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Watson Land Company, Inc. Named Exclusive Affiliate of Christie's Great Estates
Watson Land Company, Inc. has been selected as an exclusive affiliate for Christie's Great Estates, Inc., a subsidiary of Christie's International plc, the world's oldest fine arts auctioneer. Buyer's and sellers of high-value real estate in rural south central Colorado now have at their command the combined efforts of Christie's and Christie's Great Estates through Watson Land Company. Watson Land Company, Inc., based in Westcliffe, CO now serves as Christie's Great Estates affiliate for the region encompassing Custer, Chaffee, Fremont, Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Lake, Mineral, Park, Pueblo, Rio Grand and Saguache Counties.

Christie's Great Estates is the largest network of independent real estate brokers specializing in the marketing and sale of important properties. This carefully selected network of real estate firms includes more than 350 offices and approximately 10,000 agents, offering local expertise combined with worldwide reach. Only those brokers who have met Christie's Great Estates standards for service excellence and consistent achievement are awarded affiliate status. Christies Great Estates selection process includes a review and approval by the Advisory Board; review of records of success in high-end sales; and an evaluation of reputation for client service and business professionalism.

John Watson, principal of Watson Land Company, Inc., commented, “We are honored to be associated with Christie's Great Estates. Christie's has an international client base interested in buying and selling significant high value property. This association gives us the worldwide connections to present the finest properties in our communities to those with the interest and ability to acquire them.”

Watson continued, “While the main emphasis of the real estate community in our region over the past years has focused on development and subdivision, our efforts; by choice, have run contrary to this trend. We realized the development boom had created a situation which resulted in a scarcity - a finite supply prime aesthetically outstanding significant larger holdings in rural south central Colorado. We decided to create a niche by specializing in the marketing and sale of such significant properties; and consequently, over the past four years more than 80 percent of our revenues have been derived from sales of $1,000,000, and up. The rewarding part has been, in the vast majority of instances, the purchasers of the significant holdings have become good stewards and have demonstrated a true respect for the land. Several of our buyer's either have, are in the process of or are planning to place their holdings in a conservation easement; thereby preserving the open space and rural feeling of our region. Our affiliation with Christie's Great Estates will only increase our access to this caliber of buyer.”

“Watson Land Company has a reputation for the skillful handling and marketing of high value ranch and land properties. Their reputation for conscientious client service and market penetration were significant factors in its selection as an exclusive affiliate” said Kay Coughlin, president of Christie's Great Estates, who originally founded Great Estates in 1987. “We look forward to helping Watson Land Company service and develop international exposure for their clients by marketing their properties through Christie's showrooms and Christie's Great Estate's offices totaling 470 locations worldwide.”

An international selection of significant properties is showcased in Christies Great Estates, a coffee-table quality magazine with exceptionally long shelf life. Published three times a year, this award-winning magazine is one of the primary ways the affluent market is targeted, reaching a worldwide readership of more than 150,000. Properties featured include country retreats, ranches, and fine estates priced from $750,000 into the millions. The magazine is available in Christie's offices and salesrooms, newsstands and bookstores throughout the world, and by subscription. In addition, properties are highlighted in Christie's International Magazine, published ten times annually. Christie's Great Estates also maintains an Internet website, http://www.christies.com, where affiliate's significant listings are showcased. The site features images and descriptions of homes, land ranches and estates for sale as well as a list of addresses, phone numbers and locations of all affiliates. About 35,000 viewers a month browse Christie's web pages.

Watson added, “Our affiliation with Christie's Great Estates means more than just having our properties listed in a high end magazine - Christies also coordinates a highly organized referral network enabling us to share referrals of potential buyers and sellers among other affiliates in the Christie's Great Estates network of affiliate brokerages. Christie's Great Estate affiliates exchange thousands of high quality referrals each year. A database is maintained at Christie's Great Estates Santa Fe, New Mexico headquarters to track referral activity. We have already received high quality referrals from Christie's Santa Fe, Aspen, Telluride and Boca Raton affiliates. Further, Christie's creative staff creates high quality four color brochures highlighting our significant listings which are distributed to the 470 Christie's showrooms and Christie's Great Estate offices where they are featured in conveniently located brochure display racks - accordingly our Southern Colorado listings are now displayed in affiliate's offices throughout the country. The brochures are also distributed by Christie's to a selected audience of influential buyers, investors and other prime prospects for significant properties.”