Stroudsburg – Thomas R. Wilkins, Sr. announced Friday, June 11th that the local Better Homes and Gardens Franchise, including the real estate business, successfully transferred into his name as sole owner. Prior to this, the voting shares of the company were owned in part by Yarrow Drozal and Susan Wilkins.
Wilkins & Associates began in 1988 with the original Board of Directors being Morris B. Wilkins, Elliot Wilkins, Douglas Wilkins and Thomas R. Wilkins. Tom Wilkins was the operating partner of the original company. In a negotiation and stock trade off for shares in another company, Tom Wilkins gained full ownership in early 1990. In the mid 1990s through marriage and the giving of certain ownership interests in the business to his daughter, he, along with his management team built the business to the height of their careers during the Pocono real estate boom. In 2008 Wilkins franchised the business with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.
Said Thomas R. Wilkins, “I’m happy to be the owner again. Now, along with my team, we want to grow the business back into what it was during the real estate boom.” At the height of the market, Wilkins had 14 offices and over 100 agents. Today, they have two locations and 80 agents. “The new BHG is a different business model” said Wilkins. The “new” Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates will have fewer offices, but more agents. The satellite offices are referred to as “coffee shop” style offices and the agents are hybrid agents. “I’ve always been ahead of the curve.” said Wilkins.
Corporate offices are located at 304 Park Avenue in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. They can be visited on the internet at www.wilkins1.com