International real estate company, RE/MAX, last evening made its official entry into the Guyanese market with the hope of expanding and bringing a higher level of service in the country.
RE/MAX which stands for Real Estate Maximums, was founded in 1973 in Denver, Colorado in the US and currently has offices in over 110 countries worldwide. The company, which will be known here as RE/MAX Guyana, had its corporate launch in the Aura Sky Lounge at the Pegasus Hotel and is expected to open the doors to its MovieTowne office soon.
During the launch, one of the founders of the new company, Shiv Misir, who has worked in the real estate industry in Canada for about 33 years and with RE/MAX for some 25 of those years, noted that it was a thrilling moment to return to his homeland of Guyana and to participate in such a venture. The franchise here is being led by Misir and Heeralall Naraine, a Guyanese businessman
Misir noted that he has been travelling back and forth between Canada and Guyana over the past four years and after noticing the need for organised real estate in the country, thought he should enter into this venture. “I noticed over the past years that there is a need for organised real estate in Guyana, something that I haven’t seen and I’m hoping that with RE/MAX coming on board it will start some form of organised real estate where people can come and get training, get the knowledge, get the expertise,” Misir explained.
He also disclosed that he had further developed a yearning to return to Guyana and invest in the country. According to Misir, Guyana is currently going through a progressive stage with many international companies looking to launch their businesses here.
“The time is opportune, it’s been in the works for a long time but as the old saying goes, everything happens at the right time and I think right now is the right time for RE/MAX to launch in Guyana and we hope that we will get the support, the cooperation of the people,” Misir was quoted as saying,
Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during the corporate launch applauded the company for its interest in improving the Guyanese market and noted that now, more than ever before, there is an unprecedented level of investor interest in Guyana as a result of where the country is economically.
“I believe the story about Guyana being poised in the current era for a historic economic take off is well known. I think the remarkable economic potential that we have and the fact that we are on the verge of realizing that potential is well known,” Singh said.
He added that with the increased interest by international investors, persons are not only looking for investment opportunities but for goods and services of a quality not previously found in the Guyanese market.
Meanwhile, Misir noted that the RE/MAX brand offers worldwide training and as a result they intend to have real estate experts come here on a regular basis to train agents and get them started in the business.
“I know it’s going to be tough for the beginning but I hope that the government officials who are here should make some sort of provision for people who want to get in the business to do so and have a qualifying set up for them so that they can go and get some sort of training and education before they get their license,” Misir suggested.
While he indicated that the company will also be looking to train young entrepreneurs who are looking to get in the real estate business, he pointed out that RE/MAX Guyana has the master franchise rights to sell in Guyana and is hoping to expand the business with offices across the different administrative regions.
The company was officially launched with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
