When I started my real estate career in 2000 I had no idea what company to sign up with.  I did, what I suppose most new agents do, looked at who was by my house and asked around.  At that time there were really only a few players in the area, Coldwell Banker, Edina Realty and Remax.  Ultimately I went with Coldwell Banker.  I stayed with Coldwell for a little over a year and although it was a great place to learn and grow it wasn’t allowing me to expand myself the way I wanted to.

The strict rules our broker placed on us was getting ridiculous.  Two minutes late to the broker meeting you had to buy the office doughnuts, no jeans ever in the office, forced weekly meetings that had no substance besides time to sit around and BS more or less.  I had more ambition than CBB was allowing me and had to make a change.  The sticky point was I didn’t want to leave and be on my own as the guy who works from his home with no support to offer clients.  Around this time a friend of mine said “Do you know Greg Gray”?  I replied I did not and he made our introduction.

In the fall of 2001 I met with Greg, the owner and broker of Lakes Area Realty.  I told Greg how I wanted to expand my actual office into Rockford, the town I lived in.  I went on to explain I wanted the freedom to market better, help my sellers and buyers in ways that the big box companies were not allowing me to and really take my business to the next level.

Shortly after this meeting Greg and I partnered up on the purchase of an office building in Rockford.  I wanted to make sure I had everything the big companies had so we partnered right way with Midwest Mortgage who has an office right in our building to help clients with the lending side of things.  Dorothy, who was with me at Coldwell came with and is our full time office administrator.  We also partnered with a great title company to handle all of our closings.

As a newer agent back then and had just starting up The Derrick Monroe Group I wanted someone who I felt had my back, was relatable and, like me, not a suit and tie salesperson who only cared about the companies bottom line.  I needed, and wanted, someplace where the people were “people”, not mass produced order takers and scripted salespeople closing deals.  I also desired to have a partner who inspired my marketing and a broker who was hands on and been in the field.  Many companies brokers are “taught” and have no real extensive sales experience in the field.  Lakes Area Realty gave me all that.

I am not a suit and tie type guy, I like causal Fridays to be all week, I drive a truck, I love marketing, I love making deals with people I meet and I am passionate about what I do.  My broker, Greg, is the same way so it clicked. 

Why I chose Lakes Area Realty and continue to stay is simply due to the environment and the owner.  Lakes may not be the biggest brokerage firm out there but they are supportive, real, encouraging and honest.  Our team, including Greg also have extensive knowledge in new home construction as both Derrick and Greg were builders.  DMG and Lakes is a full service brokerage and team that have the experience and common sense to get things done.

19 years later as I write this blog post DMG is still thriving with Lakes and will be for some time.  There are many brokerages out there to look at if you’re selling.  DMG with Lakes is one I hope you will reach out to.