Special offer

How to Properly Leave a Brokerage - Am I wrong to expect a call?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Austin Texas Homes, LLC 453249

I have intended to write about this topic for several months, and today I stumbled across it on my "blog topics" list.  There's no time like the present, right?

As the broker and owner of my company, I have seen a number of agents leave over the years.  Sometimes, the feeling is mutual and I think they are really saving me the trouble of doing it for them.  Other times, I am sad to see them go.  Either way, I often wonder why some agents feel the need to sneak out rather than calling me or speaking to me face-to-face. 

I have never once exploded in anger at the office for ANY reason - I just don't find it to be productive.  I have never made anyone feel uncomfortable for leaving when they speak with me directly about it.  Additionally, I haven't ever tried to talk anyone out of leaving, because I figure by the time they speak to me, the decision has already been made.

So, I am left to wonder why certain agents have felt the need to leave without a word, note, or phone call.  Recently, we had a small issue with our corporate license that required a trip to the TREC (Texas Real Estate Commission) to fix.  During the visit, we realized that one of "our" agents was no longer our agent at all.  He had moved his license without notifying us in any way.  I had another girl who left me a note on my desk, and one who sent me an email.  On another occasion, I had a lady who left with no notice or notification whatsoever.  To this day, I haven't heard from her, although I know she is still actively practicing real estate here in Austin. 

 

I have coined my own term for this over time.  When agents leave in this manner, they are not just burning the bridge.  They are "blowing up the bridge" entirely, much like in this video

For those who have left on good terms, I always tell them that the door is open should they wish to return, simply because they took the time to speak with me.  Because of this policy, I have had two of them return, one in the past week. 

 

 

When I left my previous broker, who is much like a surrogate father to me, I had a tough time telling him, but I did it in person.  We had eight years of history together, and it never crossed my mind to do it any other way. 

 

I realize that we are all self-employed independent contractors, but it seems as though simple respect and courtesy should come into play.  I am more than fair with the agents who work with me, and I truly care about all of them as people.  I am also not driven strictly by money, and this is reflected in the way that I train, support and befriend my agents.  You can ask anyone about this, even those who have left. 

Am I wrong to expect agents to leave in a halfway dignified manner?

For any agents who may be reading this, if you are considering leaving your current company, I would beseech you to be upfront when you go, rather than skulking away into the night.  You will feel better for it.  Sometimes, this may require you to take a "big boy" or "big girl" pill, but it is simply the right thing to do. 

However, I must also admit that if an agent is willing to leave on these terms, I am almost certainly better off without them, because they are likely to treat their clients even worse.

Thanks for letting me vent a little bit on this topic.

Posted by

 

If you're looking for a home in the Austin area, you can also visit my primary website at www.austintexashomes.com.  Thanks!

Comments (172)

Fred Sed
Fred Sed Group ~ Your Premier Southern California Realtors - Irvine, CA
Your Southern Cali Realtor, Why? Because Fred Se
I would expect a call.
Mar 28, 2008 03:41 AM
Anonymous
Cindy Almand

 

After 20 years in the business I have seen agents leave every way possible.  If you have agents sneaking out in the middle of the night then there is a real problem in the office.  It may not be you, it may be an office manager or top producer that "runs" the office while you are away.  A lot of brokers are busy selling property and don't find out about the conflicts in the office.

Mar 29, 2008 09:04 AM
#155
Anonymous
sportygirl

Why should I say goodbye to the staff at this Real Estate office when the  people who work there  are   cut throat people acting  like professionals? 

Would you believe I had to pay for my supplies? So yes I took  my office supplies home. I am not being trained properly, my  lap top PC  is not connected properly to their printer.  I do not even have a mentor . I have my license for a year  and I regret it.  

If  I did not have a full time job I would be homeless and hungry and not on the internet .

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

 

 

 

May 20, 2008 04:32 PM
#156
na na
Ponca City, OK

Good post.  I know of an agent in the city where I live who has worked under most of the brokers here.  The office in which I work was her last.  Needless to say it doesn't pay to burn bridges.

Aug 04, 2008 09:49 AM
Frank D'Angelo
EXIT REALTY NEXUS Minneapolis & St. Paul MN - Coon Rapids, MN
Helping people is my business in Real Estate

Couldn't agree more re: face to face and/or phone conversation.  The only Q one might have is was the female/male any issue in any way.  Did the agents feel somewhat inhibited to have that conversation with you???

Doesn't appear to be the issue at all, it just seems odd that you identified them as females in most cases.

Just an observation :)

Have a great year.

