Saturday, August 15, 2009

WILKINS TO START POCONO COMMERCIAL BROKER SERVICES

Wilkins to start Commercial Broker business


July 23, 2009 Stroudsburg – Yarrow Wilkins, Pres of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc. announced that the Board of Directors has approved the opening of a commercial brokerage company and is proud to announce their first commercial salesperson, Don Snyder, to be a part of their team. The company will be named Wilkins & Associates Commercial Brokers and will be located at the corporate office at 304 Park Ave in Stroudsburg. Said Wilkins, “This expansion represents our commitment to the Pocono real estate industry and who better to start it than Don Snyder and my father.”

The new company of which Snyder will be a founding salesperson will handle commercial listings and sales throughout northeast Pennsylvania. Unlike other commercial companies, the Wilkins company will also handle business only sales and true investment opportunities. Most recently, Thomas R. Wilkins was the salesperson who handled in the Turkey Hill Minit Market lease with The Bushkill Group on Route at Fernwood. In the beginning of his career, Wilkins brokered a number of Minit Markets and gas stations in Northeast, PA.

Snyder and Wilkins began their commercial careers selling real estate at the former Coldwell Banker office in Mt. Pocono. Said Wilkins, “Don and I actually started the commercial investment division for the Coldwell Banker franchise when Phyllis Rubin owned the company in 1985. Back then, we were responsible for a very large part of the commercial development that you see today, especially in the retail arena. We did Kmart centers, including Mt. Pocono and Wind Gap, bank sites, Staples, Motel 6 (next to the Budget Inn) and all of those type deals.”
Said Yarrow Wilkins, Pres, “I’ve known Don for the past 20 years and can remember as a kid going into the office in Mt. Pocono with my father. I was the only 14 year-old who knew more about shopping center sites than any of my other classmates.” chuckled Wilkins.” Ms. Wilkins is President of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates who with Dominick J. Sacci, Sen VP/Gen Mgr and Heather D’Adamo, Exec VP-Partner oversee the seven offices they own.

Ms. Wilkins will remain Pres of the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise but will play an active part in the new commercial company. Earlier this year, Wilkins & Associates merged the Coldwell Banker franchise into their offices and in mid-April held a ribbon cutting for their newest location at the Stroud Mall.

The new company, Wilkins & Associates Commercial Brokers, means just that. The company will not only sell real estate, thus they did not use the word “real estate” in their name; but will also sell businesses only, value businesses, manage all types of commercial ventures, market subdivisions and offer much more than most commercial Realtors. The company expects to increase in size and scope as they develop their skills.

Prior to joining Wilkins, Snyder was affiliated with the Pocono Manor where he worked with former owner and Pres, Jim Ireland, as VP/Gen Mgr responsible for all hotel and resort business and operations, including land development and oversight of the Pocono Manor’s extensive real estate holdings. After the sale by the Ireland family in Dec. ‘05, Snyder continued in his former capacity through 2006, when he became Property Asset Director for Pocono Manor Investors, LP, working on development plans for the 3,000 acre property.
The new company expects to work closely with the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Realtors as well. Said Snyder, “I have a very good working knowledge of sub-divisions including single family home projects, town home projects and multi-family units. When you take that knowledge and couple it with the Better Homes and Gardens name, it’s got to be a sure winner.”
Snyder’s wife designed the new logo for the company and they have submitted for their licensing with the Real Estate Commission. They are hoping that the opening should be by no later than June 1st.

The Wilkins family is no newcomer to the real estate industry. Wilkins opened the doors in 1988 with 3 people in Mt. Pocono and grew the company into over 140 Agents today. They also are partners in the management, investment and title businesses. Thomas R. Wilkins holds a CCIM designation which is the highest designation available for a commercial real estate Broker.

Boasted Snyder, “We’ll be competing with Michael Baxter and Dave Chant, and we have no problem with that. I think when people see that the Tom & Don team is back in business, we’ll pick up a lot of old clients! We’ve always had a working relationship with both of their offices and we’re hoping since we have so many of our own Realtors, it will jump start us to become a major force in a short amount of time.

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