Take a moment to listen the our fearless leader at KW, Gary Keller, share the history of the most innovative real estate company in the industry. See how he explains the Keller Williams history and shares the journey of becoming the largest real estate company in the world. All by focusing 100% of the attention on the business of the real estate sales associate, not to broker.
Since our beginning in Austin, Texas in 1983, KW has emerged as a leader in all aspects of building successful real estate careers. The focus is on real estate agent training, education, technology, support and a progressive culture that treats all associates as family members.
Keller Williams is a unique company that puts agents first and works tirelessly to identify and meet those needs. As one of the most innovative and successful real estate companies in the industry, KW is the grand experiment of Gary Keller. The origins of our company have roots in the early experiences of GK in the real estate business. The Keller Williams background is ‘built for agents by agents’.
How It All Started – Keller Williams History From The Beginning
In 1979, Gary moved to Austin, Texas to begin his real estate career. He loved teaching and training so much, he decided his career would have much more of an impact in management. He wanted to help agents achieve their business and life goals.
Working for the #1 brokerage in Austin, Gary was moving up the ladder very quickly in his company, but after being promoted to the vice president of expansion, he quit. The vision of the company he was with was that the agents worked for the company. Gary disagreed saying the company worked for the agents. His vision showed that if you work on building the business of the agent, the brokerage would grow as big as it wanted.
“Companies are nothing more than people. People create everything inside an organization and what’s going to make us better in the long term is the way our people think. Our goal is the tap the way people think and take advantage of that thought process to put to use for everyone.”
In 1983, Gary’s grand experiment began. Partnering with Joe Williams, Keller Williams was created with just a few associates in a tiny office. Within two years, KW had become the largest single office real estate company in the metro area. All seemed well, but the market crashed soon after and after losing half of his top agents to other companies, Gary decided it was time to create a new model that revolved around the agents.
Asking his agents this question, Gary carved out the new Keller Williams
real estate business model.
“How can we run the company in such a way that you achieve everything you want and at the same time we achieve everything we want?”
What did they come up with?
The New Keller Williams Business Model
- the best possible commission structure
- treat agents as business partners
- profit sharing with the agents that help grow the company
- give full access to financial information to all associates (open books)
- formalize input on how the office should be run via the ALC (Agent Leadership Council)
- have supportive management/staff that consults, trains and promotes teamwork
- have the highest level of training in the industry (#1 in real estate agent training)
By implementing this business model, Keller Williams became the #1 office in Austin and has yet to relinquish that title. Putting agents first. Giving agents control of running the company via the ALC. KW showed this was a successful model to share across all markets. In 1991, franchising began in the US and into Canada in 1998.
In just over 30 years in business, Keller Williams has become the largest real estate franchise in the world. All this, while focusing only on you, the agent. To only help build your business, not compete with you. After seeing the Keller Williams history, don’t you think it’s time to come work with a company that cares about your success over its own?
Join us today!
