After running out of space on Eastwood Road, a local residential realty firm has moved to a bigger office on Sir Tyler Drive.

"We just needed a lot more space because we're growing," said Ladd Gasparovic, operating principal of the Wilmington-based Keller Williams office, which has listings in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties. "We wanted to have space to add more agents and more offices." 

The Wilmington office of Keller Williams Realty relocated to 1838 Sir Tyler Drive, Suite 200, in The Pines, a multi-building, class-A office complex. Keller Williams now occupies 8,500 square feet of leased space, about double the size of its former office. The company is in the same building as the University of Mount Olive at Wilmington, which gives it more space by being allowed to use the university's classrooms. 

"We had a national trainer in yesterday, and we very comfortably seated 50 people," Gasparovic said.

The additional parking around the building was another plus, he said. At the beginning of this year, the office had 65 independent contractor agents, a number that has increased since then to 91, said CEO Debbie Lariviere, who has been part of Keller Williams since 2003 and joined the local office in January.

"I'm most excited about the space because of the ability to continue to bring in national and regional trainers and to continue to increase the level of training we offer our agents, both new and experienced, because the goal is to help them grow their business to whatever their definition of success is," said Lariviere, who is also a business coach.

Keller Williams, Gasparovic said, is known for placing an emphasis on consulting, coaching and training.

Gasparovic and his wife, Stephanie, launched the Wilmington-based Keller Williams Realty office in 2013. At that time, an existing Keller Williams division on Masonboro Loop Road joined them in their former location at 432 Eastwood Road.The Gasparovics were both previously agents with Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage for nearly four years before opening a Keller Williams office.

The firm is planning to hold a grand opening celebration some time this fall at the new office, Gasparovic said.