Fisher/Sears had specialized in multifamily sales in Illinois,Indiana and Wisconsin. The firm completed the deal because "we werefinding ourselves a little locked out of some of the markets,"Sears says. Some prospective clients ended up not choosing thecompany because they wanted a firm with a "national platform," hesays. "We were missing that ingredient of exposure that theyconsidered essential," he says.

While many companies claim to put the client first, Sperry VanNess actually does it with things such as cooperating with otherbrokers and using mass email technology to communicate, Sears tellsGlobeSt.com. "This enables us to more fully service the needs ofour clients," he says.

All seven brokers will move to SVN offices, Sears says.Fisher/Sears had approximately $30 million in transactions in 2007and Sears said he is optimistic, in 2008, "for us to increase ourvolume about 50%."