If you haven't yet selected a real estate office to bless with your presence, here are some ideas to ponder.
Be assured that there is a place for you. If you are marginally presentable looking and have a pulse (most days), a real estate office will "hire" you. In fact, the interview process is more about you interviewing them, rather than the other way around. Big Name companies specialize in recruiting and training new agents fresh out of school and will be happy to talk with you. You might even feel a little flattered at their attention and persuasive recruiting tactics!
That said, smaller boutique companies may not recruit rookie agents. If they do, they tend to be quite selective, so if you prefer to start your career at a boutique firm, you may have to actually sell yourself to the broker. Brokerages in small towns or resort communities may also be a little harder to break into than those in a metropolitan area.
When I first got my license, I was told that the urban brokers (where I wanted to work) wouldn't even talk to brand new licensees. Being shy, I didn't push the issue, I just interviewed in the suburbs and received "offers" from every suburban company I talked to. I chose to work in a Big Name office in the foothills outside of Denver because it sounded glamorous to sell mountain real estate. Never mind that I knew nothing about mountain real estate, or cared, really. I couldn't relate to the other brokers in the office or to any of the prospects I gathered who wanted a mountain lifestyle. I was a city girl and I understood city dwellers.
After nine months, I transferred to another office in a suburb of Denver. That was an even worse fit for me; while I didn't really connect with mountain buyers, I was utterly baffled by suburban ones! Tri-level homes built in 1975 with popcorn ceilings just weren't my thing. Six months later, I moved again, this time to a boutique firm in central Denver. Ah, the euphoria and camaraderie of working with agents who knew the difference between a Bungalow and a Cottage, a Denver Square and a Victorian.
My point is that you should strive to work in an office that fits your personality and interests, whether it is a specific neighborhood or market, an age group, a market specialty or just general ambience. Some offices are quite formal and stuffy; others are somewhat casual or even dumpy. You'll find corporate firms to be beige, boutiques more colorful and eclectic. Opportunities for referrals and good open houses will come more naturally (and be more enjoyable) if you are working in an atmosphere that feels like home. You will probably "know" when you're in the right place. Wait for that feeling.
However, don't fret if your first office doesn't work out. It's no big deal to move and, after a year in the business, you'll have a much better idea of what you're looking for.
A Word About Splits & Fees
You'll drive yourself batty trying to compare the financial implications among the different brokerage firms you interview. Some charge you an up-front fee which pays for your signs, your first business cards and your E&O insurance. Others charge no fee and provide all these items, but offer a lower split. (As you probably know, your split is the percentage of your commissions you get to keep. If you are on a 60/40 split, you keep 60%, your brokerage firm gets 40%.)
When you're brand new, there probably isn't a lot of room to negotiate the split or fees. Just select the company that seems to best suit your personality and your need for training and/or personalized mentoring. You can worry about negotiating a better split after you've proven yourself.
Your relationship with your broker and the general warm fuzzy feelings you have (or don't have) are far more critical to your success than any minor variations in fees. Your initial split and/or fees paid won't dramatically affect your bottom line if you are at all productive. But if you don't feel good about the place you're working in, your productivity and motivation will be greatly affected.
So... Go with your gut... and... Get to work!

http://www.sellwithsoul.com/
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Confidence-Builders for the Rookie Real Estate Agent
copyright Jennifer Allan 2007
28 Comments on First Things First ~ Some Thoughts on Choosing Your Office
Good points-
People need to realize that Company Size Does NOT Equal Company Quality.
Granted, when I wrote that I was thinking more about Mortgage companies, but the same logic applies.
Don't just fall for the big companies, more often than not it's a big name, with very little quality behind it.
Very good post for new agents. There are 3 Questions I live by in business as well as personal, and can be applied while looking for a new office/broker:
Do I like them?
Do I trust them?
Do I respect them?
If either end with a no, walk away and good luck.
Ray Nellum
Great thoughts. In real estate we are constantly competing with other agents, even those in our office. This presents problems in some offices and makes it a key to find an office where you like the other agents and staff.
Very helpful things to consider about "fit" with a brokerage. I would have really found this helpful (along with so many other posts!) to have read this when I was starting out. I do not fit well in my office (very nice people, friendly, supportive, mostly ethical...I have a problem with agents representing both sellers & buyers and paid for double commission) because I really do not fit the area....I have always wanted to live in the metro/urban area. I have been focusing my business there and will eventually buy a home in one of my favorite Urban Villages and work in another office.
Thanks for the post!
Great stuff. Thanks for the post! You do very well describing what quite a few of the newbies feel like when they go around. I remember the same thing when I first started.
I love the name sell with soul also!
Very good stuff!
Jennifer - Excellent post.
When I chose my first company (18 years I'm still on my second) I went there because they were the ones that were honest with me. I visited with several offices where the attitude was "gee, all you have to do is sell one house and you've made a big profit over your start up money"
The Broker that I chose told me that I was going to have to work at it if I wanted to build a real career. I did and I did. They gave me a lot of guidance and I did what was suggested.
The new agent may want to avoid the "agent mills"... the ones where if you throw enough new agents at the wall... some may stick. (That can get messy!)
If more poeple spent some up front ime interviewing brokers and put more thought in slecting an office there would be less agents bouncing form company to company. There is never a guarantee, but you will increase you chances of finding the right office the first time.
I might also add to the list: The location of the office.
Jennifer:
I like the way you describe the movement from each type of brokerage. Each having their own unique personality which can have something to do with geography in a place like Denver. This is a great post.
Ken
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