Customer Success Story: Century 21 RiverStone
A Reliable Partner in Real Estate Innovation
Customer: Century 21 RiverStone
Industry: Real Estate
Location: Sandpoint and Ponderay, Idaho
Services: Hosted Voice (VoIP), Fiber Internet, Wireless Internet
Customer Since: Approx. 2019
Overview
Century 21 RiverStone is a locally rooted, family-run real estate brokerage headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho. With a history that blends deep community ties and tech-forward innovation, the company has grown from a single-agent operation to a thriving team of nearly 50 agents across three offices.
For a real estate company like Century 21 RiverStone, a reliable network and communication system is essential for maintaining communications with clients and partners, coordinating across multiple offices, and ensuring network security. When it came time to choose an internet and communication provider, they turned to Intermax Networks, a decision that has paid off in both performance and partnership.
Background
Brent Stevens, co-owner of Century 21 RiverStone, was born and raised in Sandpoint. His family, including his mother and business partner, are all part of the company’s operations. Before real estate, Brent and his business partner Eric Skinner ran an IT consultancy, developing early digital tools and real estate listing databases, long before online property searches became standard. “One of the tools we built was a real estate database… before the Internet really took off,” Brent said. “In order to continue providing listings, we had to become a real estate company.”
Over time, Brent shifted from IT consulting to a full-time career in real estate. He brought with him decades of IT experience and a long-standing partnership with Intermax’s IT Managed Services team. When it was time to hand off his IT clients, he confidently referred them to Intermax.
“I actually referred a lot of our clientele over to the Intermax MSP team because I had such good working relationship with them and knew they did good work and would take care of our clients moving forward.”
Previous Providers
Before switching to Intermax Networks, Century 21 RiverStone relied on a mix of providers, including Verizon, Frontier, and Northland Cable. To ensure uptime, they even maintained redundant internet service at their downtown Sandpoint office as a failover solution.
However, using multiple providers can introduce several challenges. Service quality can vary between vendors, leading to inconsistent user experiences. Managing multiple services also increases administrative complexity, and costs are often higher than relying on a single, dependable provider.
Brent Stevens explained that the extra layer of backup and the hassle of managing multiple vendors became unnecessary once they transitioned to Intermax.
“Your guys’ [network] POP (Point of Presence) is literally half a block away from our building, and so we have a direct feed to that. It’s stable and reliable,”
He said, highlighting both the proximity and dependability of Intermax’s infrastructure. By switching to Intermax, Brent streamlined administrative processes and simplified operations by consolidating internet and hosted voice services under one trusted provider.
What Made Intermax the Clear Choice?
Intermax Networks emerged as the clear winner for Century 21 RiverStone due to a combination of technical advantages, trusted relationships, and exceptional service. One of the most compelling factors was the infrastructure itself.
“The big thing was [Intermax] offered fiber... We’re a direct shot from the [network] pop, so we got all the bandwidth we needed, and the connection was very reliable.”
The proximity of Intermax’s network Point of Presence (POP), just half a block from their downtown Sandpoint office, ensures a direct, stable, and high-bandwidth connection. This eliminated the need for redundant systems and simplified their network setup.
Century 21 RiverStone now uses a combination of Intermax services tailored to their operations: fiber internet at their downtown Sandpoint office, fixed wireless internet at their Ponderay satellite office, and hosted voice across both locations. “We have hosted voice over IP (VoIP) and we have fiber at our downtown location in Sandpoint and wireless internet at our satellite office in Ponderay,” said Brent.
Brent’s background in IT gave him a unique perspective on the importance of choosing the right provider. “I’ve always known Intermax. I’ve always worked closely with Intermax because of that IT background.” This unified approach enabled seamless, secure communication between offices.
“It makes me feel better that we have the same ISP… we’re going through the same network. Makes it feel more secure,”
Beyond infrastructure and service variety, Intermax stands out for its local support, flexibility, and transparency. Unlike larger providers with remote call centers, Intermax offers responsive, localized assistance. We also adapted to changing business needs (such as adjusting contracts during the pandemic) without pressure or hidden clauses.
Ultimately, Intermax delivered the reliability, simplicity, and partnership that Century 21 RiverStone needed to support its growing real estate business.
Service & Support
When issues arise, Brent knows he can count on prompt and localized support, though he admits he doesn’t have to call often.
“Anytime there’s an issue, I call up and get somebody and it gets resolved quickly. That can be frustrating when you deal with a larger company where you get sent to people that aren't around here... it's harder to communicate. It's harder for them to know what's going on because, obviously they're not from here and they might not know the infrastructure.”
Even minor service hiccups are handled with professionalism and patience. “I called tech support… he was very patient. We waited it out, it came back up, and life was good.” said Brent.
A True Partnership
One standout moment for Brent was during a contract renewal when needs shifted due to the pandemic.
“We had like 10 phones we didn’t need... you guys took them back and there was no pushback. Our contract went from a higher figure to a lower figure and you were supportive in that. It wasn’t a sales pressure tactic. It was more about making sure we were taken care of, which is refreshing.”
Unlike other providers that hide behind evergreen clauses and surprise auto-renewals, Intermax communicated openly. “You guys were very proactive and communicated well. It wasn’t like a surprise that you automatically renew again.”
Results
Century 21 RiverStone now enjoys improved reliability, no longer relying on redundant failover systems. Seamless multi-office communication is supported by VoIP and VPN connectivity. The team benefits from localized, knowledgeable support with rapid resolution, and a flexible partnership that evolves with their business needs.
“Just reliability I think is the biggest thing... we don’t go down too often.”
Would You Recommend Intermax?
“Absolutely yes.”
Conclusion
With a rich history in both technology and real estate, Century 21 RiverStone understands the importance of a strong network. Intermax Networks provides the reliable infrastructure and customer-first support that Brent and his team count on every day.
Find Connection with Intermax
Locally owned and operated since 2001, we’re proud to offer high-speed wireless internet, fiber, voice services, and more to thousands of residential and commercial customers.
Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene with offices in Spokane, Seattle, Sandpoint, and St. Maries, Intermax is the local’s choice for reliable service in hard-to-reach places.
Our friendly support team is here to answer any questions you may have. Visit Intermax, or call us at (208) 568-7979, today!
