Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty is the Successor Company to a firm that first opened its doors for business in Post Falls as Idaho Realty Center. That was July of 1973. A starter home was well under $20,000 and the MLS was still fairly new. The then Board of Realtors was likely around 200 agents. The original staff included the Broker, two agents and a staff of one. Our first location was on Spokane Street in a quickly remodeled and very tiny home that was perfect…mostly because it was the only space available. The logo included the state of Idaho in green and black and was the very beginning of Coldwell Banker, as we know it today…North Idaho's largest full service brokerage.

As our company and reputation grew, a wonderful opportunity to join together with Coldwell Banker as a franchise affiliate became available. That was November of 1983. The choice to join was easy, but the decision to leave our newly built Idaho Business Center location was more difficult. Our building was clearly the nicest in Post Falls and our actual office space was probably the nicest office in North Idaho. However, with plans in hand to build a new office in Coeur d'Alene at the Northwest Boulevard location and lots of encouragement from Coldwell Banker, the choice was made.

We opened for business in Coeur d'Alene as our new building was completed at 1924 Northwest Boulevard in the winter of 1984. Our office was the first floor only comprised of 4200 SF, which seemed like a huge space compared to our 1800 SF in the Post Falls realty office. The lower level was leased to a dental company and Transamerica Mortgage. The lender was a wonderful neighbor. The lab made false teeth and we were horrified to discover that their logo was a huge set of dentures. Happily as owner of the building and their landlord as well we were able to keep the giant set of dentures off the building and under control.

As the market grew our team of outstanding salespeople also began to grow. From the very beginning we continually looked at market share numbers and quickly became the leader. The people, the system, a great new location, Coldwell Banker and a sound business ethic steadily moved our firm into a serious position of market strength. Those were the days of thirty to forty agents with a staff of two and then three.

By 1995 Coldwell Banker was well established as North Idaho's largest and busiest brokerage. We had grown to consume nearly all of the lower level of the Northwest Boulevard location and were straining at the seams. Not enough staff work area as well as a continual shortage of conference space prompted the first major remodel and addition to our building. 4000SF were added and the balance of the space was again redone to service our team of nearly 65 agents and staff. The new addition included the lobby, three conference rooms, additional associate's workstations and the lower patio. We had been recognized as a Chairman's Circle Company now for the previous 5 years and were in a position to strengthen our market position.

Hard work and a great market in the 90's propelled our growth as the undisputed market leader. The spring of 1998 marked the beginning of a series of very important strategic acquisitions. The first was the merger of the small but powerful Select Properties Inc. Specializing in Hayden Lake and Country Club properties the firm had a long history of successful sales at the high end of the residential and recreational market. In the summer of 1998 our firm purchased North Idaho Realty. Twenty wonderful agents, great leadership, 400 listings and 18 years of excellent service helped to further strengthen our market position. The North office of Coldwell Banker was built in 1994 and even looked like a part of our operation. The blending of the two company cultures was a significant enhancement to the positioning of our firm not only at the Government Way address in Hayden Lake but market wide as well.

Six months later in January of 1999 a second successful brokerage competitor joined Coldwell Banker. Beebe, McKernan and McCarty's staff of 8 experienced agents helped us to measurably enhance the commercial efforts of our firm. This purchase also included their successful and seasoned property management and leasing department. For the first time we truly became a full service commercial brokerage. Originally located at the Coeur d'Alene Mines Building and later at the Spokesman Review Building, the Beebe, McKernan staff moved together with our other commercial associates into the new 2000 Northwest Boulevard Building identified as our Coldwell Banker Commercial office. In 2002 and 2003 the commercial office was expanded to house approximately 20 full time commercial associates plus staff.

Continued growth and market realignment encouraged the Company to make two structural changes. In 2002 the Hayden Lake office was consolidated with the Coeur d'Alene residential office. All of the staff was relocated to existing facilities. In addition a new location was secured in Post Falls. In July 2003 a totally remodeled business office was opened at the corner of Bay and Seltice Way. The location was designed for 22 agents plus staff. A very successful opening was followed by remodeling of the balance of the total building space to accommodate an additional 15 associates. The completed facility is located at one the most prime Post Falls intersections along the busy Seltice Way commercial corridor.

The awards earned by the company continued to grow. In 2002 Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty was recognized as the top Coldwell Banker office in the Western Region based upon closed production units. That award was once again earned in 2003 eclipsing all other regions as well. For the first time the sales team was honored with the distinction of being the top units production office in the United States for Coldwell Banker.

Our 2004 staff of more than 165 active sales agents has now become a regionally powerful company and is consistently Idaho's largest and most successful brokerage operation. Representing the Inland Empire's premier planned communities, the widest selection of resale properties, together with North Idaho's only full service commercial and property management brokerage positions Coldwell Banker to continue on a path of excellence and market domination. 2004 also marked the fifteenth consecutive year the Coldwell Banker sales team was recognized as a Chairman's Circle Company…the best of the best in the system.

The most exciting part of our history is yet to come…with lots of opportunity and much left to do! A vigilant effort to continually keep the interests of our clients and customers clearly at the forefront of our business ethic will assure that our future is a bright one indeed. From a humble start in the little house on Spokane Street in Post Falls we are ready to continue to grow with North Idaho. A very sincere thanks to all that have been a part of our past and a special welcome to those who will become the future of the Panhandle's most successful real estate story.