I am a new agent. Starting out with little money I am happy to be sponsored by my broker. I am just curious about other firms that seem to have more buisness. I believe that I made the right choice for starters but am not sure if I want to remain long term. I pound the pavement and work very hard for the prospects that I have and advertise when and where I am able.

What are some indicators that mean that it may be time to start looking elsewhere?

I do want to remain where I am because I don't typically like to transfer around but prefer to stay put. I am trying to look after my own interest though, because having an income matters. Perhaps, I will remain where I am at for some time. I just don't want to cheat myself and make less than stellar positions because I am a creature of habit, though.

Honey, we all broker-hop. It's the law.

The grass is always greener. I'm on my 4th company in 10 years. I know other agents that switch it seems every year or so.

Well, personally I think the amount of business you do depends on you more than the broker BUT it also will depend on how well trained you are... I did make my brokerage decision based on the fact that my office is the busiest in the area. That said, I also knew that the one partner/owner and one other agent were both top producers and I wanted to do what THEY were doing - I was getting ZERO training on how to be a realtor at my first brokerage...then there were issues with websites and stuff and it was obvious that I was not going to be compatible w/ my first office. I knew I was going to get the training I needed as a new agent, as well as the support I needed, at the office I've been at now for more than two years.

I do not anticipate EVER leaving (though I won't say it will NEVER happen...I simply have no desire or inclination to change horses midstream, and it would take something catastrophic to get me to leave my broker.

And it's the people here, not the franchise. If they sold this franchise and opened another one, I would move with them...kwim? And they would be just as successful as a mom and pop, I am sure, as they are with our current franchise....just don't tell the franchise I said that. LOL

I think you'll KNOW when you find your "happy place" and you'll also KNOW when it's time to leave....

It's the agent, not the office

I've been with the same brokerage for 9 years. The only time I contemplated leaving was when I felt my production was up and I deserved a higher split. I was able to negotiate a much better split and will probably stick around for a while longer.


But really, as several have said above, it's the agent!

I have to agree that it is the agent and not the office. Your success depends on you, your effort etc etc. Your post sounds like you are the type of agent that will do well no matter where you are, so if you are happy why change? I know it is tough starting out and I wish you good luck with your career!

My reasons for changing 4 times in my career are these.

1st company. They closed up shop.
2nd company. I decided to try to run my own company
3rd company. I closed my own company (which consisted of me in my home) as I wanted to take advantage of the great technology of my current company and get back to a dominate office in my area.

I feel I had valid reasons. Not just company jumping like some agents do.

Im happy where I am at. All it takes for me to talk to a Broker though is the offer of a free lunch, I'll go talk. Brokers here are quite aggressive in recruiting agents, I talk to them all.

When I was at my Re\Max office I was close to the Broker. Still am. He knew I was seeing other Brokers for a free lunch or Dinner. I was not looking to leave. One Broker made me an offer I would have accepted. I Told my Broker the offer I was considering, he matched it to keep me.

When I left his Brokerage he saw the IC contract and had a chance to counter to keep me. He could not do it, so we shook hands I left him. It was all business, not personal. I talk to my old broker quite a bit, I'm assured I'm welcome back anytime I want to comeback.

As Perky said, you will know when its time to leave. Focus on making yourself an asset and don't burn bridges behind you. My current Broker knows I accept lunch and dinners from whoever asks. Thats how he attracted me.

Yeah I built up to over 30 agents and have found it to be a lot of drama. You tell them what you need to do to make them a success but very few listen just mainly complain and make stupid mistakes.

It's funny I get the broker recruiting e-mails and also letters from other brokerages trying to buy me out.

The brokerage does not make the success. The daily actions you take over time will yield awesome results. Currently I am almost at 30 commercial listings and climbing. I haven't even put 20 percent of my plan into place.

Most agents try to throw a big glob of gunk at the wall and hope it sticks. Usually it just falls off the wall. If you take a dart and throw at the wall it sticks. The biggest mistake I see is agents going around trying to make a sale with ANYTHING. Instead find a segment of real estate you like and then decide to become known for it and the best at it.

So in short find a path and target it.If you look at brokerages they all have tools and some have a bad or a great broker.

The feedback I am getting from sellers is that they want a SPECIALIST to help sell the type of property they want to move.

I think many brokers can tell the same story.

[quote=Perky_REALTOR]Well, personally I think the amount of business you do depends on you more than the broker BUT it also will depend on how well trained you are... I did make my brokerage decision based on the fact that my office is the busiest in the area. That said, I also knew that the one partner/owner and one other agent were both top producers and I wanted to do what THEY were doing - I was getting ZERO training on how to be a realtor at my first brokerage...then there were issues with websites and stuff and it was obvious that I was not going to be compatible w/ my first office. I knew I was going to get the training I needed as a new agent, as well as the support I needed, at the office I've been at now for more than two years.

I do not anticipate EVER leaving (though I won't say it will NEVER happen...I simply have no desire or inclination to change horses midstream, and it would take something catastrophic to get me to leave my broker.

And it's the people here, not the franchise. If they sold this franchise and opened another one, I would move with them...kwim? And they would be just as successful as a mom and pop, I am sure, as they are with our current franchise....just don't tell the franchise I said that. LOL

I think you'll KNOW when you find your "happy place" and you'll also KNOW when it's time to leave....

[/quote]

That is exactly what is on the back burner in my head right now! I do not want to burn bridges, but I've noticed an office in the same area that is absolutely stellar and very popular because they seem to offer great customer service and advertise quite a bit, too. I also understand that it may not be so much the office as the agent doing the work. I am available for my prospects or clients pretty much round the clock because I love what I do and I like people.

I have recieved what I believe to be sufficient basic training and having little money to start, chose the best broker for my situation. I like them, they like me. But there doesn't seem to be the buisness. I do take what comes my way and follow up accordingly, I flyer, do my mailings and work very hard for the people who have up to this point been "looking". Kept my contact with them open every week or so.

As far as the training, I just learned how to complete contracts mainly.

It is probably going to be expensive for me to work at the office that I have set my sights on, but I would like to meet with the broker to introduce myself and explore other possibilities. Sometimes when prospects visit, I'll get encouragement that they seem like good possibilities but in reality, not one of them really wants anything more than a few listings to look at and then I can't reach them again. That's what got me thinking. I kind of have a sense that some folks are just looking to see what's available which is cool. But, I can't understand encouragement from office that they seem really motivated when in fact they're really not (at least at the moment ie. several months of not being able to reach them) I can take the truth better than encouragement just to make me feel good.

Lastly, I caught a comment that there's a high turnover rate at the office I'm at and that was the final thing that got me thinking about the topic.