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ERA Franchise Systems LLC
1 Campus Drive Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 428-9700 |
Media contact: Stacy Quinn
(973) 496-7904 stacy.quinn@ERA.com |
Easy-to-use mortgage products and services help ERA® sales associates and brokers better serve their customers
PARSIPPANY, NJ, March 28, 2002 — ERA Real Estate affiliates now have access to the ERA Mortgage Agent Help Desk, a service created to provide information and financing options to sales associates so they can assist their customers with the mortgage process.
More than 90 mortgage and finance experts staff the Agent Help Desk, including former loan counselors, underwriters, processors, closers and quality controllers. Based in Mount Laurel, NJ, the staff helps real estate professionals guide their customers through more than 100 products offered by ERA Mortgage. These products are designed to help a wide range of buyers with unique financing needs, from loans designed especially for first-time homebuyers to options for clients who recently had a bankruptcy.
"Customers have unique financial needs. The Agent Help Desk gives sales associates the ability to assist the client right then and there with a telephone call," said Scott Becker, vice president of service support, ERA Franchise Systems, Inc. "Sales associates can call with any customer issue and speak with a skilled representative. In most cases, the help desk staff can answer questions immediately and will update sales associates on an issue within 24 hours."
This service has helped many ERA sales associates, including Ruth Harlen of ERA Trend Realty in High Springs, FL. "I am never in a situation where I can't answer one of my customer's financial questions," she said. "I have the toll-free help desk number programmed into my cell phone. Not only is the Agent Help Desk a great tool for me, clients benefit from the service. One time, there was a discrepancy in my buyer's pro-rated taxes. I called the Agent Help Desk at the closing table and new forms were faxed over in a matter of minutes. The listing agent couldn't believe how quickly ERA Mortgage responded."
The Agent Help Desk also provides customized, "Four Ways To Buy" flyers that associates can display at open houses. To receive the complimentary flyer, sales associates simply call the help desk to provide their specific information and an ERA Mortgage representative will send the flyers to the sales associate in a few days. Additionally, flyers can be produced and printed through TeamERA.com, the Intranet site of ERA Real Estate.
"We recommend that associates attach the flyer to listing sheets and leave them at the residence for walk through traffic," explained Becker. "Since the flyers are free, there is nothing to lose. If a potential homebuyer calls ERA Mortgage, they will direct the customer back to the sales associate, which is a great lead generator." Sales associates and brokers also say they like the brand recognition that comes with ERA Mortgage. "I like that ERA® retains the servicing for the life of most loans," said Lisa Ward, a sales associate at Burgdorff ERA in Montclair, NJ. "Every month, the customer is writing a check to ERA Mortgage. This is another reinforcement of brand recognition, and reminds customers who sold them the house."
About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of its Real Estate Franchise Group. The ERA real estate network includes 2,600 offices and more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 26 other countries and territories. Each ERA office is independently owned and operated. ERA information is available to consumers on the Internet at www.ERA.com. ERA properties can also be viewed at www.REALTOR.com®.
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