Assist-2-Sell

Assist-2-Sell is a real estate franchise organization founded in Reno, Nevada, in 1987 by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle E. Martin. The founders had each worked as conventional real estate agents for approximately a decade before creating a model intended to reduce the cost and sales effort associated with traditional residential brokerage. Their concept positioned the company between a full-service real estate firm and a homeowner selling independently: customers could obtain professional marketing, transaction assistance, and documentation support while paying a lower or more clearly structured fee than under a conventional commission arrangement. The company’s business model is based on independently operated franchise offices. Assist-2-Sell provides the brand, operating guidance, training, and systems intended to help franchisees establish local offices, recruit agents, organize back-office functions, attract clients, and market properties. Individual franchisees remain independently managed, which gives the network a locally operated character while allowing offices to use the broader brand and its discount-brokerage positioning. Assist-2-Sell has promoted more than one service configuration for residential sellers. Its Direct to Buyer option is described as a brokerage service in which the agent markets the property and handles transaction-related documentation. Its MLS for Less option adds listing exposure through the Multiple Listing Service while retaining the company’s lower-cost positioning. Marketing channels described for the network have included newspapers, magazines, direct mail, property signage, and the company’s iHouse2000.com website. The company generally receives its brokerage compensation when a property is sold rather than charging a conventional full-service commission structure in advance. The brand expanded through franchising during the 1990s and was reported as having a substantial North American office network in the early 2000s. In 2006, published accounts described the network as having 630 offices in Canada and a presence in 46 U.S. states. Contemporary coverage characterized Assist-2-Sell as one of North America’s largest residential discount realty companies and identified Help-U-Sell as its principal competitor. Newsweek reported that the two companies together had nearly 900 offices in 2004, illustrating the scale reached by the flat-fee brokerage category at that time. Assist-2-Sell’s differentiation has historically rested on transparent or reduced-cost brokerage, local franchise service, and a choice between different levels of marketing and listing support. The model appeals to sellers seeking professional assistance without the perceived expense of a traditional real estate commission. At the same time, its franchise structure means that the customer experience, available services, pricing, and local market presence may vary by independently operated office. Publicly available reference material provides substantial information about the company’s founding, historical services, and earlier franchise footprint, but does not establish its current ownership, executive leadership, website, office count, or operating status with sufficient certainty for this dossier.

Assist-2-Sell was established in Reno, Nevada, in 1987 by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle E. Martin. Both founders had previously worked as conventional real estate agents for about ten years. Their experience led them to question the economics of traditional brokerage, particularly the amount of time agents spent prospecting for clients and the cost structure passed on to sellers. They created Assist-2-Sell as a lower-cost alternative, expecting that reduced prices would attract homeowners directly rather than requiring the same degree of conventional client solicitation. The resulting model was designed to occupy a middle position in the residential property market. Unlike a fully independent sale, customers could receive professional help with marketing, negotiations, and transaction paperwork. Unlike a traditional real estate firm, the company emphasized discount pricing and alternative fee arrangements. Contemporary newspaper descriptions similarly presented the service as an option between using a conventional real estate agency and selling a house without professional representation. Coverage also noted that the company’s pricing and reputation generated both skepticism and concern among established real estate interests as the discount-brokerage concept developed. Assist-2-Sell introduced its franchise program in 1995. Under this structure, local offices were independently managed, while the franchisor supplied training and operational support. The support program covered practical functions such as creating a back office, hiring real estate agents, attracting customers, and presenting and marketing homes. The franchise structure allowed the company to expand geographically without directly operating every local brokerage office. The company offered sellers two principal service formats in the historical material. Direct to Buyer provided agent-led marketing and handling of transaction documents. MLS for Less included the benefits of the first option together with exposure on the Multiple Listing Service. Assist-2-Sell also described marketing through print advertising, direct mail, signs, and an online property website identified in the reference material as iHouse2000.com. The company’s compensation was described as being paid after a successful sale, aligning its revenue with completed transactions. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Assist-2-Sell grew into a notable North American discount realty network. A 2002 account described it as one of the continent’s largest residential discount realty companies. In 2004, Newsweek grouped Assist-2-Sell with Help-U-Sell as the two largest flat-fee brokerages, reporting that the networks together had nearly 900 offices. By 2006, published information stated that Assist-2-Sell had 630 Canadian offices and operated in 46 American states. These figures describe the historical network and should not be treated as current office counts. The company’s principal competitive distinction has therefore been its cost-conscious brokerage proposition delivered through a local franchise system. The network sought to provide consumers with professional assistance while reducing the financial burden associated with a conventional percentage-based commission. Because franchise locations were independently managed, local implementation could differ by market. The available reference material does not provide reliable current information about ownership, management, present-day office numbers, active services, or corporate status, so those fields remain unconfirmed.

• 2006

  Historical network reached broad North American coverage

  [1]Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org

  Published material reported 630 offices in Canada and a presence in 46 U.S. states.

• 2004

  Identified among the leading flat-fee brokerage networks

  [1]Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org

  Newsweek reported that Assist-2-Sell and Help-U-Sell together had nearly 900 offices, placing both among the largest flat-fee brokerage networks of the period.

• 2002

  Recognized as a major residential discount brokerage

  [1]Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org

  Contemporary reporting described Assist-2-Sell as one of North America’s largest residential discount realty companies.

• 1995

  Franchise program launched

  [1]Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org

  Assist-2-Sell began expanding through independently managed franchise offices and provided franchisee coaching and operating support.

• 1987

  Assist-2-Sell founded in Reno

  [1]Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org

  Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle E. Martin founded the discount real estate organization in Reno, Nevada, after working as conventional real estate agents.

A discount and flat-fee residential real estate brokerage network positioned between traditional full-service representation and selling a property independently.

• Residential real estate brokerage

  Direct to Buyer

  A seller service in which an Assist-2-Sell agent markets the property and assists with transaction documentation. The offering was intended to provide professional brokerage support while maintaining the brand’s discount-oriented positioning. Historical descriptions do not specify a single uniform fee for all locations, and local franchise offices were independently managed.

• MLS listing and residential brokerage

  MLS for Less

  A seller service that added Multiple Listing Service exposure to the marketing and transaction support associated with Assist-2-Sell’s lower-cost brokerage model. Historical descriptions state that sellers received the benefits of the broader service while obtaining MLS placement, although exact terms and availability could vary by independently operated franchise office.

• Real estate franchising · 1995

  Assist-2-Sell franchise program

  The franchise program enabled local operators to use the Assist-2-Sell brand and operating model. The franchisor’s historical support included guidance on setting up a back office, recruiting agents, attracting customers, and displaying and marketing homes. Franchisees were described as independently managed rather than as branches directly operated by a central corporate brokerage.

1. 1Assist-2-Sellen.wikipedia.org