GRAHAM-WELCH & ASSOCIATES, LLC AND WEICHERT, REALTORS SHARON SIGMAN FIVE STAR COMBINE STRENGTHS UNDER ONE BANNER
WEICHERT, REALTORS - Graham-Welch is Kansas City's newest affiliate for growing brand

KANSAS CITY, February 1, 2010-Kent Welch and Tory Graham, owners of Graham-Welch & Associates LLC, together with Sharon Sigman, owner of WEICHERT, REALTORS Sharon Sigman Five Star, have announced that the two companies are now one. Newly named WEICHERT, REALTORS - Graham-Welch, the agency is home to an expanded sales team of 110 agents serving the Kansas City market from offices at 8740 West 151st Street and 267 West 95th Street in Overland Park.

As an independently owned and operated franchise with Weichert Real Estate Affiliates (WREA), "we will have many more resources to take us to the next level," Welch said. "In addition to what Weichert brings in the way of systems and support, we are combining our existing strengths," he said, referring to the Graham-Welch powerhouse status in the new homes area and Sigman's long-time credentials in residential sales.

The partners cited that WREA is the only franchise company that is totally focused on real estate. From founder Jim Weichert to WREA President Martin J. Rueter and his management staff, the team is made up of people who have been in the field as Realtors, Brokers, office owners, managers and sales people, rooted or reared in real estate.

Local agencies combine, expand, as WEICHERT, REALTORS - Graham-Welch

Weichert, Realtors is one of the nation's largest privately owned providers of real estate and home ownership services. The first office of its franchise arm was launched in January 2002 and in 2005 was named one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine. Currently, Weichert franchised offices serve nearly 300 markets in 35 states.

The organization is known not only for its one-stop shopping business model and ongoing agent and management training, but also for vast relocation outreach in 120 countries, award-winning Internet presence and leads direct to agents.

"Kent, Tory and Sharon all show the wisdom that accounts for their successes to date," said WREA President Rueter. "The power of great people and companies working together in the current real estate climate cannot be underestimated."

Graham-Welch & Associates (GWA) was born of a partnership formed in a three-car garage in 2004 specifically to market new homes communities. Five years later, GWA was marketing more than 25 new homes communities and maintaining a staff of 60 agents from their client and agent-friendly offices in Overland Park. GWA's marketing approach and work ethic were well received by developers and builders alike. "Our attention to the details of every aspect of new home development and our in-depth understanding of the market have been great assets in the company's success," stated Graham.

Graham brought a background of new homes experience to the team. He was active with Home Builders Association and lent his expertise to sales and marketing councils. The son of a real estate broker, he graduated from the University of Kansas. Welch graduated from Kansas State University and worked in the business world before getting together with Graham to sell new homes. It was at this juncture that they decided to create a real estate company that would provide services that were both unique and necessary for new home communities to succeed.

WEICHERT, REALTORS - Graham-Welch, real estate powerhouse makes major move into franchise arena

The agency was identified by Kansas City Business Journal as "Kansas City's fastest growing real estate company in the past three years" in a 2007 report. From 2004 through 2007, GWA registered 245% growth.

Realtor Sharon Sigman is a 30-year veteran who has made a name for herself in the field by "listening to people" while keeping up with the latest in technology, she said. She affiliated with Weichert in October 2006 as the leader of a team of top ranked sales professionalsSigman graduated University of California at Berkeley with a master's degree in English and education and taught high school English before changing careers. She holds the designations of CRS (Certified Real Estate Consultant), ABR (Accredited Buyers Agent), SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist), CSP (Certified Short Sale Consultant) and e-PRO

Simultaneous with the name change and new affiliation announcement, Graham and Welch noted that Steve Elliott has joined the company as Vice President of Operations. The Elliott appointment story will follow, along with news of a grand opening event. Meanwhile, WEICHERT, REALTORS - Graham-Welch can be reached at its headquarters office, telephone 913-647-5700.


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