Stroudsburg – William “Bill” Schutte, Executive V.P. announced the hiring of Richard J. Coccodrilli, Jr., Realtor to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates Sales Team.
Coccodrilli, a native of the northern Poconos, had 17 years of corporate sales experience with Fortune 500 companies before starting his own company. In 2009 Coccodrilli became a licensed Pennsylvania Auctioneer. His Legacy Appraisal Service became Legacy Auction & Appraisal. Coccodrilli obtained his PA Real Estate license in 2013, and with his partner, Susan Lang, now runs Legacy Auction & Realty. Coccodrilli is also federally licensed to sell firearms.
Said Coccodrilli, “The key to the success of Legacy Auction & Realty is that we offer our real estate or personal property selling clients so many options for maximizing their return while minimizing their stress. We’re one of the first if not the first Northeast Pennsylvania auction company to sell assets online, to globally market and webcast our seller’s events. We also developed a business model whereby we owned a real estate company to traditionally list for those persons/properties who may not have been a good fit for auction, but still wanted to sell their business, commercial property or home.”
For three years, Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Wilkins & Associates, acted as Broker of Record for United Country, Legacy Auction & Realty.
In 2015, Legacy Auction & Realty became a primary member of the Wilkins organization through the Independent Family of Home Buying Services. Recently, Coccodrilli thought it best to further his real estate career as a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates. Coccodrilli was recruited to BHG by Bill Schutte.
“The interlocking of our two companies, Legacy Auctions and Better Homes and Gardens couldn’t be a better fit. Rich can work with owners whose homes are not selling giving them the ways and means to sell by auction, as well as selling the owners’ personal contents of those homes listed for sale where the belongings are not going with the owner. It is another income and downsizing source for Sellers who list their homes with us.” said Schutte.
“We are a nationally-recognized real estate company in Northeast PA with an in-house auction team. No matter what type of assets or challenges a seller has, BHG has a solution.” said Wilkins.
The Wilkins Family and the Coccodrilli Family go back over 60 years. Morris B. Wilkins, inventor of the ‘heart-shaped tub’ and ‘champagne tower’ and father of Tom Wilkins, bought what is now known as Cove Haven honeymoon resort from the Coccodrilli family. Martha Coccodrilli, Rich’s grandmother was the chef at Cove Haven for close to 30 years.
Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “The friendship that has been formed between Rich, Susan, Christine and I has become very strong on a personal and professional level. We’re obviously all in the real estate field and the compliment between our businesses just simply grew us even closer. To have the Coccodrilli name associated with the Wilkins name almost 60 years later is very special to both of us.”
Coccodrilli will service the entire Northeast Pennsylvania area including Lake Ariel, Honesdale, Milford, and the ABE areas. “I couldn’t be happier. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has the same intellectual and core philosophy that I’ve always lived by; and the training is simply the best.” stated Coccodrilli.
Coccodrilli is going through the various courses offered by BHG online, in-person and through the Greenhouse. In addition, Coccodrilli is very well versed in business liquidations and offers estate appraisals for personal property which he will do in conjunction with Thomas R. Wilkins who is a General Certified Appraiser.
Coccodrilli currently resides in Effort with partner Susan Lang and their beagle Guinness. When not ‘on the block’, he enjoys spending time at his family farm in Lake Ariel, PA.