I'm a new agent with a company that nobody knows. I really like my broker and my co-workers. I'm not making much money and I'm finding the company name to be an obstacle when I speak with people regarding listings. I don't know what to do.

My company name is well known in my area. They are not national but big around here. I find it does help and a plus in getting listings.

Starting out, having a firm with a good reputation can be helpful. Since people won't necessarily know you, your company's name will be recognized. It helps more with listings and buyers.

I would go with a company with at least a local reputation.

If the prospective client has not heard of you, but your company then you stand a chance. If they have not heard of you OR your company then you pretty much have little or no chance.

When picking a company, don't go for the one that gives you the biggest split. Its better to earn 50% of $50,000 in commissions than it is to earn 80% of $10,000. Plus, if they are making little money from you your less likely to get good quality support.

Good luck!

That advice would have cost me tens of thousands of dollars in my first year. Go big or go home.

They must be known or they wouldn't be in business. I know a couple of guys in Remax that are in the office ALL DAY. I'm not to far nehind them with client base and will probably break even with them as far as units. They do get a higher commision than me but, I find my office very pleaseing to work in the 2 times a month I'm there. Most of my meetings with the broker take place at his house or at lunch.

Your company name is very important. It is the name that everybody will remember and refer to other people. you need to find a name short, easy to remember and pronounce.
Good luck.

Miami Beach Real Estate / Miami Real Estate

Hi all, new to the board.

I would like to chime in on this subject as I disagree. I have been with a much smaller company in metro Atlanta since I was licensed. Being a self-starter, I felt confident I could sell myself. My first year in real estate I closed 49 transactions (and that was after taking off September - December).

I truly think that while it can be an obstacle, it is easily conquered if prepared by simply stating "Its the agent you are hiring, not the company". It also helps on a listing if their neighborhood or their home has expired listings from "big name companies". "Well, ReMax had the listing for 6 months, how is that working for you?"

I have to agree with Jennifer. I am from a small independent company, and we had 20% of the market share last month. Go where you feel you fit in. I would not be as successful if I didn't work for this company, we work more as a team, we seem to sell most of our listings in house too.
Go with what you are comfortable with.

good debate guys-not let me ask this-how much are you willing to pay for this name?

who provides the best corporate support?

remax? weichert? some other...

I worked for a small no name company when I started and I did pretty good my first year. But I really did not like all of the views that my company had and ended up leaving. However, before I really decided if that was what I should do I started to talk to alot of my current and past clients and found out that the name of the no-name company was going down the tubes. I ahd several of my past clients tell me that they would not use mw again if I stayed where I was. That was really the reason that I left.

I went with the bigger name company, because I got everything that I was getting. My split was the same, I still don't pay for my advertising, there was no desk fee,ect... And I really like the choice that I made. When I say the company name people know who I am talking about and have an opinion of it (now it might not always be good though, but I have not heard that yet!!)

Good luck with your decision.

Amanda

When I started in RE last January, I went for a small local company. In Jan. of this year I changed to a BIG NAME Company...I have doubled my business in the first 3 months already. There are so many more resources with a bigger firm and I also think when your new..it helps to be with a company that is recognized. As far as cost..I pay monthly but am 100%, at my old firm I was 50/50, no monthly. It is definintely working out to by benefit being at 100%!

yeah, I am going to have to take back what I said earlier.

I did leave my "no name company" in Feb and went over to Re/Max. Since then my average home price has doubled in terms of "listings". Before I was listing a lot of homes under $200K, now I am listing half million dollar homes and I land the job before I even walk in the door sometimes.

I had an amazing year last year and had originally hoped to grow by 30%, now I am on track to double it!