In the competitive world of real estate, the name RE/MAX comes with incredible brand recognition across the globe, rooted in a reputation for excellence, professionalism and success. At the heart of this dynamic organization is RE/MAX Reach, a Greenville, South Carolina-based brokerage with market coverage throughout the entire Upstate area and Lowcountry, whose practices exemplify the core values and exceptional service for which the brand is known. As one of the original agents who helped establish RE/MAX Reach, Emily Rapp has had a front row seat to what makes the brokerage a standout in the industry.
Rapp began her real estate career in 2015 at a local, non-franchised brokerage. In 2017, she joined a RE/MAX team led by Jeremy Russell, who eventually went on to found RE/MAX Reach. “I was one of his original agents who joined him in opening the doors,” Rapp recalls. Since then, she has thrived as an individual agent and ultimately became a broker herself after acquiring her broker’s license a couple of years ago.
Rapp’s passion for real estate is deeply ingrained, stemming from her upbringing in a household where real estate was a frequent topic of conversation. This familial influence, coupled with a personal desire to build her own wealth, fuels her dedication to helping others achieve their real estate goals.
As a brokerage, RE/MAX Reach prides itself on its extensive expertise and brand-based global network. “RE/MAX is one of the most globally recognized real estate companies in the world,” Rapp says. “Our brand recognition and global network give us the ability to connect buyers and sellers far beyond our immediate market.”
That expansive reach is a significant advantage in today’s interconnected world, where the limitless capabilities of the internet mean that a potential buyer might come from any corner of the globe to become a property owner in Charleston.
While Rapp works independently, she emphasizes the importance of the support network within the RE/MAX Reach group. “I rely heavily on Jeremy and my office managers, all of whom provide me any needed assistance with marketing, community outreach, and keeping up with the trends and latest news to maintain a competitive edge,” she says. Such a collaborative environment ensures peak performance for each agent, with backing from a team dedicated to their success.
That teamwork also translates into an unparalleled knowledge of the Charleston-area market and keen negotiation skills—all of which are hallmarks of the RE/MAX name. “RE/MAX agents statistically have more transactions per year compared to any other brokerage,” Rapp notes.
This experience also helps to facilitate a seamless transaction process for both buyers and sellers. “From a listing standpoint, consumers understand the importance of their home getting in front of the most viewers,” Rapp says. “At RE/MAX, we can pretty much guarantee that we will have the most global exposure—which also means that we can’t assume the perfect buyer is coming from the same zip code. From a buyer’s standpoint, our immense local knowledge and negotiating skills, which we’ve learned through training and experience in the field, helps facilitate a seamless transaction. There will always be hurdles in a real estate transaction, but we can overcome those obstacles without it being a burden to our clients.”
The success of RE/MAX Reach can be attributed to its commitment to continuous improvement and education. “Jeremy always has a pulse on the market, providing personal experiences and knowledge to improve our skills, along with consistent training to keep up with best practices,” Rapp says. This dedication to learning ensures that the team remains at the forefront of industry trends and developments.
One of the brokerage’s key strengths is its focus on hiring the right agents. “My brokerage stayed very small during the first few years of operation,” Rapp says. “Jeremy has always been adamant about hiring quality over quantity. In a market that is oversaturated with real estate agents, we want to be the office that brings the most expert-level agents. We all share the same opinion that this is our career, and we want to continue to further our skills and abilities for years and decades to come.”
Naturally, the ways in which the real estate market is constantly evolving presents ongoing challenges. “Much like with any industry, the need for staying keyed into new technologies, laws, regulations and practices is something that will never change about real estate,” Rapp notes. “As much as it is a challenge, there’s no other option than to simply keep up unless you want to fall behind. Education and consistency are essential to stay ahead, and if we stay consistent, the results will show.”
One of Rapp’s proudest achievements in real estate came recently, when she represented the buyer’s side for the largest sale on Isle of Palms for a single-family residence. “Being able to tap into the luxury market at that level was so rewarding,” she says of the milestone, which highlights the brokerage’s ability to excel in high-end real estate transactions.
As a brokerage that serves the Charleston market, RE/MAX Reach must contend with the twin challenges and advantages that come from working in such a growing area. “We live in one of the most desired cities in the world,” Rapp says. “As residents, we know how wonderful Charleston is because we get to experience it daily! You can’t open a magazine that doesn’t have a feature on Charleston because there is so much to offer here and in our surrounding areas. The city’s appeal combined with the brokerage’s local expertise make it easy to showcase the many reasons clients would want to live here.” *
