Family Realty Firm Grows in a Down Market

Bud and Anne Farris, owners of Century 21 Connect in Stamford, are the epitome of entrepreneurs. During his 30-year career with IBM, Bud dreamed of having his own business and would spend weekends exploring opportunities. "I remember the family spending several weekends searching for business opportunities," says Chris Farris, his son. "He was always saying, 'Let's start this business.' "

Eventually, Bud decided real estate would give him the flexibility he'd need to continue his career at IBM, and he began selling recreational homes in Torrington.

Soon he persuaded Anne, a school librarian, to get her real estate license. The couple attended a career seminar at Century 21 and liked what they heard. They set up Century 21 A & B Realty, hired a manager and signed up agents.

"There were no cell phones and the Internet didn't exist in those days," says Chris. But the company's name, A & B Realty, put the Farrises at the top of the Yellow Pages, the Multiple Listing Service and the newspaper ads. The company grew from just Bud and Anne to more than 30 agents. In addition to the real estate office, in 1993 Bud opened the Appraisal and Real Estate School, which teaches real estate licensing and appraisal classes.

In 2000, A & B Realty joined Century 21 Access America, a merger of Century 21 offices in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Chris joined his parents in 2004. The newly formed group had advanced marketing tools and the first Google-searchable web site in the industry, which grew the company to the top 11th Century 21 firm in the system.

Last year, the Farrises decided it was time for another change. Century 21 Connect now has a locally directed management team. "We needed to be able to move more quickly for our clients in this changed market," says Chris, who runs marketing and sales.

"When my parents started their business in 1977, there were no large real estate chains," says Chris. Today, Century 21 Connect is one of the oldest family-owned real estate businesses in Stamford, Connecticut.

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