I am currently working for several years in an office that is declining in the market share as well as having a difficult manager, who seems to be undermining the agents business. I becoming increasingly unhappy in this situation and looking to move to Remax. I am not a major producer and on a commission split, but I feel like Remax is not just where top producers go but where agents go TO BE TOP PRODUCERS. I am just somewhat nervous with the desk fees in this declining market. I would really appreciate any honest opinions...Am I crazy for thinking of going there not as a top producer already?

I used to work for Re/Max. I loved it. The only reason I left back in 06 is because of the change in my market and my unwillingness to pay the desk fees anymore. The management was great, the franchise was great, the people were great- I was just too cheap. Now I am somewhere where I pay a split but I don't have to pay for anything or even take care of my own website, etc. We even have a marketing dept and and IT dept at our disposal. It took a huge element of stress out of my life. For me it is worth it, but it may not be for others it just depends on your situation. If you will get the support you need from Re/Max that you are not getting at your current office it may be a good fit for you to help move you to the next level, thus making the desk fees worth it. Good luck!

on edit: when I went there I was by no means a top producer, and when I left I wasn't either, but working there with top producers was very inspiring and educational.

LOL I only know a few "top producing" Remax agents.

It's not the brokerage, it's the agent. Two of the top producers I know used to work at a hokey little mom and pop brokerage and they were top producers while they were there. They were top producers when they were at Century 21, and they are top producers now at my office....Weichert...which incidentally...our office is topping all other offices in my entire MLS for residential sales two years in a row. (There are 4 ReMax offices in my area.)

Go where you can blossom. Maybe it's RE/MAX, maybe it's Coldwell Banker...Maybe it's Century 21...but rest assured those top producers are top producers because of THEMSELVES, not because of the brokerage.

I chose my office because yeah, it was successful - BUT I wanted to learn what they were doing to be so successful and they were willing to teach me.

I went to RE/MAX a little less then a year ago. I had my own company out of my house and one agent under me. Why did I goto RE/MAX. Well my franchise has affordable fees. Either $300 a month for 70/30 split up to $14k then it's 100%. Or $1000 a month for 100%. I think they charge extra if you have an office in the building, but I and my wife have our office at our house. I picked RE/MAX over the other 4 larger offices in my area as they are #2 in my market. #1 in my market charges agents about $20k a year to be there. I also wanted a national brand. I've closed about $700k this year that I wouldn't have had if I hadn't been at RE/MAX. I know that isn't much for some of you, but it is here and it more then pays for my office fees. I also went with my RE/MAX franchise as they are the leader with technology in our market. No one else comes close. Another interesting thing in my area with RE/MAX is that RE/MAX International has their headquarters in Denver which isn't far away and have some great training classes in addition to the online stuff they offer.

Plus going to RE/MAX I'm breaking even on what I spent just to run my own company without me having to worry about the management aspects of a company.

I am with REMAX too. I started here 10 years back, obviously as a green agent. I am not a Top Producer, but I do a solid whack at it, last year about 5 million in sales (my biggest year to date). This year will be less than that. I spend about 15k a year to be there. 5k of that are expenses I would have otherwise, maybe 6k. So I spend around $9600 on the balloon as I like to say. I keep 100% of everything I bring in. I love it. I do not maintain office space there, but do so at home.

My broker figures our 'effective splits' for us. He uses the splits (with names washed out) to help recruit. Total $ in vs. total $ to him. I am about 90/10 now. Even when I was coming up the income curve I was 82/18. It really is a good deal when you take an honest look at the numbers.

What could I do with the $9600? Alot I suppose. Open my own shop and join the Boards, purchase my own E and O. My broker charges me about $150 each year for that now. From what I have read on these boards I would be paying about 10x that. Believe me I have considrered it, but I am happy here.

To be honest I somewhat question still my decision of joining RE/MAX from my own company. But after my wife became an agent about 2 weeks ago and joined me at RE/MAX I'm glad I did. Why? Because she speaks spanish so now she is getting every call that comes into our office asking for a spanish speaker. And referrals from those that don't speak spanish. IF I was still on my own she would have joined my company and wouldn't have gotten those calls. And I can help her as she is new.

I've been a RE/MAX agent for 10 years. The referrals I get from other RE/MAX agents and the boost from the name recognition of the franchise have justified the fees. Some of the referrals have definitely kept me alive during some tough spots. How about a $1M "do-me" deal or two? How about being asked to write a $600K cash offer by an agent who did not want to write on his own listing?

I have been with two different RE/MAX offices in the last 4 years. I left the largest split commission company in my area to go to RE/MAX. The best thing is the 95% split and no split on BPO money. The only thing I do not like about RE/MAX is there is little time spent with other agents in the office. I find it very different from where I was before as there was a lot of fun and interaction between your co-workers. I am glad I made the change and would do it again.

Do Remax agents get very many leads from remax.com? I have always wondered if the national recognition really helps agents get more business.

Yes, Leadstreet is a big one, but I do not have a lot of experience working the leads I get. Broker has control of sending them out. Mine will send them to you if you pounce on them. I tend not to have the time. If one comes in on your listing it comes to you regardless.

It is a real source of business.

I know each office is independently owned but I have heard from a few different people that REMAX is not good for newer agents because they don't offer training and it's expensive. That's one of the reasons why the commission splits are higher than your traditional 50-60% offices when you first start out. Is that true?

Training usually does not occur on a one to one basis in my office. My broker will spend time with you as a new or newer agent to teach you about contracts and basic prospecting. I think he is unique in that though. RSN (REMAX Satellte Network) I think is now called REMAX University. It offers a ton of educational stuff. I did my CPDE there. But if you are new I do not know about the offerings and how they will specifically help you. The satellite is free and so is some of the programming, but others do cost money. I paid to attend the CPDE. Other times broker will order pizza or say bring your lunch, and sit for an hour to watch something on free.
The best way to address your unique concerns is to talk with the broker about your unique concerns, just as you would ask other brokers. I think you might be suprised.
My honest answer is that REMAX is more like a scavenger hunt. It is all there (and more) for you if you know where to look, who to ask, and have the will to do it. Most likely you will not be led through a process of training.


EDIT NOTE...............Glad to stand corrected, see below. Thanks Colorado.

I'm going to correct you a bit Doin. RE/MAX university is now on demand online. The satellite thing is gone. But they have lots of good stuff online. Which in my opinion is better then sitting in a classroom, but that's me. My office does very little training for new agents. My wife as I mentioned above is new, but she hasn't gotten any new agent training from my franchise besides a day long class on all the tools she can use. That was expected though so I'm not complaining. So I wouldn't recommend a brand new agent in my area to join RE/MAX. In fact I can't think of a company in my area that would be good for a brand new agent with regard for training. Maybe Keller Williams, but really I have no idea.

I have considered going to Remax a couple of times. I interviewed with the local office here and I was told that the total monthly fees were around $1,400. Does that sound high or average?

It sounds insane if you ask me.