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WE ARE Bios/Resume Ed and Renee Behr:
by Virginia Nemmers, photography by JessicaPerry.com 
Ed Behr used to work long hours seven days a week, stealing time away from personal life to deal with business. That all changed about twelve years ago when he was working at The Prudential Patterson Group, REALTOR© and met some people with Focus On The Family. "Working through these people I started to know the Lord," Ed says. "And as I got to know the lord I started taking more control of my time and resetting my priorities in life." That relationship not only enhanced his personal life but has influenced his business as well. Ed and his wife, Renee, make up the team Behr and Behr with The Platinum Group REALTORS©, an agency started by Ed and seven other like-minded REALTORS©. Their vision was to bring together a group of good people who could find synergy, share ideas and keep the professional image in real estate. It has proven to be a dynamic entity with monthly round tables where everyone can share ideas on a specific topic. "Every month I walk out with at least six to ten ideas," Ed says. In addition, the company has a monthly sales meeting with their associates which has grown from the initial eight agents to a total of 64 agents. In under two years, The Platinum Group was ranked among the top real estate companies in Colorado Springs, holding the number two position of sold volume. Ed credits the partners Dean Weismann, Steve McFarlane, Brent Demos, Frank Fanelli, Mike McGuire, Ann Marie Flynn and all The Platinum Group associates that stood by and took their chances on the new concept and unique philosophy to the company's incredible success. To understand the successful business Ed and Renee have grown, you have to look at how they grew it. Both believe strongly in personal one-on-one relationships. Their focus is, and always has been, on the customer not the bottom line. As Renee says, "You spend a lot of time with people and you value them as people not just a transaction. And you want them to know they're still valued once that transaction is completed." The team shows their appreciation by sending birthday cards to all their clients with $5 coupons for Starbucks or a car wash. They acknowledge one-year anniversaries of clients' home purchases. They follow-up with all their buyers 30 days after the closing, then again at 90 days and 120 days, just to see how things are going. For sellers, Ed and Renee send a letter three weeks after closing to make sure their clients have received the escrow check. One item the past clients have really appreciated is receiving at year end their HUD settlement statement to help them prepare for their taxes. Digging through papers after a move can be difficult and the Behrs like to help lower the stress level. Most recently they have begun taking their new home buyers out for lunch several months after closing just to see how their life is doing. It is personal attention like this that has solidified the Behr and Behr business at over 90 percent referral. Their data base is close to 1,000 people living all over the world. And they manage to communicate with them all, a lot. Keeping track of all this personal-type marketing is no easy task and Ed says it's only possible because of Renee's masterful organization and ability to develop systems that work. They're a good team, meshing the talents of both: Ed's strong negotiating skills and talent to make difficult processes seem easy, and Renee's creativity with marketing and staging homes, an area that is Renee's special niche. A person who has been into home dĂ©cor since she was a child, Renee uses that interest today to help clients make the most of their homes. The team's checklist, titled Advice to Help your Home Sell Quickly, is chock full of practical and proven suggestions. It is one of several things they do to give their clients superior service and the ultimate help in buying and selling homes. Theirs is a business that has been shaped not only by their faith, but by doing the tried and true real estate practices. Ed moved to Colorado Springs in 1985 from the east coast where he was a captain on a private yacht. A trip to Colorado with his brother had impressed him and he decided to make it his home. He chose real estate, got his license and began working without having any notable spere of influence to begin from. It was plain, old, basic real estate techniques that got him started. He door-knocked for hours every day, held open houses and told everyone he met he was in the business to help them. "It was the only way I knew how to try and generate business. I looked at it as a necessary part of business." His tenacity is a lesson for all. That first year he had 22 closings. He was named Rookie of the Year at McGinnis. Early on he also won the Floyd Wickman competition for the most transactions—listings and sales. "He's a little competitive," Renee lovingly chimes in. These honors would be the first of many earned by a man who says awards are nice, but they are not the heart of the business. "Numbers don't motivate me," Ed says. "When I just say I want to serve people better, I want to be more Christ-like in what I do, that's when I get more motivated." Brian Cooper, President of Unified Title Company who has known Ed for 15 years says he is "the ultimate professional who is always committed to doing the right thing for all those involved. Ed's vast experience, strong people skills and market awareness make him one of the very best REALTORS© in Colorado Springs." Though they are extremely proud of their success, Ed and Renee put it behind faith and family. Theirs is a close-knit family of five including son Brandon, a senior in college who got his real estate license as a high school senior and helps out in the summers, 18 year-old Tara and 14-year old Erik. They treasure the time they spend together whether it's at Table Rock Lake water skiing and wake boarding, tossing the lacrosse ball or going to lunch and just hanging out conversing after attending New Life Church on Sunday. During summer Ed and Renee make a point to take one day off a week in addition to Sunday to spend with their children. It has also proven to have a positive effect on the business. As Ed explains, "It's much better because I'm more refreshed (when he goes back to work). And it's honoring your family and I think the Lord honors that as well." Ten years ago, as she saw her daughter growing into a young lady, Renee became interested in helping forge the relationship between fathers and daughters. It was her inspiration that created the non-profit ministry, A Daughter's Heart. This non-profit recognizes the relationship between fathers and daughters of all ages with an event that takes the father-daughter dinner to a whole new level. It provides an event where the father-daughter bond can grow and be strengthened through a program and directed activities. "Renee wanted to create this as a way of giving dads helpful, useful ideas and hands on approach to help create a lasting memory with their daughter," Ed explains. Faith Williams of Cook Ministries who has worked with Renee for years says it is her vision and her passion which has made this event not only so successful but such a huge part of the community today. Started in 1996, Renee's vision has helped countless fathers and daughters and grown from 190 pairs the first year to over 1500 this year. Many have been coming every year and a few travel cross country to make sure they attend. It is an event near and dear to both Renee and Ed who says, "We believe relationships start with a relationship with Christ and this just helps dads learn more how to have that relationship with their daughters." Ask Ed and Renee what their goals are for the coming year and you won't get any dollar figure. "To better serve our clients," is Ed's quick answer. "I'm not one much to have set numbers," he explains. "I just truly believe that if you focus on doing things right and treating people the right way that you're blessed by it." But that doesn't exclude being practical or working hard. You have to be disciplined and motivated. All things the Behr team practices and what they stress to those entering the real estate field. Set priorities, work hard and, as Renee says, "Ask for the business. Don't be afraid of your profession. Be proud." Ed's advice to newcomers? "If you are going to work Monday to Friday, 7 am to 6 pm or whatever it is, then do that," he says. "If you don't have appointments, rather than play office or run errands or take half a day off, go do something that's going to generate business." Hard work with a healthy dose of creativity and an undying desire to forge relationships is the heart of the Behr team. And it has been a very successful way to run a business. On our web site home page we state that the team mixes practicality with whimsy. Having fun with their clients is also important to the Behr's. It helps to take the stress out of the entire buying and selling process. Another way they cater to buyers is by helping with the little things that can make buying a home and moving stressful, like providing important phone numbers and change of address forms. They do it because that is what they like to do but it is also smart business and is one more way they have developed a faithful clientele. "We want our clients to feel valued," says Renee, adding, "We try to provide a little bit more." Trying to do the right thing is central to who Ed and Renee Behr are and it is the driving force behind their very successful business. For them, that is what it means to be a Christian. "I think when you have your priorities in line, keeping Christ at the center, God honors that," Ed says. "And you're blessed. And I feel very blessed."
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