Gibson Sothebys International Realty Soars Ahead with a
Team of Well-Known Agents
We have so many reasons to be grateful. Our Cambridge team is
one of them, said Larry Rideout, CEO and Owner of Gibson Sothebys
International Realty. His marketing team recently launched a Thank
You ad campaign at his behest. Rideout and his business partner,
Paul McGann, set audacious goals for themselves last year. In the
midst of historic inventory crunch, they set their sights on
Cambridge. It was a market for which the Sothebys brand is a
natural fit; its a prestigious community with an average sale price
that is on the rise. But, we were going to have to do something
that we hadnt really done before, said Rideout.
Rideout and McGann completed more than 30 acquisitions in their
previous careers at Realogy, the parent company of several
well-known real estate brands. So, naturally, when they launched
Gibson Sothebys International Realty in Boston, they set out to
make acquisitions a big part of their growth plan. Since November
of 2006, they have acquired nine firms and have grown the company
from $247 million in sales to $1.3 billion in 2015. But Cambridge
was going to have to be different. There just wasnt the opportunity
for an acquisition in Cambridge. The market was entrenched with
firms who had been operating in the same way for a very long time.
So, we had to build from the ground up, said Rideout.
They secured a space on the edge of Harvard Square and set about
designing a bright and modern office. Then Rideout and McGann
identified key players in the market; those with excellent
reputations in the industry and strong sales histories. As they met
with the agents, they shared what had made Gibson Sothebys
International Realty so successful in Boston. One-by-one, veterans
of the industry with 10, 20, and 30 years of experience joined the
new office — creating a virtual tidal shift in the market. The
group of well-respected, high-producing agents, includes The Lauren
Holleran Team, The Dino Confalone Team, Anne Fantasia, Laura
Palumbo Hanson, Lisa Godwin, the Lisa May and Lindsay Allison Team,
Judy Carlough, Grace Liao Tannenbaum, Lizzy Flanagan, Susan
Condrick, Laura Segal, John ONeil, Max Dublin, and Lara Gordon.
We were bowled over by the response from the agents in
Cambridge, said McGann. Our original goal was to have six agents in
that office by the end of the year. Our amazing team grew to 20 in
only seven months! We couldnt be more thrilled. The new recruits
joined a small team of rental agents and existing Gibson Sothebys
International Realty agents. The total sales for those agents
topped $175 million in 2015. While they are among the biggest names
in Cambridge real estate, they also focus on Belmont, Somerville
and Watertown — key areas of recent growth.
The inventory has been so low in these areas that the pressure
is on for our agents and their clients. Our Cambridge team brings
with them decades of experience. They are trusted names in their
markets. The companys job is to do all that we can to support them
and their clients in new ways, said Rideout. His leadership team
has been working hand-in-hand with many of the agents, including
directors of the Marketing, International Initiatives, Relocation
and Productivity departments. These agents are so very successful.
I feel like, all the while we are working hard to get them to the
next level, they are making us better as a firm, said Colleen
Barry, Director of Productivity. I am inspired by them — it is a
pleasure and honor to work with them every day.
Gibson Sothebys International Realty is making the most of its
international network. Rideout traveled to Hong Kong in October to
participate in the Sothebys autumn sales. In November, several
agents visited the Sothebys Auction House and several luxury
properties in New York City. A strong contingent is planning to
join the Global Networking Event for Sothebys International Realty
in Las Vegas in May. The real estate world gets smaller every day,
said Nicole Rideout, Director of Relocation and Referrals. It is
imperative that we foster strong relationships, not only
domestically, but internationally. Cambridge and Boston are truly
international cities, and are deserving of an international
firm.
About Gibson Sothebys International Realty:
Gibson Sothebys International Realty is Bostons largest independent
real estate company. Founded in 1962 by Betty Gibson in Bostons
South End, the firm has eight offices throughout Boston, Cambridge
and the surrounding areas. The Sothebys brand takes great pride in
presenting to the world unique homes and their stories. Through
this extraordinary network which extends to more than 60 countries
and territories worldwide, Gibson Sothebys International Realty has
access to some of the most qualified buyers in the world and
provides remarkable exposure for each home.