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Business
January 2015
Earnhardt family opens Maserati dealership in Gilbert The Earnhardt family recently opened a Maserati dealership in the San Tan Motorplex at the Loop 202 and Val Vista Drive in Gilbert. Earnhardt Maserati is one of only two dealerships in Arizona that sells this Italian high-performance luxury car. Earnhardt Maserati has initially stocked about 30 vehicles in three models, the four-door salon Quattroporte, the twodoor coupe GranTurismo and the Ghibli, priced in the low $70,000s. “Maseratis are among the most exciting cars sold in America today and give an unforgettable driving experience,” says owner Hal Earnhardt.
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He explains that a large inventory is unnecessary because customers are able to order a car to their own specifications and have it built by the factory. Earnhardt Maserati is housed in a temporary site next to its Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership. This year, it will build a boutique-style 12,000-square-foot facility on a 1.5-acre site in the San Tan Motorplex. The general manager of the new store is Frank Armani, who is a longtime manager within the Earnhardt organization. Maserati, which was developed in Bologna, Italy, 100 years ago, is headquartered in Modena, Italy.
CORPORATE CHRONICLES Moyer earns NAR’s Military Relocation Professional certification
James Moyer with HomeSmart has earned the nationally recognized Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification. The National Association of Realtors confers the MRP certification to Realtors who want to help military personnel and veterans find housing solutions that best meet their needs and allow them to take full advantage of their military benefits. “Homeownership is an important part of the fabric of America, and having a stable home environment is vital when men and women of the military are called away to serve their country,” says NAR President Gary Thomas. “Working with a Realtor who understands specific needs and timetables related to military service will help make their transfers easier, James Moyer faster and less stressful. The Military Relocation Professional certification will help Realtors hone their knowledge and skills for working with veterans and active-duty military buyers and sellers to ensure that home ownership remains affordable and accessible to them.” The certification provides NAR’s members with resources to accommodate current and former military service members at any stage of their military career, and is an approved elective for NAR’s Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation. To earn the MRP certification, Realtors are required to be in good standing with NAR; complete a one-day MRP certification core course; complete a pre-class reading to learn military background information and better understand important acronyms and military culture; and complete two webinars. For more information about the MRP certification, visit www.militaryrelocationpro.org.
Gilbert Kid to Kid franchise wins award
The Kid to Kid Store of the Month for November was given to the Gilbert store and owner Erica Gentile. The store of the month award is given to a franchise store that has shown outstanding performance and customer satisfaction. The store, located at 1652 N. Higley Rd., was selected from more than 100 stores because of a 56-percent increase in sales over the last year, as well as a significant increase in the amount of product bought from customers. Gentile, who also owns the Chandler store, credits much of the increase of sales to having a great selection of merchandise available. “We have really focused on keeping our racks organized and full of high-quality merchandise so our customers have a variety of items to choose from,” she says. “By offering more choices, our shoppers have a much better experience.”
WELL-VERSED: Realtors Valerie and Charlie Randall are lifelong Arizona residents and they enjoy sharing their vast knowledge of the East Valley. Submitted photo
Luxury Treehouse Realty knows the local area BY ALISON STANTON
When East Valley newcomers want to buy a home in the area, but are not really sure which subdivision is best, they can seek the expert advice of Valerie and Charlie Randall, Realtors at Luxury Treehouse Realty in Mesa. The Randalls are lifelong Arizona residents, and as Valerie states, this means that the two of them know Gilbert and Mesa like the proverbial backs of their hands. “We know when all of the homes were built, and we can tell them about the previous owners of the homes, and the history of the homes and subdivisions,” Valerie says. The Randalls started Luxury Treehouse Realty in March; Danny Perkinson serves as the broker. Charlie Randall entered real estate development in the 1970s and residential real estate in the 1980s. He has been a top-producing agent in Arizona since he began working in the field. “I got into real estate in the early 1990s. We handle residential buying and selling, and we do everything from $50,000 homes up to $5 million,” Valerie says. In addition to being exceptionally knowledgeable about Gilbert and Mesa, Valerie says she and Charlie are very careful in the way they market the homes that are for sale. “We pride ourselves in using highquality photos, and we make sure videos help to make the home appealing to see,” Valerie says. They will not shoot footage of dirty and disorganized closets or other parts of the home that might not look their best.
Valerie says she and Charlie also believe in the power of advertising to continue to get the word out about Luxury Treehouse Realty and their work. “During the recent short sales season, when everyone else was closing, we were still advertising. We know that it is what it takes to stay open,” she says. From using social media to ads in magazines, they are sure that the houses they are representing look as nice as they can. Charlie enjoys people—getting to know his clients and helping them through the entire transaction process. Valerie, however, says she enjoys “connecting the dots” and putting together the deal. “I just love helping to find a home for people and helping them get on with their lives,” Valerie says. She and Charlie have noticed an increase in buyers from Canada, as well as from oil-rich states like North Dakota, who are interested in buying a property with cash. No matter who they are or what they are looking for, Valerie says, she and Charlie are happy to show them around and work with them on buying the home of their dreams. “It’s fun to take somebody out to do a tour in Mesa, Gilbert and Las Sendas and say, ‘This is what’s good about this neighborhood, and this is who lives here.’” Luxury Treehouse Realty is located at 1733 N. Greenfield Rd., Suite 101, in Mesa. For more information, call (480) 325-1000 or visit www.charlierandall. com or www.facebook.com/ Luxuryrealestatespecialists.