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Yikes! Is a Real Estate Office Manager My Competition?

By Mary Yonkers

Education & Training with Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate

October 28, 2013 06:55 AM

Yikes! Is a Real Estate Office Manager My Competition?

My manager

Yikes! Are you competing for listings only to learn that your real estate office manager is one of your competitors?

My manager

Yikes! Does your office manager/broker have more listings than anyone in the office? Do you wonder why?

My manager

Yikes, is your office manager doing open houses in same neighborhood as you are? Who is scooping the prospective buyers at the open houses?

Yikes, doesn't Pennsylvania Real Estate law require the broker/manager to supervise & train all agents?

Yikes, how can I rely on my manager for honest, non-biased assistance when he/she is my competition?

My manager

Somedays I feel like my manager/broker is just eating my lunch rather than helping me feed my family.

Yes, Pennsylvania Real Estate law does require the broker/manager to supervise & train its agents. To learn more about Pennsylvania license law join Alan Kells and Mary Yonkers in Real Estate Pre-license class in Erie, PA www.alankells.com

November 9, 10, 16, 17, 2013 (Fundamentals)
December 14, 15, 21, 22 , 2013 (Practice)
9:00-4:30
3036 West 12th Street Erie, PA 16509 (building behind Animal Ark Pet Hospital)
$178 class + $49 text
1-814-453-4274 or www.alankells.com

Personally, I was very, very lucky to begin my Real Estate career in 1986 with a wonderful broker who was not only an excellent trainer, but my mentor who got my career off to fantastic start. Later he encouraged me to get my broker's license and move into management. Mary Yonkers

Yikes! Is a Real Estate Office Manager My Competition?

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Toni Weidman

Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL

20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Mary, I began my career with a very competive broker who owned the waterfront subdivisions in our area. And, she laughed if one of us actually got a listing appointment in "her" areas. We never got the listings there; eveyrone knew her and listed with her. I didn't stay there too long. Good blog topic, suggested.

Oct 29, 2013 02:27 AM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Roger, I would love to have you as guest speaker in my next class. Just a short drive via I-90.

Marc, I think I could work for your broker, but not the one Toni mentioned in her comment. #9

Rich, add me to that list. Unfortunately there are still quite a few competing managers.

Sharee, yes, they still exist here & there.

Lottie, not me either. Thanks.

Jimmy, good for you. I would leave, too. Makes us wonder why agents stay . . . (that's another post . . . )

Oct 29, 2013 03:04 AM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Doug, love the KARMA conveyed in your comment. Like you & lots of others I would be flying out the door so fast his head would spin for a week.

Suzanne, thanks for putting into words what I was trying to convey in my post. It is definitely not an environment conducive to learning.

Toni, ugh, ugh! Your first broker and Doug's former broker must have gone to the same Real Estate class on how not to be a broker. At least not a broker who could attract good agents. Thanks for the Suggest!

Oct 29, 2013 03:25 AM

Terri Woods

Benton, Linn and Douglas Counties - Days Creek, OR

Selling Homes and Land in Oregon

Mary - Honestly, I cannot imagine how the managing broker could also have enough time to tend well to their real estate business. I am busy enough as a real estate agent and adding the responsibilities as a managing broker would make me not have a life! And I have a life! Thanks so much for your blog.

Oct 29, 2013 04:21 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Hi Mary, would love to attend this class. We worked at a large franchise when we first got into Real Estate, not only did the broker take listings, his brother was on the staff, and seemed to get a large share listings too. It was so frustrating.

Oct 29, 2013 04:23 AM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Tern, I was a full time manager for fifteen years and did not list & sell. Helping my agents be successful was my top priority. Good luck as an agent in Santa Cruz and Monterey.

Debb, what a double whammy having a competing broker and his brother on staff. Yes, that would be frustrating enough to make agents walk out the door, I am sure.

Oct 29, 2013 04:37 AM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Mary, all the brokers here work against their agentss, they list and sell. My broker has over 100 listings. I was shocked when I moved here from Arlington VA. Brokers there were always training and managing the office, reading contracts, etc.

Oct 29, 2013 12:17 PM

Endre Barath, Jr.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA

Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Mary sadly it happens all the time...if I had competition like that I would say time to Relocate! What I like less is when a manager "feeds" the favorites and holds his hand out in the back, Endre

Oct 29, 2013 03:36 PM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

There are many brokers and managers that also list and sell properties. They are probably the ones that make the most money. Those that are not comfortable in this kind of environment should move to another office.

Oct 29, 2013 10:52 PM

Amy Gutschow

RE/MAX - Sheboygan, WI

Professional Real Estate

Yikes is right Mary! Good luck!

Oct 30, 2013 09:08 AM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Mary, it is a double edged sword, being a newbie years and years ago, I preferred someone who actually did sell so they could relate in the field, but not too much that would be competition.

Oct 30, 2013 11:25 PM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Rebecca, Erie has brokers who compete, but most brokers do not compete. New agents fare better in non-compete environment. Endre, you brought up another pet peeve of so many agents 'favs.' That will be another post. Roy, good observation about selling managers. Thanks, Amy. Joan, thanks for your perspective. As you said it is the office culture that makes a difference in teaching by example and competing with your students.

Oct 31, 2013 12:54 AM

Dan and Amy Schuman

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH

Luxury Home Specialists

Seems like a natural conflict if a manager ever competes against agents.

Oct 31, 2013 04:04 AM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Dan & Amy, we are so fortunate that we do not experience that at Our company. Enjoy the convention in Cleveland.

Oct 31, 2013 04:29 AM

Lisa Friedman

Great American Dream Realty - Essex, VT

35 Years of Real Estate Experience!

Mary, any agent would be fortunate to have you as a teacher.

Nov 05, 2013 11:45 AM

Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties

Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN

The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Mary, I have heard many agent tht are dissatified with a competing broker. Then in other situations the broker shares lisitngs and opportunities. It all depends I guess.

Nov 08, 2013 12:59 AM

Tracy Oliva

West USA Realty - Arizona - Fountain Hills, AZ

The Oliva Team Arizona Agents

Good Morning: Mary this is a great thought!! Keep up the good work and good luck with your business, E

Nov 08, 2013 01:32 AM

Mary Yonkers

Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA

Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Thanks, Lisa. I teach pre-license this weekend.

Debbie, thanks for your insight. I have seen so many new agents wander aimlessly because their broker is too busy with his/her own business to assist them. They either leave the agency or the business.

Ed & Tracy, thanks for stopping by.

Nov 08, 2013 04:51 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Good questions worth asking if your manager/broker is also an active agent.

Nov 08, 2013 06:37 AM

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Dear Mary -
In reference to your topic on unfair (hogging?) practices, there is a Discount Broker in Atlanta who claims "the most listings in town" and it may be true. My understanding is that if your Real Estate license is with that Brokerage, any listing you bring in MUST be in the Broker's name. Some people are noted as "Co-Agent" but all the credit goes to the Broker.

So, as a Teacher, what do you say? Does that person REALLY have the most listings in Metro Atlanta? My point of view probably crept out during while I was writing the explanation ...

Thanks for commenting on my "Rebecca" post.
Have a happy day -
Lynn

Nov 08, 2013 10:26 AM

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