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Q:
I am a new agent and haven’t selected a brokerage to affiliate with yet. What qualities should I look for when selecting a broker?
CANDY MILES-CROCKER “The Real-Life REALTOR®,“
coaches, mentors and trains new and experienced real estate agents to transform their business by mastering her proven systems for success. She is a firm believer in managing expectations and her goal is to elevate the perception of real estate agents among the general public through education so every client has an amazing real estate experience. Candy’s unique training methods have shown agents what it takes to be successful! Inman News selected Candy as one of the Top 25 Real Estate Coaches in 2016. Learn more at www. RLRETraining.com.
Deciding where to “hang” your real estate license should not be a rash decision. Remember, you are on the verge of creating a business. It’s easy to think that you will affiliate with the brokerage closest to where you live. But when was the last time you selected a job just because it was close to home? You may also be tempted to go with the brokerage that offers you the highest split. However, it’s important to remember that your first year as a real estate agent is probably not going to be your best year as a real estate agent. If you’re offered 100% and you don’t sell anything what have you gained? Before scheduling appointments do your research to get a feel for their reputation in the market. What is their market share? How many agents do they have? How are they using technology? Do their values align with yours? What fees do they charge? When interviewing brokerages there are two important factors to consider.
If you don’t get a good vibe from them or don’t feel excited about working with them, you probably need to move on.
So what should you look for when looking to affiliate with a broker? First and foremost you want to look for a brokerage that offers training, and lots of it. Your pre-licensing class was the tip of the iceberg. The pre-licensing class teaches you very little about how to get a client, what to do when you get a client, and what happens during the transaction. Training is critical at this stage of your career because you don’t know what you don’t know. You need someone to help you navigate through the nuances of the real estate business. You need someone to tell and show you what you should be doing to set up systems and establish your business. Next, you want to affiliate with a brokerage where the manager is accessible. You will have lots of questions, fears, and doubts. You will need an expert who is on site that you can meet with on a regular basis. Consider whether or not you would work well under their leadership. If you don’t get a good vibe from them or don’t feel excited about working with them, you probably need to move on. Selecting a brokerage is like any other job interview. You want to speak with a few to compare their offerings and to see where you feel you would have the best opportunity to succeed.
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CAPITAL AREA REALTOR® • May/Jun 2014 CAPITAL AREA REALTOR ® — Jan/Feb 2017 25