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CHELSEA – July 20 was an important day for Holly Deavers, Melissa Hand and many others involved in their real estate business.

After months of uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Deavers and Hand celebrated the grand opening of their second EXIT Royal Realty office, located off U.S. 280 near Narrows Parkway.

“We’re very thankful that we’re a family and that we’re growing,” Deavers said. “We’re excited for the future.”

Deavers and Hand, franchisees, opened the first EXIT Royal Realty office in Clanton more than a year ago.

Deavers reflected on her initial conversation with EXIT Realty Alabama regional owners Kathy and Troy Dooley about joining the company as an agent several years ago.

“When I first was talking to Kathy and Troy, I was just interested in becoming an agent with their company,” Deavers said. “Little did I know that we were going to open an office, and now two, in less than two years.”

Deavers said she had long dreamed of opening a 280 office. After finding the right space in February, she and Hand were ready to open to the public as soon as pandemic-related restrictions would allow.

Hand said the company is focused on family and fostering personal relationships among agents and the buyers and sellers they work with.

“We focus on people as individuals,” Hand said. “We don’t see them as a business opportunity; we see them for who they are. We know that EXIT is a lot different than a lot of the other brands, and so we’re excited about what we can bring to the community and what our agents are going to do in the Birmingham area.”

Managing broker Stacey Adcock rounds out the leadership team at EXIT Royal Realty’s new location.

Joining the Dooleys at the grand opening was Tami Bonnell, CEO of EXIT Realty Corp. International.

“Holly and Melissa, you’re going to do such an amazing job, and you already have,” Bonnell said to Deavers and Hand. “You’ve already started to build in such a short period of time, and we know that it’s going to be phenomenal. This is one of my favorite things to get to do, is to see what people built. See what they took from that EXIT dream, and they decided to come in and create it and make it their own.”

Deavers said her goal is to have more than 50 agents working out of the new office.

In addition to serving clients, EXIT Royal Realty will offer real estate school for anyone wishing to become an agent.

The first eight-week program of night classes will start on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

EXIT Royal Realty is a member of the EXIT Realty Alabama and EXIT Realty Corp. International family of independently owned and operated franchise brokerages.

EXIT Royal Realty is located at 13521 U.S. 280 Suite 141.

For more information about the business or its real estate classes, call (205) 280-2228 or visit Exitroyalrealty.com.