Century 21 CEO visits Alaska realtors

MAT-SU -- Century 21 real estate agents from around the state visited with Van Davis, Century 21's president and CEO, last week during a quick trip to help excite agents about the new technology available through the company's training programs.

"We are very focused on changes in the industry, the technology changes in society and those impacts," Davis said.

Ed Heidel, co-owner of Century 21 North Homes Reality in Wasilla, said he asked Davis to come to Alaska during a conference in Boston earlier this year. Heidel said he knows Alaska real estate agents can benefit from the technology that Century 21 has to offer, and wanted Davis to excite the Alaska team to use such technologies.

"The national organization is very supportive, which makes it easier for us to grow here," Heidel said. "Van's made a commitment to supporting Alaskan brokers."

"Your buyers and sellers want you to do more," Davis told the agents at the conference. "They don't need you to give them information, they are doing that themselves on the Internet. They want you to make the effort as seamless as possible, to take the burden off of their back."

Davis said that in Alaska, learning about new ideas and techniques online is vital to an agent's survival and success.

"Areas like this, that are considered rural with sparse population centers, the technology tools out there will have a magnified impact," he said.

Heidel, who is opening a second office in Big Lake the first week of September, said he knows the Valley will especially benefit from the tools Century 21 has to offer.

"My impression after 35 years in business is that the market here is poised for more growth," he said.