Local real estate firm merges with Coldwell Banker

Christmas came a little early at National Best Sellers Realty in Carson City, where brokers received a bag full of Coldwell Banker goodies.

Local firm National Best Sellers officially joined forces with Coldwell Banker, one of the leading real estate companies, on Monday. The bags, one for each agent, included new signs, T-shirts and more.

"I'm hoping this means increased exposure for my clients - more sales and more listings," said Lois Miller, a Best Sellers agent at the group's Dayton branch.

"Coldwell Banker is No. 1 in referrals and relocating clients," said Best Sellers agent Barbara Rainey. "Everybody knows the name. I love their marketing tools and relocation packages. They get the word out. That's why they're the No. 1 franchise."

Coldwell Banker started in 1906. It has more than 3,500 independently owned and operated residential and commercial offices with more than 106,000 sales associates worldwide.

Broker Jenny Lopiccolo managed National Best Sellers, then known as Gold Dust Residential, before purchasing it from Tom Johnson in 1995. She's built the five-agent office into a 33-member group with offices in Carson City and Dayton.

Lopiccolo credits the companies' growth to the efforts of her managers and staff.

"When you hire and support excellent people who enjoy working together in an environment of trust and professionalism, you can't help but create success," she said. "National Best Sellers is like one big family."

Research shows that 41 percent of buyers use the Internet when purchasing real estate, Lopiccolo said.

"Real estate is changing with the global economy and the Internet," she said. "We wanted the partnership to help us now and 10 years down the road."

Lopiccolo said she's been approached by Coldwell numerous times over the past several years concerning the merger.

"National Best Sellers has always kept up with national franchises, holding a larger market share than those companies," she said. "And Coldwell's mandate is to hold the No. 1 market share in every location."

Now called Coldwell Banker-Best Sellers, the company will offer more services including property management, rental service and in-house lending. Offices are at 123 W. 2nd St. in Carson City and 175 Highway 50 East in Dayton. For more information, call 883-8500 in Carson City or 246-8500 in Dayton.

Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.