Real Estate Through a Different Lens

Written by Acme Mag

Considering leaving a franchise and going out on your own? That’s exactly what Agents+Co did.

Directors Nick and Krystal Papas, along with George and Eleni Roumanous, came together to branch away from a franchise model to build something new. A vibrant, contemporary agency that looks at real estate through a different lens – that’s Agents+Co.

ACME sat down with Eleni and Nick to chat about the inspiration behind the new company, its core principles in amplifying the brand, how they’ve seen the industry change, and what they anticipate is next.

The inspiration for their brand stems from the vision of an agency that allowed staff to blossom. Nick says the brand needed to be a collaborative experience between agents and other professionals.

“Real estate is an industry based on relationships, and we are focused on making this more prevalent with our staff, just as we do with all our clients,” Nick says, “We are building a brand that fosters career progression and different possibilities for agents to be a part of the business, therefore building and investing in themselves for the future”.

Moving away from a franchise model creates numerous considerations but also opportunity. The main consideration was always the purpose. Now they could take what they’d learnt over the years and make improvements.

“We wanted to build something fresh and modern, looking at real estate a little differently. We have researched, sourced and collaborated with the best platforms and technology available. The name, look and energy behind the brand have guided all other decisions, and we are really happy with how it has evolved.”

For many, the process of launching a brand during a worldwide pandemic would seem daunting. Eleni and Nick consider themselves super lucky to have a fantastic team and thankfully, everything was relatively seamless.

“Despite the hundreds of Zoom meetings and overflowing inboxes, things have played out as best as could be expected,” Eleni laughs, “For us, it’s about the people that work for and with Agents+Co and how they feel about themselves and the work they do. We have put a lot into the structures and opportunities we have available, and we hope this excites people as much as it does us.”

There are many exciting elements to launching a new company. For Nick, the most appealing part is and always has been building agents. “I love watching people grow and evolve as people and as agents – and under the Agents+Co branding, there are some really exciting new possibilities.”

The family legacy of Agents+Co dates back to 1976, and it’s safe to say real estate as an industry has well and truly evolved. What hasn’t changed is people’s need to feel connected. Their team knows this and don’t take the task lightly.

“We help people with some of the biggest transactions of their lives, both financially and emotionally. But to us as a family, we genuinely love doing what we do every day. We get as excited for the young couple buying their first home as much as we feel the pain of the family selling a beloved family home that has been in their family for decades. It’s about stories – and everyone has one. We just get to be a part of it,” Nick states.

“The biggest gripe most vendors or purchasers have is a lack of transparency around a transaction. Maintaining open lines of communication and being honest with people is really the most simple and effective way to keep people happy. It may not always be what they want to hear, but even those difficult conversations are appreciated by people. In an industry where reputation is everything, it’s important to have integrity and credibility.”

When moving away from a franchise model, some things naturally change. One thing remains the same – their core values and principles. Looking forward, Nick and Eleni can’t wait to see their customers experience the new brand and service offering.

“The best measure of success is always repeat customers. Building long and lasting relationships with clients and contractors has always been our vision and will continue to be how we gauge our success. We are really pleased with all the feedback we have had so far and are excited for what is to come.”