Steve Redman is proud of the people who work at Windermere Real Estate Central Oregon. The company’s new Redmond office gives them a place they can showcase their skills even better, he said.

The real estate firm moved 30 brokers into the new digs in January at 821 SW 6th Street. Redman, the agency’s owner and principal broker, oversaw the renovation of a two-story former bank building that sat vacant for two years. The 7,400-square-foot building is twice the size of Windermere’s former space on Indian Avenue.

“If I’ve learned anything over the years as a leader and an owner, it’s that if you have professionals, you need to create a good work environment,” Redman said.

That is evident from the minute the brokers walk into the office under a sign that reads, “Through these doors walk the finest Real Estate Professionals in Central Oregon.” Inside is a display with photos and names of all the brokers, which Redman hopes will make a more personal connection with customers.

“We have the most experienced and professional crew, I think, in Central Oregon, if not the state,” Redman said.

The renovation in the building involved adding new walls, including a glass one around the waiting area. The more senior brokers have their own offices, while others are in cubicles.

The building has 10 unused cubicles set aside for brokers Windermere hopes to hire over the next couple of years. Redman expects it to take a while to fill the positions because he is “very picky” and wants to make sure the people he hires are professional and fit in well with the company.

The building will be equipped with modern technology such as conference rooms featuring smart televisions and high-speed broadband, Redman said.

The office still has a couple reminders of its years as a bank, including the drive-through window still visible in the main meeting room. Most notably, the commercial real estate department is located in the old bank vault. Redman said that’s an appropriate use for the safe.

“The vault is where our big-money deals happen,” he said.

Windermere, which also has Central Oregon offices in Bend and Sunriver, decided to look for a new building because its former site became landlocked when nearby SW Veterans Way and SW 11th Street were converted to one-way, Redman said.

He also likes being closer to the downtown core.

“I believe in Central Oregon; I believe in Redmond,” said Redman, who jokes that a distant relative might have been a pioneer of the city who changed his name. “Redmond’s got a lot of things going for it. This is in the path of growth.”

While the harsh winter was tough for sales, Redman said, the housing market is starting to gallop again. And he said Windermere is ready for it.

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com