PropertyGuys.com
Encyclopedia
PropertyGuys.com Inc. is a Canadian private sale real estate, or FSBO
, marketing company based in Moncton, New Brunswick
. With 123 franchise
locations across Canada
and more than 10,000 active listings on its site, it is the largest private home sale network in North America
. The firm acts as the marketing arm for people who want to handle the heavy lifting themselves, such as showing the home, fielding calls from potential buyers, negotiating price and other details.
PropertyGuys.com does not collect a commission on homes sold using their services. The company is negotiating agreements to enter the U.S. market.
PropertyGuys.com is a member of the Canadian Franchise Association. PropertyGuys.com CEO, Ken LeBlanc
, sits on the Canadian Franchise Association's Board of Directors as one of two Atlantic Region Representatives.
PropertyGuys.com is notable within the real estate industry for its use of a round lawn sign. The concept was arrived at during a group discussion at Wizard Academy. Academy founder Roy H. Williams casually mentioned to the PropertyGuys.com team that all real estate agents have one thing in common: rectangular signs. The session led to a $500,000 re-branding program.
For sale by owner
For Sale By Owner, or FSBO , is the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate broker or real estate agent...
, marketing company based in Moncton, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. With 123 franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
locations across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and more than 10,000 active listings on its site, it is the largest private home sale network in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The firm acts as the marketing arm for people who want to handle the heavy lifting themselves, such as showing the home, fielding calls from potential buyers, negotiating price and other details.
PropertyGuys.com does not collect a commission on homes sold using their services. The company is negotiating agreements to enter the U.S. market.
PropertyGuys.com is a member of the Canadian Franchise Association. PropertyGuys.com CEO, Ken LeBlanc
Ken LeBlanc (entrepreneur)
Ken LeBlanc is a Canadian entrepreneur and real estate analyst born in Moncton, New Brunswick. In 1999 LeBlanc co-founded PropertyGuys.com...
, sits on the Canadian Franchise Association's Board of Directors as one of two Atlantic Region Representatives.
History
- 1998 - PropertyGuys.com founded by Ken LeBlancKen LeBlanc (entrepreneur)Ken LeBlanc is a Canadian entrepreneur and real estate analyst born in Moncton, New Brunswick. In 1999 LeBlanc co-founded PropertyGuys.com...
, Jeremy Demont and Michael Ryder after being inspired by the success of HotmailHotmailWindows Live Hotmail, formerly known as MSN Hotmail and commonly referred to simply as Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Live group. It was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as "HoTMaiL". It was one of the first...
.
- 1998 - Company's first signs made from re-purposed corrugated plasticCorrugated plasticCorrugated plastic or corriboard - also known under the tradenames of Coroplast, IntePro, Correx, Twinplast, Corriflute or Corflute - refers to a wide range of extruded twinwall plastic-sheet products produced from high-impact polypropylene resin with a similar make-up to corrugated fiberboard. It...
election signs LeBlanc and Demont were given permission to take in exchange for picking them up after polls had closed.
- 2000 - LeBlanc and Demont purchase Ryder's stake in PropertyGuys.com.
- 2001 - PropetyGuys.com sells its first franchiseFranchisingFranchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
in late 2001.
- 2002 - The company sells its first ten franchises in ten months throughout Atlantic CanadaAtlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
.
- 2002 - PropertyGuys.com partners expand to include Walter Melanson as Director of Partnerships and Dale Betts as COO.
- 2003 - The original PropertyGuys.com location in Moncton, New Brunswick is franchised.
- 2005 - PropertyGuys.com began franchising nationally at a rate of one new franchise every week.
- 2006 - The company opens the PropertyGuys.com University franchise training center in Moncton, New BrunswickNew BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
- 2006 - PropertyGuys.com introduces the Private Sale Professional designation.
- 2007 - PropertyGuys.com sells its 100th franchise.
- 2008 - PropertyGuys.com debuts the round real estate lawn signLawn signLawn signs are used for local advertising. They can be used by business such as real estate and are popular in election campaigns in some countries. They are small signs that can be placed on the property of a business or on the lawns of a candidate's supporters...
and introduces its round brand.
- 2008 - PropertyGuys.com debuts its "Joe Schmo" national radio advertising campaign.
- 2008 - PropertyGuys.com celebrates its ten year anniversary by holding its national franchise conference aboard the Carnival Imagination.
- 2009 - PropertyGuys.com, in partnership with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, launch the YPreneurGene youth entrepreneurship challenge during Global Entrepreneurship WeekGlobal Entrepreneurship WeekGlobal Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare....
.
- 2010 - PropertyGuys.com attends G20 YES summit in Toronto, Canada.
- 2011 - PropertyGuys.com attends G20 YES summit in Nice, France.
The Round Sign
Criticism
PropertyGuys.com's 2008 national radio advertising campaign, which singled out "Joe Schmo" real estate agents, was found to be offensive by some real estate agents for its dismissive portrayal of an agent's role in real estate transactions.Community Support
PropertyGuys.com has defined a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada. Through an awareness program titled "Building Communities" a portion of all package sales is transferred to the non-profit organization. In 2007, PropertyGuys.com donated $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity Canada.Awards
- 2009 Canadian Franchise Association Award of Excellence, Non-Traditional
- 2008 Canadian Franchise Association Award of Excellence
- 2008 Canadian Franchise Association Frankie Award
- 2005 Winner of the CYBF New Brunswick Best Business Award
- Named to Canadian Business Franchise Magazine's "Top 25 Successful Canadian Franchises for 2004"