Ask any and all questions that come to your mind. As long as your questions are reasonable and pertain to the interview at hand the sky is the limit. Many employers will look at your interest as a good thing and it helps showing your communication skills. If anything your interview will work as an excellent tool for the broker to see how you will act with clients.

Bill Hernandez

www.bryanandbill.com

True; but always try to balance all the Me, Me, Me questions with other questions about the the Business in general, what's their perspective of the community's future; the history of that particular Brokerage; the future of the Industry; how you might integrate your past experience or education and hobbies into a Real Estate Career with them.

Make no mistake about it, you're there because you're an economic animal; but be sure you demonstrate an interest in things beyond maximizing that next commission check; like "the Softer side of Sears".

I've been on plenty of interviews in the business world, where it is 90% them asking questions of you. It seems that in the real estate world, it's much more balanced. Would it be improper for me to bring a pen/pad and write some of the broker's responses down? In my past interviews, I wouldn't do that, but it seems more ok in this case. What do you think?

I think that taking a pad and pen would show that you mean business—nothing wrong with that. I would do it.

Just remember to jot and not write. If you write out complete words and take too long you might get “disconnected”. You don’t want the interviewer waiting for you to finish. I would just jot down stuff and nod my head or something while I’m doing it so that the interviewer knows I’m still with him/her.

I used to sell boats, and there was a saying that you never knew really what you wanted in a boat till you BOUGHT one. Then you knew just wkat you liked and disliked! It was a the same for me with a broker: my first broker had protected farming areas. That was the worst. I am very happy where I am now, Prudential, except for one thing. When a call comes in on a listing, it goes to the listing agent. if they aren't in the office they are given the contact's name and phone number to call back. As much as this is good for the listing agent, if you don't have any listings, you don't get any ups, unless they want to speak to an agent RIGHT NOW, or they call on a listing that is not with our company. So their up policy is one question I would have for my next broker.

[quote=estatereal]also....this is a pieve of mine.


do not go with the company email address. for example.... TravisF.

if you went with a broker named realty sells the website might be realtysells.com and the broker would "give" you an email address such as TravisF@realtysells.com<<<<<<<do not use that! instead purchase for a nominal fee from godaddy.com or any of those places(go daddy is the only one i use/know) a domain name and make your email your domain name....i personally like...

firstname@firstnamelastname.com example>>>>>

Travis@TravisFranklin.com


like i said earlier you will not be at your first brokerage forever. get an email address taht WILL be with you forever. [/quote]

GREAT ADVICE

Questions to ask your broker? Well, ask him/her who is the most successful agent on the staff. Then ask that agent if you can assist then in any way for a trade off of knowledge.

What question should I ask a broker?

• 
  1. What about me made you agree to interview me?
  2. What do you think makes a successful agent?
  3. What will you require of me?
  4. How successful are your agents?
  5. What fees will I need to pay monthly?
  6. Do you coop on printed advertisement?
  7. Do I get an office, a desk, a chair - or how is that handled?
  8. Can I stay late or wok evenings or weekends?
  9. Do you provide call forwarding when I get calls?
  10. Where is my parking spot?
  11. Does your staff provide secretarial service to agents?
  12. Does your office provide opportunity time (floor duty)?
  13. What are the rules for handling calls on office listings?
  14. Is there a way to secure my personal items here at the office?
  15. Do you have weekly meetings I need to attend?
  16. What training opportunities do you provide?
  17. Do you have an office manual?
  18. Does your office have a policies and procedure manual?
  19. Does the office ever handout leads?
  20. Does your office receive referrals for agents?
  21. Who controls the office heat/cooling?
  22. How many agents do they have now?
  23. How many agents have they hired in the past 3 tears?
  24. Where do they rank in their MLS?
  25. Where does the company website rank city/state real estate?
  26. How does the office handle leads off the website?
  27. How do they handle E&O, and liability ins?
  28. How many listings does the office have at present?
  29. Can agents take their clients and listings with them if they leave?
  30. Has the office been sued?
  31. For what?
  32. What was the outcome(s)
  33. Is the office currently involved in any action as a defendant or plaintiff in any court, mediation, Association or MLS?
  34. How long has your most senior agent been with you?
  35. Does the office do open houses?
  36. What are the top 10 reasons why agents work for the office?
  37. Do you have regular office parties?
  38. Do you have to pay commission when you buy or sell your own properties?
  39. How do you handle in office disagreements?
  40. Is there a strict office dress policy?
  41. Is there FREE coffee and bagels?

