Longtime Century 21 agent forms new company

By Candace Jarrett
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 20, 2008

Aubrey Richardson, owner of Century 21 Richardson Realty, the third-oldest real estate company in Florence, has sold his business to a former employee and longtime friend in a merger that has created Century 21 Bellray Properties.

“I’m 68 going on 69, and I’m going strong,” Richardson said.

“I don’t plan on retiring, but I’ve been in real estate more than 40 years, and it’s scary to know that I’m the oldest active agent here in Florence,” he said, laughing.

The company has been located at 2011-B Second Loop Road since 1986.

After 38 years of ownership, Richardson found his business partner in the form of his friend’s son, Gary Dauksch.

“My family bought this building in the early 1990s and Aubrey leased it from us,” Dauksch said. “I got my Realtor’s license in 1999 and first worked as an agent here at Aubrey’s in early 2000.”

Dauksch said he left Century 21 Richardson in 2005 to open his own property management company, Bellray Properties, but soon realized he needed to stay with real estate.

“I realized there was money being missed by not actively pursuing real estate, and I felt like it was time to grow,” he said. “I knew with real estate I needed a brand name and people had been trying to buy Aubrey’s company for a while, although he kept turning them down.”

Dauksch said he approached Richardson about selling four months ago. Richardson agreed, bringing everything full circle.

“We really just swapped roles,” Richardson said. “Instead of me being the head broker in charge, I’m now an agent and Gary is no longer my agent, he’s head broker in charge.”

Bellray Properties brings the property management aspect of real estate to Century 21 Richardson Realty and adds six agents to Richardson’s 18, although the business is looking to grow.

“We’re looking for producers — new agents and seasoned agents,” Richardson said. “Florence is in a unique situation where it isn’t affected as much by the housing crisis right now.

“(The year) 1974 was like a depression for the housing market and I’ve see a lot of these slow-downs,” he said, “but because we are centrally located with the entertainment and shopping and things, people choose to live here in Florence and go drive to work in the surrounding areas.”

Dauksch said new industry also keeps the area thriving.

“When these industries move in, like Monster and Heinz, they bring more people to the area that need a place to stay,” he said. “Florence is trying to expand its capacity and we’re going to continue to grow right along with it.”

Dauksch and Richardson agree that, more than anything, they plan to continue to make the company one that provides the best homes and services to its customers.