Keller Williams moves to Claremont Commons

“This is something that we’re very excited about, and our agents are very excited and very pleased with it,” said Evan DeShong, team leader for Keller Williams of Greater Springfield.

The group, formerly located at 3734 South Ave., Ste. A, will be neighbors with Morgan Stanley, which moved to Claremont Commons in September.

“Keller Williams and Morgan Stanley are just a great complement to the area,” said Donna Cleous, broker for Carleton Realty LLC, the company that markets the property.

Keller Williams is leasing a little more than 7,000 square feet of space at Claremont Commons, a property that is managed by Carleton Properties LLC. Carleton & Co. LLC completed the Claremont Commons building in 2005. All three Carleton companies are owned by Kevin and Kim Carleton.

Cleous said about 65 percent of the 33,000-square-foot Claremont Commons building is pre-leased. In addition to Keller Williams and Morgan Stanley, the Carletons’ companies will move to Claremont Commons in the next few months.

Cleous added that there is another corporate user that will be occupying about 3,700 square feet of space in the west wing, but she declined to disclose the tenant.

There are four upper-level executive office suites that will be available at the beginning of 2007. They will range from 500 square feet to 1,000 square feet.

Cleous said the Carletons hope to land a restaurant, a day spa, medical office or a coffee house for a 5,000-square-foot space.

Moving up

With a focus on agent education and growth, DeShong says Keller Williams is growing about 49 percent a year nationwide.

There are currently more than 70,000 Keller Williams agents nationwide, and the company plans to have 82,000 on board by the end of 2006.

According to Springfield Business Journal’s listing of the area’s largest residential real estate firms, published in the Aug. 21 issue, Keller Williams’ Springfield office reported gross residential sales of $70,258,000 in 2004, and gross residential sales of $100,250,000 in 2005. DeShong said 2006 sales through September are nearly $73 million.

Lynn Vandenberg, formerly with Carol Jones, Realtors, joined Keller Williams in early October to help lead the firm’s new mentorship program, which supports its efforts to educate agents. The company also offers classes that are available on-site or online.

Agent Rhonda Powers joined the team in January, in part, because of the training and education that is offered and encouraged.

“There’s a wide variety of classes,” she said.

“They don’t just tell you what you need to do, they give you the tools to do it.”

As team leader, DeShong isn’t directly involved with buyers or sellers. He focuses solely on agent development.

“So many times people walk out of a licensing class or they’re struggling in their business and they just don’t know what to do,” DeShong said. “They have options with us. They can use me as a consultant or they can get plugged into this mentorship program.”

Keller Williams offers its agents a 100 percent commission program, a profit-sharing program and minimal fees. Agents can lease space in the new office, and DeShong said he is getting requests for space daily.

Powers said she is excited about the move and is glad to have a nice office where she can work and bring clients.

Keller Williams plans to have a grand opening in November.

Claremont Commons expansion

The building where Keller Williams is now located, 2925 E. Battlefield Road, is the first of eight or nine buildings planned for Claremont Commons, according to Donna Cleous, broker for Carleton Realty LLC. Construction is expected to start around the first of the year on additional buildings, which will include condominiums available for lease or purchase. [[In-content Ad]]