RE/MAX of New England today announced that it has entered into an exclusive, five-year agreement with The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company of Quincy, MA, to develop micro real estate offices in supermarkets located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. This marks the first time that a major real estate brand has teamed up with a large consumer retailer to house real estate offices in their retail spaces, and follows the recent trends of Starbucks and Wells Fargo.
The result: some consumers will now be able to go to their local supermarket and pick up a more substantial purchase than dinner — a house. “I don’t think anybody is going to go in for a loaf of bread and come out with a colonial,” Remax said. “(But) will somebody who’s shopping for dinner go in to view some homes through the (Multiple Listing Service)? Yeah, probably. Will they ask an agent a real estate question? Yeah, probably that, too.”
Consumers will have access to computers connected to the company’s web site, and, per the agreement, the offices will be open at least 50 hours a week.
But for me, this begs the question: How will consumers know that the agent they find in their local store is truly qualified to be giving them Real Estate advice? Your thoughts?
This year up to 17 micro RE/MAX offices will open in Stop & Shop stores in RI, MA and CT. The micro offices have been designed to provide a consistent look and feel for each location, thereby creating the opportunity for strong brand recognition and presence throughout the Stop & Shop chain.
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