Dave and Gail Liniger founded RE/MAX in Denver, Colorado in 1973. RE/MAX has grown every single month for more than 30 years to a company with over 6019 offices located in 62 different countries. To date, RE/MAX employs over 114,171 associates. Very few companies with a worldwide presence can make such a claim.

RE/MAX has been the No. 1 residential real estate network in Canada since 1987 and is a leading industry force in the United States and many other regions. Locally, RE/MAX holds the largest market share in the Sarasota area.

The most significant growth for RE/MAX in recent years has come from outside the United States, with expansion into Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand and South America.

RE/MAX's exclusive Marketing System represents the company's ongoing commitment to meeting and exceeding the clients' expectations. The advertising and public relations campaigns are designed to create a strategic real estate marketing plan for homebuyers and sellers alike, rather than simply traditional techniques used by the majority of real estate professionals.

Some of the innovative services offered by RE/MAX on a local and international level include renowned properties program, relocation, property management, asset management, commercial investment, an international agent referral network, state-of-the-art technological tools, international Internet website, and national televison advertising campaigns.

RE/MAX demonstrates a strong sense of community. Nationally, RE/MAX is an avid supporter of the Children's Miracle Network helping to raise over $60 MIL for children's hospitals throughout North America. RE/MAX continues to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation dedicated to advanced breast cancer research and has donated over $8 MIL to the cause. Locally, RE/MAX donates considerable resources to various local service organizations annually. Our brokerage professionals donate a portion of every sale to help make our world a better place.

Before you make one of the most important decisions of your life shouldn’t you become as informed as possible and know something about me and how I work?

I have over 17 actual "licensed" years of real estate experience. I lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years and worked for a top rated real estate firm called Windermere Real Estate. I am licensed in Florida and Washington State. I have a ten year plus background in commercial banking and graduated from the University of Washington with honors and attended Bastyr University for my master's degree. I am a Florida Broker Associate and also have my CRS designation in real estate.

I was voted as one of the top 7% FIVE STAR real estate agents in 2007: Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in Sarasota--as seen in SARASOTA Magazine! In March of 2007, I ranked 7th Top Sales Producer among all RE/MAX agents for the ENTIRE State of Florida in March 2007 and 40th Top Sales Producer for April 2007! That's an accomplishment for this Market! You are welcome to see my stats!

Locally, I serve at the Sarasota Association Board of Realtors. I volunteer on the Realtor Code of Ethics Committee and served on the MLS Committee and Rules and Regulations and Vendor Services Sub-Committees. I am dedicated to improving the quality of relationships between other members and the public.

I believe that your home sale should flow as smoothly as possible from start to finish. By aligning yourself with the top real estate team you are ensured that all your important issues are handled professionally:

Karen Grant, my real estate partner and dear friend, has over 17 plus years of real estate experience working in California and Washington State for Prudential Real Estate. Karen is licensed in Florida and Washington State, as well. She has her ABR and GRI designation in real estate and a Bachelor's Degree in Art and Design from the University of California, Davis. Karen is a member of the Women's Council of Realtors and has served on the Sarasota Association of Realtors Code of Ethics Committee.

In addition, I have a wonderful team of assistants helping me to provide you with the outstanding customer service you deserve: Kelly Kwait, who is my office manager and licensed assistant; and Michael Thomas (also my son), who is my computer consultant, and various other independent marketing and design consultants.

We are all proud to serve you with your real estate needs.

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Selling Tips to Consider for the Sarasota Real Estate Market...


Best Home in the Neighborhood: Your home is one of your most prized possessions. Don’t be blind to the flaws and needed cosmetic improvements. For example, overlooking stained carpet, cluttered closets, dirty bathrooms and kitchens that badly need paint cause sellers to often overvalue their property for the condition. Unfortunately, overvaluing will only hurt your chances of maximizing top dollar when it comes time to sell. Listing with the right professional gives you a well-informed third eye that will help you price your home at a fair market price for the current condition.

Make Cosmetic Improvements: Prospective buyers make up their minds within the first few minutes after seeing your home. First impressions can make all the difference. For example, spending $1,200 on new carpeting might add another $4,000 to the purchase price. Get an objective point of view from your real estate professional. They can provide you with a list of items that will help you maximize your profits.

Distress Selling: At times, selling quickly is unavoidable. That’s when knowing the right techniques to sell your home without looking desperate and making yourself a target for low bidders really pays off. Know all there is to know about the market before listing and work hand in hand with the right real estate professional. Ensure that you are not settling for the first offer that comes through the door. But on the other hand, do consider that we are in a changing market again so you want to review all your presented options carefully.

Disclose Property Defects: Property disclosure laws require sellers to list material and repair defects. If you are unaware of a material and/or repair defect or attempt to cover them up, you risk losing your sale as well as finding yourself in a court of law. Get professional assistance from your agent who can introduce you to qualified inspectors who can ensure you a smoother inpsection when you do get an offer. Make the needed repairs before listing your home.

For Sale By Owner: Most homeowners who decide to sell their home on their own do so because they believe they can net more in the end. Actually the opposite is true in most cases. Many costly mistakes are made by sellers and buyers who think they know what they are doing. This can be avoided with the right guidance from a real estate professional who knows the "true" market value of the area, how to ask the right questions from a prospective buyer, how to pre-qualify a buyer for a loan, how to close a buyer on paper, how to negotiate an inspection, and keep the sale process together until closing. As they say, "everything has a price" and selling a home carries a high price. Can you afford to risk one of your largest investments for the idea of a few dollars saved?

Limited Showings: Buyers often want to look at a home on their own time schedule. Unfortunately their time schedule does not always coincide with your time schedule. Leave a lockbox and/or key with your agent so your home can be shown when you are not around. You never know if the "one" who missed out was your buyer.

Trust Your Agent: Would you tell a physician that you’ve decided to run your own lab tests and come to your own diagnosis? By choosing the right real estate professional, you can relax and trust their judgment in helping you make the right decision. The right real estate professional is a valuable team member to have on your side and one who will look after your best interests and make your sale as profitable as possible to you.

My Brother... My Friend is a Realtor: Home sellers often pick a friend or family member as their real estate agent. My advice, choose an agent with a strong track record, who knows your area, and has an an aggressive Marketing Plan. A top agent knows the market well and can generate many buyers for your home. Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Base it on good, sound business sense and the rewards will add up. Making the mistake of selling your home with someone who is inexperienced, does not sell many homes per year, or does not have the revenue to invest in marketing can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in lost profit. You want an individual who can get you the most exposure in the least amount of time and then... one who can net you the most out of your sale.

Know Your Market: Believe it or not, there is a buyer for every home! Most homes that do not sell in their first listing period are clearly priced too high or have some problem that needs to be cured. Conversely, most homes that sell instantly are either priced below market or the market is in such a situation, like we just had, where the demand exceeded the supply. You need to understand the market completely and evaluate your home based on fact, not on heresay or what your neighbors do down the road do, or plain conventional wisdom. A professional agent knows the market, just like you know your own business.

Restrain Your Emotions at the Negotiating Table: Meet the other party with a win-win attitude and use sound business judgment. Don’t ruin your sale just because you were a few hundred dollars apart from the other party. The difference will mean very little to you in the long run. Take a look at the bigger picture and react rationally. How important is it for you to move? How many mortgage payments will you have to make before the next buyer comes along? Think twice.

Call me if you have any questions or concerns about the selling or buying process.

We are looking forward to serving you!

Warm regards,

Anne Thomas, PA, CRS
Broker Associate