I recently left an internationally known franchise for an independent company that has no real estate presence in my area. They have 1 small office in the Atlanta area, but are not recognizable at all to anyone in my service area. But they do have a logo and a website, and seem to be modestly successful in their service area. The owner is around my age. His business model is very different than what we are used to in this area, but it works for them in Atlanta, so it should work for us in Houston county.
I welcomed the change that allowed me to express more of my creative side when acquiring new listings and new buyers, and using the mortgage companies of my choice or my buyer's choice. I want to think for myself and I want to advertise as I want to.
I no longer have to contend with franchise fees, franchise requirements of paperwork, quotas set by the broker and I realize that the franchise affiliation does not make me any better of an agent. I realize that the MLS and the NAR provides me with most of the advantages of the franchises. With IDX, a current website and up-to-date technology, I can compete with the franchises.
I can no longer afford to wait for the franchise name on the sign to do the job for me. Being an agent with an independent company means that I am a pro-active agent and my business depends on me to budget and design a marketing plan that will surpass other agents to get the job done. Again, my livelihood depends on it.
I pay more attention to my own website now, and am most concerned with the content and the marketing of myself, rather than relying on the franchise to market for me. On listing appointments, I focus more on me and my personal statistics. I tell my customers that no matter my affiliation, ultimately it is the other agents I market to, and we all cooperate no matter our company affiliation.
My broker/owner has time to sit down with me, and discuss my concerns and listen to my ideas, and he has the ability to change courses on anything we desire. He sets the commission splits, not the franchise. We are not bound by the franchise requirements, but make our own way as we go. We make decisions based on what is ethical foremost, and secondly, what is going to make money. If we need to change the rate of commission, we will. If we chose to turn away a listing, referral or a buyer, we can.
I am proud to be a part of my company, and if we succeed, I have only myself to thank, and if we fail, again, I only have myself to blame. But I will know that I tried and gave it my all, because I had to. I feel empowered and I know that I am accountable for my own results.
Comments(4)