What was his reaction? What did you expect at that point?

I'd emphasize the fact that your success will be a direct reflection of your work ethic. Expecting others to guide you to success is not going to give you the results that you'd like (and it is not realistic). Best of luck.

Not trying to be disagreeable on this but when SWRSDC posted "The big brands also often have structured training programs. You can expect someone making $300 per transaction to invest the time in training you. He's got to go out and sell houses too to make a living. If you're with a big brand, with a full time manager who doesn't sell, his or her only job is to make you successful." but the facts in many markets are that the "manage" or "broker" is generally also listing and selling nowadays except in those really big mega offices.

Of the top 10 "agents" in our MLS (YTD) seven are brokers or managers.

Thats why you have choices when you affiliate. My real point was people just getting started should be more concerned about training and support than commission splits.



You should look at how those numbers are figured. Are agents under these brokers or managers doing business in their names, or in the broker/manager's names?

For instance I have a team of 4...everything is done in my name. So my partner's and our agents' volume shows up in the MLS as being from me...even though its really not.

Actually of the seven that I mentioned, only one is the head of a "team". Four of the others are REO brokers with assistants who are unlicensed, and the other two work by themselves. I know all of them personally.

REO brokers are kind of a different thing though...

I guess you need to get in the last word. My point was (and is) that unless you go to an impersonal mega office, you will always have a broker (or manager) that lists and sells homes. Whether they do REO or retail or commercial or rentals, it will always be the case.
In my years before opening my own shop, every broker (or office manager in one case) devoted at least 3/4 of their time to listing and selling and less than 1/4 of their time to managing the office or training new agents.

Oh please...I don't "need to have the last word". I couldn't care less about having the last word on some internet forum. The REO model of doing business is certainly different from a model of doing business that services non-corporate clients. However, I certainly have a point of view, and its obviously different from yours. Thats the whole point isn't it?

I'm still in the same "mega office" I started in. When I started there were about 90 agents and a great non-selling manager with 30 years experience, and three selling assistant managers. Very structured trainings, several hours per week. Accountability coaching in a group and one on one basis. Great opportunities to do open houses for agents to meet prospects, good floor time opportunities to meet prospects. I had a fellow agent who was a one on one mentor when I first got started. I have built great relationships with my colleagues, its a cooperative atmosphere, I've had a good many inter-office referrals. When I was new and had nothing I went out and sold that brand with 65% market share. I owe a lot of my success to the start this office afforded me.

Now, because of the company closing and consolidating a lot of offices we have over 200 agents, the same great non-selling manager, another great non-selling manager, and two selling assistant managers. Did I like the office more when it was 90 people? Sure.

My company has 65% market share here and all our managers are non-selling managers. Plenty of other companies that don't have mega-offices here with non-selling managers too. All the big hitters in this marketplace pretty much work at this company...very hard for independent brokerages here.

Now today this office makes a great home for my team, we get support, all the built in training that got me started available for my agents with no effort from me, and production has allowed me to negotiate a compensation plan that nothing but going out on my own could compete with. We actually have our own brokerage we do leasing and property management at and could sell from too, but we choose to stay here and happily pay the company their cut.

Just yesterday the office gave me a $1.3M referral. Just last week I got an $825k listing and got invited to do a listing presentation because I work for this company.

So, my point is theres more than one way to skin a cat. I got started in 2004, a little more recently than you I assume. There is no doubt in my mind getting started in this modern business would have been harder had I not done it here.

So thats advice I'm going to pass on. Disagree with me? Then disagree and offer your experience, but don't say I'm wrong because I'm not.

Ok back to me. You both need to bull fight somewhere else. Sorry i haven't responded in a while, been busy. I am doing rentals and learning a lot. I got 2 buyer leads and am learning a lot. My broker of record is awesome. He challenges me and educates at the same time.

I understand what some of you said, but I am leaving a few things out, either way it does not matter anymore. For me it was important to connect with the broker which I am now. He is young and ambitious and seems to have a lot of drive to grow his young company. I am happy with my move and realized what I was missing.

Yes the 100% didn't have the best trainig, but I don't think it was that, I just didn't mesh with the broker the way I wanted too. When your broker tells you that you have to door knock to create leads, and online presence is not that important. Hmmmmmmm I want to do condos.

The toronto condo market is exploding and I am told to door knock and hand out seeds. Sorry that is not me. wHY not be around someone who knows the condo market like where I am now.

I agree 100%, chemistry with your broker/manager is very important.

I agree. The big brands make it so much easier when you are starting out. They give you instant credibility that you don't even know if you have.

Selling a recognizable brand is key, and until you can make yourself that "brand" let the big names do it for you.

For a new agent I would focus on education. Sometimes a large brokerage firm may not be the best place for a new agent because they don’t have the time to teach you the way you need to be taught. Try to find an agent in the office that will take the time to teach you. A lot of veteran agents prefer larger brokerage firms because they don’t want to be bugged. After you get the education you need then it’s time for marketing. The more leads you have coming in the better you will get with handling them and the more deals you will close. Good Luck.