May 2011
Switching Real Estate Offices – What Question Every Real Estate Agent Should Ask
By
People change locations and jump ship in their work places all the time. Real estate agents are no exception. It seems there are always realtors as well as bankers deciding to change locations on a whim. It happens A-Lot. I always get asked what do you think of xyz broker? Do you know them? You think I would be a good fit there? In the housing boom of 2005 – 2006 it wasn’t uncommon to be asked 3 to 4 times a week! Whether you are new to real estate or a seasoned PRO you are familiar with it. It is the inevitable change from one real estate broker to another. We continue to see this switch happening too many times to count, the shift from broker A to broker B or XYZ Realty to ABC Realty. Change is inevitable – especially in the real estate space.
I would always ask the agents: “what are you trying to achieve?” “What is your goal?” I still get the same answers.
- ABC is going to give me leads
- XYZ is less expensive
Real estate agents both run their own businesses and are consumers. A Real estate broker needs a strong value proposition to not only recruit new agents but to keep the ones they currently have. It’s no secret that the real estate profession is super competitive. When an agent considers switching from broker A to Broker B they will oftentimes compile a list of questions to ask the company/broker recruiting them. These questions may center around:
- Cost
- Support
- Commission
- Training
- Culture
- Retirement plan/pension/profit sharing
- No franchise fee
- Business Culture/Structure
But there is one question that agents should not only ask but insist upon. This in my opinion is the most important question a real estate agent can ask.
How are you going to help me?
These days over 90% of consumers find their agent on the internet. How are they going to help you build your business? If what they tell you has nothing to do with “The Internet” there is no way it is the right fit. You as a realtor need to learn to generate your own business. You must learn how to get FOUND!
Support, Training, Culture this is all secondary or at least it should be. Heck, even commission should be secondary. How are you going to get business? And how are you going to create stability for your future and make sure that business keeps coming in?
In the 2009 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, NAR – The National Association of Realtors – included a graphic from the report that showed only 3% of buyers and sellers chose a real estate agent based on the real estate brokerage they were associated with.
- Does this change your idea of the typical real estate brokerage?
- Does it change your idea of that a real estate brokerage should provide?
It’s vital to note that NO broker, NO National Brand, NO brand PERIOD is going to make you a successful real estate agent. You need to really want it because successful real estate agents make themselves. They put themselves in position to be FOUND! They take the tools they have learned and use them to carve out niches in their marketplace. It takes a lot of hard work to be a successful real estate agent – the real estate business is no longer about finding business it is all about having business find you!
The best part is that World Wide Land Transfer has partnered up with the best of the best. We can help you get FOUND! Whether you jumped ship and went with the Brand Name or if you are going off on your own, we are here to help!
To learn more about how we can help you get found and assist you in taking your business to the next level, call now!