Original offices at 240 Main

Triplett is the oldest real estate brokerage in Ames. In fact, we've been serving Central Iowa since 1912, when E.C. Sawyer opened his office selling real estate and insurance on the second floor of the Woods Building at 240 Main Street. In 1931 he was joined by his son-in-law, Dudley S. Triplett, a young engineer with a passion for service. They rebranded as Triplett & Sawyer and continued business together until Mr. Sawyer's passing. Dudley kept the business running, re-incorporating as D.S. Triplett, Realtor, specializing in residential property, property management, and insurance.

In the summer of 1942, Dudley was called into service in World War II by the Army Corps of Engineers. His wife, Sarah, kept the office open for a year, then it was closed temporarily. After 4 years of service, Dudley returned to Ames and re-established Triplett Real Estate, relocating his offices to 310 Main Street in 1950.

Post-war offices at 310 Main

Newly-designed offices at 410 Fifth

After a few years, his son, James, followed in his father's footsteps, studying engineering at Iowa State, then serving the community as a knowledgeable and trusted realtor. In 1958, he joined the firm his grandfather started, and in 1963 Triplett moved to a new building designed for the company at 410 Fifth Street.

Dudley in his office

Jim and 'Dud' would work side by side for 33 years, during which time Dudley would be a founding member of the Ames MLS and the Ames Board of Realtors, serving on the latter for 20 years. Jim would serve as the President of the Board twice, and when Dudley passed away, the Board instated the Dudley S. Triplett Award for honesty and integrity, given annually to a realtor with 'an inherit desire to be honest in all dealings' and 'to freely give of their time to improve the profession'. To this day, Dudley is affectionately referred to as the "granddaddy of Iowa real estate".

Jim retired in 2007 and sold Triplett to the Sharps, another local family with a passion for real estate and the Ames community. In 2010, with an expanding business and need for more space, Triplett moved down the road to 323 Fifth Street, just a few blocks from where it all started.

Today we continue the proud Triplett tradition of doing business with integrity and attention to detail, with services in Real Estate, Property Management, HOA Management, and Insurance. We're honored to be a part of this story and to have the opportunity everyday to provide Triplett's trademark 'superior service with a sincere smile'.