With the liability a broker in charge actually has, I wouldn't care if I had an email address with their xyzre.com attached to it so long as I had access to it 24/7.

I wouldn't care if they had to approve every-page on a website, newspaper ad,mag ad, blog post, or tweet, if it had to do with business.

Just remember the broker in charge can't get out of being responsible for you ***** yet.

Yet = just why many brokers and franchises have pushed to make all real estate agents brokers - and at some point totally responsible for themselves.

Until then, I would be putting more restriction on agents then what I see going on in the market as a general rule. Far to many loose cannons out here that would make me very nervous if they worked for me - just read these forums - lol

Make sure you speak to other realtors who work for the broker too - they can be a wealth of information...

Write down things that come to mind. It will help your interview go much smoother. Ask about fees, leads, training programs and if they provide a mentor.

1. what are the hours
2. do i have to call if i will be late
3. how much vacation time do we get
4. do we get paid weekly or every other week
5. does vacation get rolled over to the next year or do we have to use it all each year
6. what is my starting salary
7. do i get reimbursed for gas


just kidding. the lists above are better than what i would have come up with

Agreed, biggest thing to ask a broker is: commission split and training. For new agents training is a very important factor!

My wife and I cannot thank you and this forum for the very insightful and beneficial help given so far. The two of us will be hopefully deciding on one of two agency's during this coming week. The appropriate questions were prompted by your suggestions. We met with both Century 21 and Coldwell Banker.

The Century 21 has offered the following provisions. A 50/50 split subjected to increases depending upon future performance. The managing agent is the spokesperson for all leads to us that come initially and we act as observers. (We will ask what his fee is for this.) (We will also ask what the policy is for our doing open houses for other agents.) The broker also takes leads. We are not bothered by very little discussion about training as we have some excellent training materials previously purchased and see the weight and value along with the time it will take to absorb its contents. By the way, it's Danielle Kennedy's "How To List and Sell Real Estate in the Twenty-First Century." Training services are provided in the Century 21 site. They will pay for the E/O and each of us will pay for the MLS services. They will allow a domain name. They will provide access to office and procedures information. They allow up time if the phone call does not ask for a specific individual. No franchise fees are requested. Advertising costs are absorbed in the following way: Half for postage; totally on their part for cards except pictures; and totally for publicity if not just self promotional advertising. For self promotional advertising, they will pay for half in one specific newspaper we mentioned. $39.00 (our cost) at each closing for nationwide publicity in a national known magazine. (Short sales are done via agent and lawyer that is utilized for this purpose.)

Coldwell Banker offers the following. A 50/50 split with incremental increases as production increases. Training is done by accompanying others and observing. An enormous training program is provided involving some one or two times each evening. Caravan groups are done weekly. Open houses allow for any potential buyers to be credited to host. We each will pay for the E/O for $195 per year and each of us will pay for the MLS services. There is a 6% franchise fee out of the commission and then split. There is a 2 and one half percent advertising fee withdrawn from commission which is also split. They will allow for a domain name. The broker takes no leads.

We are open to any suggestions or input on something missing or recommendations you may wish to give us with these matters. Again much appreciation and we have great respect for this site and its many forums! Many thanks for your helpful assistance so far!

avidstudent

I work for Neil Schwartz, from Century 21 Masters and we're really heavy on "how to find the right office".... I would say that it's a matter of what they can help you achieve

commission is really bullS**** - 90% of 0 is still 0. You need the skills to become a top producer and for a new agent, that should be what you look for in a new office.

This is the best reason for having your own domain in your email address...it carries with you along your journey. Good for you!