By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate announced Sept. 23 that it has opened its first office in Connecticut. And it’s right here in Middlebury. Middlebury real estate broker-owners Donna Bannon and Mary Ann Hebert’s independent brokerage, Bannon and Hebert, has become a franchisee of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate. The firm’s new name is Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Bannon and Hebert.
Bannon said they told the firm’s agents about it at their agent appreciation dinner at John’s Cafe. She said she began with, “We have something sort of important to tell you.” Bannon said the agents were thrilled with the news because the relationship with Better Homes and Gardens® will provide them with a number of tools that will make their jobs a lot easier.
Bannon and Hebert operated as an independent agency for 19 years, but the time had come to consider other options. Bannon said, “I think we began to see what was happening with technology was explosive. The smaller firms were finding it hard to compete.”
Hebert said of the new relationship, “We are very excited to be the first office in the state … I feel as if we have hired consultants. They help us in so many ways.” The franchise allows them to remain independent owners while enjoying benefits such as marketing materials and training tools.
“Donna and I looked around at other firms,” she said. “We saw this brand matched our business’s core values.” Bannon agreed, saying, “Their core values match our core values.” Those core values are passion, authenticity, innovation, growth and excellence.
In a prepared statement, Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate LLC said, “Our entry into Connecticut is an exciting milestone, and we are particularly pleased to continue our strategic growth with a team who aims toward the future while still maintaining their deep roots in the community. From their outstanding commitment to ethical practices to their commendable business acumen, Donna Bannon and Mary Ann Hebert embody the core principles upon which Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate was founded.”
As a franchisee, the Bannon and Hebert tradition of giving back locally will continue through year-round charitable efforts, including active involvement in Waterbury Youth Services, serving as a drop-off point for the local food bank and hosting an annual coat drive.
For more information, please visit www.bannonandhebert.com.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate® LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY). The firm’s network includes more than 9,500 affiliated sales associates and approximately 290 offices serving home buyers and sellers across the United States and Canada.
