in on training and ramping up their marketing this winter, they will be better prepared when business gets busy again this spring.

While they certainly have succeeded in making a name for themselves in the markets they serve, what truly sets Realty Exchange apart is the way their agents work together. The team was founded on the idea that all agents should be treated with respect and look out for each other the same way they look out for their clients. By continuing to lead with these values, Realty Exchange is ready to take their brand of real estate expertise to new territory.