WILTON — Last year, Allied Realty Inc. became the owner of Village Realty Inc., and former Village Realty owner Colon Durrell and Allied Realty Inc. owner Aaron Bolster are both delighted with how well the transition has gone.

“It made sense to me to find someone who might be willing to expand into this area,” said Durrell, of Farmington. “His youthfulness was important.”

“We’re always looking to improve and master the business of providing real estate brokerage services to our clients,” said Bolster, who lives in Norridgewock. “We’re in the service-oriented business. We’re selling a service to people that need guidance.”

Durrell, who is retiring after 26 years at Village Realty, reflected back on his beginnings in residential real estate. From 1971-1989 he was working with the Farm & Home Administration in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. He got his real estate license in 1986, and, frustrated with working for the government, decided to develop Village Realty with business partner Jeff Mitchell.

Bolster said of his real estate journey, “It was nothing I thought I’d ever be doing. I worked for corporate America, and then found myself unemployed.”

That was in 2000. Bolster then decided to “toss my hat in the real estate ring.” He started out as an agent in Skowhegan and was there seven and a half years. With his wife, Melissa, he bought Allied Realty.

Allied Realty opened an office in Rangeley in 2010. Along with their Skowhegan office, they already covered a large part of western and central Maine, said Bolster.

“It wasn’t like we were out scanning for companies to buy,” he pointed out.

After Mitchell died unexpectedly in 2014, some structural changes in Village Realty were in order. Durrell called Bolster about the opportunity to own Village Realty and the two sat down and talked. Immediately, Bolster’s love of Maine and love for the region came through and Durrell was thoroughly impressed.

Also, Durrell noted, the number of realtors that are certified residential real estate specialists such as Bolster are few. Only about four percent of realtors nationally carry this certification.

Durrell pointed out that he had to consider what was good for Village Realty’s employees, agents, and clients.

“It made sense to me to find someone who might be willing to expand into this area,” he said.

All of the employees and agents have remained and will continue. The phone number, 778-9999, has also stayed the same. Also, Village Realty’s coverage area, Franklin, Oxford, and some of Androscoggin County, will continue as such.

However, there have also been some changes. The building is being refreshed inside and out, including new paint, and an expanded web presence is under way. Building signage, as well as property “For Sale” signs will become Allied Realty to welcome the new year. The mailing address has changed, as mail will now be delivered to Allied Realty, 915 US Route 2E, Wilton, ME 04294.

There will also be a change in the email address. Agents and employees can now be reached at @alliedrealty.net. E-mail addresses will be forwarded for a while if people forget to make the change.

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