Realty Direct Metrowest
Guiding customers through the real estate purchase or sale process
By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer

(l to r) C. Hon Cheung, Pam Pinto, Marissa Truong, Tom Truong and Ossy Ahanotu, of Realty Direct Metrowest PHOTO/NANCE EBERT

Westborough - Realty Direct Metrowest is a full-service brokerage firm that is primarily Internet-based and has many unique features. One distinguishing factor that sets this business apart from other real estate agencies is that the agents are provided with leads.

"From an agent's standpoint, in terms of growing a business, is that we actually give our agents leads," President Tom Truong said. "On the consumer side, because we are an Internet-based company and about 75 to 80 percent of consumers, whether they buy or sell a home, begin their search on the Internet, our customers reap the benefits of our Internet capacity. Meaning you sell your house faster if you list with us because we get your home into the system for potential buyers to see."

Realty Direct is a national franchise that was listed in

Entrepreneur" magazine in 2007 as one of the fastest growing franchises in the country, and in the top 100 franchises. Quincy was the first franchise location in Massachusetts and Westborough was the second.

"When we built the office in Quincy two years ago, we felt we needed to expand," Truong said. "Our clientele started to creep this way and Pam Pinto, broker/owner and realtor, was the perfect candidate for us. I've been courting her for years to become business partners and she finally agreed."

"When I looked around at all of the diff erent franchises, Realty Direct off ered agents more than any other franchise," Pinto said. "There were better tools and support."

Truong described some of the support provided to agents.

"There is a program called Cash Flow for Life, which is residual-based income," he said. "In other words, Pam recruits another agent and when that agent does a deal, Realty Direct pays Pam a bonus commission check based upon that agent's business. It's directly related to the gross sales commissions, so the agent gets paid regardless of whether that company makes money or not. The diff erentiation between Realty Direct and our other competitors is that they only pay these bonuses out if they make a profit. It's based upon net profit, not gross sales."

Another feature unique to Realty Direct is that they provide a health insurance program, while most independents don't. There are also high commission splits. In addition, the company pays for tools that are customarily purchased by the agent. Those include business cards, Web sites, lock boxes and more.

"One of the difficult things about starting in this industry is the costs involved for the agent," Pinto said. "We really back them in their start-up."

"One misconception in this business is that some feel the agents do very little for what they get paid," Realtor Marissa Truong said. "We actually see ourselves more as guides and consultants through a process than just people that drive potential buyers from one house to the next."

There is also extensive training off ered to all agents who join the company. There's an online Realty Direct University that can be accessed 24 hours a day and group sessions are available.

Realty Direct Metrowest will exhibit at the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Convention Thursday and Friday Oct. 11 and 12 in Providence, R.I.

Realty Direct Metrowest is located at 6 West Main St. in Westborough. The Web site is at www.RealtyDirectMetrowest. com.

Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.