Regarding the email, I agree that you should probably not utilize the brokers email address.


Personally, I prefer creating branding around something other than yourself. So, going with firstname@firstnamelastname.com wouldn't be my first choice, as if you are going to create branding from scratch - might as well go with something that can be utilized in the extreme long term. Something like "office@XYZTeam.com" or some such - that ties back to your website, and has the flexibility of future growth for when you grow your business into a team (and in the extreme long term: when you go to sell your business, you won't have the "well, its got your name as the branding" splattered all over it.)

another important things to ask about are:

* "do not call" policy - some broker restrict cold calling. if a broker tells you anything in the lines of "we don't have one" or "do whatever you want" - WALK AWAY!

* BPO policy - some broker don't allow doing BPO, others require comission split on those. it's only important if you aim to doing these.

You only need to ask one question:

Do you provide me with Leads?? If so, what's the split and how many?



Everything else is secondary. If you don't have Leads, you have no Clients, with no clients you have no sales, with no sales you make no money, with no money, you quit the business and start over in some other job.

Get it? Leads Leads Leads.

Get your own leads! If I had to depend on my broker for leads, I'd be one sorry agent.

I did things a little different. I found my mentor, then joined that brokerage. But, to be honest, I had gotten my license once before for a short period of time, and I went to the brokerage that my mentor suggested. Ten years later, I got my license back and joined the brokerage with my mentor and things are going a lot better.

"Get your own leads! If I had to depend on my broker for leads, I'd be one sorry agent."

Perky you are the exception not the rule when it comes to generating your own leads with your marketing background.

Most new agents came from a 9 to 5 JOB and have no clue how to run a business. If you give them leads they can close them all day long.I would say only a small percent of us maybe 10 really knows how to bring in the business. I have tried for years on here to tell people how to generate leads. Most STILL did not want to do it or just wanted a lead handed to them and pay the refferal fee.

This is why with my agents most say after I tell them how to do it just give me the leads and I will pay a higher split. I charge 100 percent and a trans fee but if they want a lead it's 70/30 plus a trans fee.

I've never worked at an office that provided leads in any form. I agree with Perky - if you can't generate your own business, there's no way you'll survive. Leads provided by your broker or franchise are just bonuses.

i dont like structure. i dont like to sit and learn with everyone else (yes, i do share:-). i dont like low commission splits based on what someone says they will teach me or give me. i dont like broker rules (outside of realtor rules and state law).<<<an example of a broker rule would be that i cannot have a website or that i cannot call expireds. some brokers micromanage and i just want to be left alone as long as i stay within the rules.
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Are you new or an existing realtor? Reason I ask is that if you are new it may be good to learn what the company wants and how they can help motivate you. Now if you are existing and have been at it a while I completely understand. My experience has been that there are drawbacks to a Broker that will let you work Wild West style. It is great for not being "controlled" but as a result I felt like I was loosing out on motivation, structure, goals, etc. Now you may be awesome at doing those things on your own which is great. But people who don't want some of the things you mentioned typically aren't highly productive or motivated. <---This is not directed toward you.

I suggest that you really look at EXIT Realty as a place to be an agent if you have one in your locality. It is a progressive company with great training and commission splits and the opportunity to make more than 100%.

I agree with Catus. I don't like rules either, never have and never will. I have always done my own thing and was in the top 10 for the southwest region of Re/Max consistently until I opened up my own shop. While some individuals need structure, structure isn't my bag. As far as "great splits", anything less than 100% isn't a great split in my book.

Before approaching to your real estate broker, you must be clear about your requirements in your mind. Your budget, aim for buying or selling, period to accomplish the deal, location, kind of property like parameters should be fixed. Just ask the questions to check whether the offered property is as per your parameters or not.

When I meet with a new broker or someone who wants to give me a job, I like to ask what they can offer me. Put the ball in their court and see where it goes. If you have an EXIT franchise in your area check it out. Each EXIT agent has a sponsor & if you chose an experienced sponsor, he/she will always be with you...also great splits!

Ask the broker scenario type questions. Such as if this happened, how would you tell me to handle it? If I had to fire a client, how I should I approach it?

Ask if you called them at 8:00 at night and needed help writing a contract would they answer the phone or call you back right away?

How they handle certain situations can tell you a lot about who you will be working with. Don't be afraid to ask tough questions.

Many years ago, I was cutting my teeth with a Broker who was, unbeknownst to me, pre-occupied. He never came into the Office on weekends. I took all walk-in traffic on Saturdays and Sundays. I took all phone calls. All other Agents were Part-timers who worked out of their homes.

When I had a problem, I expected to reach him by phone. He might be out cutting hay and wouldn't call me back when he got down off his tractor. On Sundays, he could not be disturbed while the Football Game was on. His Wife would say he doesn't want to be bothered! I wanted to say "Well, this affects you too !" But I didn't.

I had to learn by doing. Within one year, his Wife left him for another squeeze, and filed for Divorce. Then he had to file for Bankruptcy. And then the Agency had to fold. I had my Commissions tied up as a Creditor pending the Bankruptcy.

Evidently the Business had not been the primary focus of his life, nor had his Family. Maybe it was Football ? Maybe he was experiencing a 2nd Childhood and couldn't focus ? He must of been on a different Planet.

I'd never seen anything like it, so I don't know what questions would have been appropriate to warn me in advance . . . . or what the correct answers would have been. Without other financial resources, it could have been disastrous. It was for those who knew even less about what was happening . . . . they were blind-sided.

You just don't ever want to tie your Dinghy to a Sinking Ship.