Coping and rebuilding
A group of real estate agents establishing a new Century 21 office in Spokane suffered a monumental loss when their friend and broker Gary Fox, died unexpectedly about a month into the venture.
“Personally, it was devastating. Although Gary was our boss, he was also our friend. Professionally, it made us more resolute to have greater success,” said Mike Bass, a real estate agent at Century 21 Beutler & Associates Spokane.
The loss of Fox, who drowned nearly three weeks ago on Lake Coeur d’Alene, gave way to new hope when the group’s landlord, Shelley McDowell, stepped in as temporary broker.
McDowelland her husband, Mick McDowell, own the AmericanWest Building at 41 W. Riverside, where Century 21 Beutler & Associates leases space. As a licensed broker, she is filling a position that demands a mix of management skills as well as state requirements for education in real estate law and special licensing.
“Shelley came to us to help out in a pinch. Interestingly enough, she’s becoming a very strong essential component of our brokerage,” Bass said.
Ann and John Beutler, well-known forces in the North Idaho real estate community, recently established the Spokane brokerage. Their Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene offices employ about 150 people and the couple wanted to expand across the state line and build a regional presence.
In 2005, the Beutlers’ Coeur d’Alene brokerage ranked third among Century 21 offices worldwide for sales. The couple is building a new office near their current Coeur d’Alene location and another in Liberty Lake. When the opportunity came along to purchase Century 21 Premier in Spokane, they moved quickly, John Beutler said.
After meeting Gary Fox two months ago, the couple was impressed with his credentials and philosophy and thought that he’d be perfect to run the new Spokane office. In the past, Fox helped establish another Century 21 office and owned an independent brokerage with his wife, Susan “Denise” Fox.
Ann Beutler said they hit it off with the veteran Realtor, adding, “It seemed like we’d known him forever.”
The group leased 7,000 square feet of space in the AmericanWest building. Realtors came from other brokerages, including Coldwell Banker Northwest Group, to follow Fox, and the group gathered about 30 employees. With custom build-outs under way on three floors, they shared desks and offices. Many of the boxes were yet unpacked when Fox died.
Washington allows the broker role be filled temporarily for up to four months, so Ann Beutler asked Shelley McDowell, a licensed broker, if she could help out for the next few months.
While McDowell was willing to assume the management role, John Beutler said she also let the grieving staff know that Fox was irreplaceable and that she wasn’t there to fill his shoes, but rather to help.
“It was probably a defining moment for her in our office,” said Beutler. Because of the trial arrangement, which could someday become permanent, the new brokerage is gaining momentum. The Beutlers plan to someday open a north Spokane office.
The downtown business will focus on residential and commercial sales. Gary’s former main-floor office will become the Fox Den, featuring a plaque that says “Do the right thing,” words that Fox spoke often and lived by, friends said.
McDowell said she was surprised and honored by the offer and enjoys working with the experienced staff. “We just hope to have a real strong, high quality, do-the-right thing presence in Spokane.”