Could someone offer their advice on choosing a broker? I am aware of Keller Williams and Exit's recruiting incentives and I will not consider that as part of my decision; nor do I want to discuss that.

I've already gone on a few interviews but I'm interested to know what folks feel are the "make or break" factors involved in choosing a broker? More specifically, what are the things you all wish you had known before you joined your brokers?

Your feedback would be appreciated.

Don't know where you are located but i love www.solidsourcerealty.com they always are adding new things without increasing costs to the agents.

Only 300 trans fee and mls dues of 45.00 a month you keep 100 percent commission.Trans fee caps out at 50 deals a year 300 x 50=15,000.

good luck

1. Does the broker run their business like a business? How do they evaluate new expenditures?

Why should you care? A broker who does not control expenses (i.e. buys everything for the agent with little cost-benefit analysis) will eventually pass those costs down to productive agents.

2. What do you get in exchange for the Broker Cost of Sale? If you need leads and major transaction support etc. expect a higher cost of sale. You do get what you pay for.

3. Are meetings and training high quality?
If an office can not manage effective sales meetings and produce high quality, well attended training, they probably are not doing #1... and will do a poor job delivering on #2.

go with good training
then get some experience by closing a few deals
then move to a new broker that you think will help you put more moolah in your pocketoolah

I would find a broker who understands why I want to be in the business and supports me in the decision. I think the personality of the broker is also important. A broker that has a heart of a teacher. Ask about the training program, see if it jives with your personality, or something that you think you could learn to do.

Money ie commission splits are not as high on the list because when you have learnt the industry, you can go where you need to. 100% of zero sales is still zero.

Besides that, the regular items mentioned above are also important factors.

Absolutely great point. Relationships will outlast or undue themselves long before the $$.

Thanks to all of you for your advice. This does really help me narrow down the many possibilities.

In general, at this point my interview process, I have felt more support from the smaller offices and it seems that I will have more access to the manager in the smaller offices. Does this seem consistent to what you veterans have experienced?

I haven't been around too long and have only been with one brokerage up to this point...but I think you are on the right track.

The brokerage I signed up with was the largest in the area. Everyone knows the name. Trouble is, there are 5 branches and over 180 agents. The broker has no vested interest in my success and brother does it SHOW. The place is a puppy mill. Anyone who will say they are full time, and has a license and a pulse can work there. The broker gets high splits from the "underperforming" hungry hoards and gives nothing in return.

In a smaller agency, recruiting is not as easy so the broker has a greater vested interest in your personal success. I will probably be moving to a smaller brokerage within the next month or so. They have about 25 agents, but the "investment" in each is much greater.

Good luck

I started in a very small office, and followed another agent who also happened to be a friend of mine, around. She showed me how to look up properties in the public records, use town hall resources, call FSBOs, all the basics. We ended up both going to a national franchise because we had a very hard time getting listings with no name recognition, no comprehensive web page, and no money for advertising. At this place there is training, great web page, web support, and a lot of agents who are very helpful if I need it. Knowing the basics, I didn't have a LOT of pesky questions, and even though spent only 6 months elsewhere, they didn't treat me like a rookie. I was able to partner up with a seasoned agent and I'm satisfied.

So much depends on the individual broker and office. Some of this is really, really hard to find out until you've been in the game a while.
I picked my office because it was part of a large franchise and it is a huge listing agency. I figured, the more listings, the more opportunites for open houses and the more likely I was to get listings myself.

A lot of people on this board LOVE the franchise because of the training. Our training was dreadful. The trainer was wonderful - but the way she was forced to work by the management meant she couldn't do her job. Over time I discovered that the four biggest agencies in my area were pretty much the same. They are skidding by on their reputations with the public.I've seen perfectly appalling behavior by top agents from all four of these agencies. All of which is blown off with a wink and nod.

In my current brokerage, the ethics of SOME (not all) of the top producers is beyond belief. About 4-5 agents have brought our branch down to its lowest common denominator. It's well known that the office manager feeds the majority of office-generated warm leads to her personal friends and family. It is well known that another agent bribes the relocation secretary to hand her warm leads BEFORE they get to said manager...all for a price of course. It might not be ethical, and sometimes it may not even be legal - but its tolerated because they PRODUCE. Unfortunately, this is a common thread that runs throughout the top four franchises in the area.

The Mom and Pop agencies - or the ones associated with less well-known franchises don't have that reputation. The primary one I have in mind is pretty good at advertising and their training appears to be one-on-one with the broker and the trainee.

Specific help, including some spreadsheets for income and expense calculations can be found at about.com.

There is also a new agent fast start plan to kick off your business. This is all free and you might find it a help in your new career.