Oct 11, 2008 11:29 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

An interesting topic.  I have left some brokers for opportunities and just did not look back. There were never any hard feelings, just better times ahead.  I suspect others leaving other brokers do so for similar reasons.

Oct 12, 2008 02:27 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

EXIT - This was not the issue.  I have had a couple of guys do the same thing.

ERICA - Sorry to hear that.  It's a bad feeling, huh?

JIM - I can certainly understand if someone thinks that the grass is greener elsewhere, but did you leave with no contact at all?

Oct 12, 2008 05:03 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

ERICA - I feel exactly the same way.  It was hard for me to leave my broker after eight years with him, but I knew I wanted to start my own company (that was four years ago).

Oct 13, 2008 11:25 AM
Scott Cowan
RE/MAX Professionals - Olympia, WA

Jason- Found this post and just had to add my comment. It would be impossible for me to leave without saying anything. I agree with you that by the time an agent comes into your office to talk to you they have made up their mind so to try to talk them out of anything is not productive. To leave without the common manners to say Hello, I must be going.... well I cannot imagine.

The other side of this topic is when a broker closes down without telling the agents. Given our current market brokerages are closing. How to best communicate this to your agents? I experienced a brokerage closing on me this summer. The broker/owner told a couple of us the day ahead. Then sent out an email that the office would be closing on such and such date. Any transactions would be handled until they were closed. He then cancelled all of the listings in the office and locked the doors without notice. We were all left without our listings ( I know the broker owns them) and access to our things. My clients were bombarded with phone calls and mail about servicing their listings. They knew the listings were cancelled before I did. To me this is just a completely unacceptable way to manage a business.

Why do people behave the way they do?

Oct 14, 2008 02:40 AM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

The first time I changed Brokerages, the BIC was out of town at the state convention, we had to call her on the phone.  The second time we left our company the BIC was in a meeting all morning, then out of the office for lunch  and the afternoon. We had to email her, as  she didn't answer her phones. Do you see a pattern here? If the BIC's were a little more concerned with their agents, maybe we wouldn't have had to leave.

Jan 22, 2009 02:36 PM
Mark Watterson
Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Real Estate

The first broker I left was because of internal brokerage management issues.  The new managing broker talked and talked trying to get me to stay.  I didn't stay..... I think it's best to do a face to face. 

Jan 22, 2009 10:48 PM
Brien Berard
Remax Professionals Laurel MD - Laurel, MD
Maryland Real Estate Agents - Laurel Real Estate

Wow, good discussion on this.  One time I had an agent tell me that the broker threatened to kill him if he went to Remax.  We were pretty sure he was just kidding.  You have to have the broker sign a transfer form in my area too, so no surprises.  After my broker left, I transferred to Remax.

Jan 23, 2009 01:08 AM
Kelly Young
The Platinum Group Realtors - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126

I recently left a brokerage and called to meet with my Broker. I can say that although we ended up speaking on the phone about it and he was as professional as you sound Jason.  Thanks for posting a great topic.

Jan 30, 2009 11:29 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Jason:  Somehow I missed this post the first go-round but, I have to say that you do have a valid request!  I can't imagine just LEAVING with no notification.  As a matter of fact, here in NC, the state will send out a letter which the broker must sign to move your license from one firm to the other.  I guess these folks are willing to put their license on hold for a few days so that paperwork can get through the mail (for original signatures)? 

Listen, if you can't do a face-to-face resignation, perhaps you aren't meant for this business!!

Great post Jason and congrats on the little gold star!

Debe in Charlotte
Mar 04, 2009 06:09 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

OH, I forgot to say that I noticed that you wrote this when our buddy Adam was still active!  I miss him and it was nice to see his face on your blog!

Have a good one...

Debe in Charlotte
Mar 04, 2009 06:11 PM
Elizabeth Cooper-Golden
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS

Jason, I can't imagine ever leaving a company without speaking to a Broker first.  I think it shows such disrespect.  Wow.  Talk about chicken little, lol.  I've only changed companies when I have relocated.  I guess I was lucky choosing the offices I worked with?  :)

Mar 04, 2009 11:08 PM
Winston Westbrook
Westbrook National Real Estate Co - Victorville, CA

Great blog Jason. I hate taking those Big Boy pills but sometimes you just have to do it, lol. Thank you for being open about your feelings on this subject. I know breaking up is a hard thing to do. 

Mar 05, 2009 05:20 AM
Beverly Femia
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Hampstead, NC
Broker Realtor Stager - Greater Wilmington, NC Are

Just a wonderful post!  I love the "blowing up the bridge analogy."  There are better ways to part than dissapearing.

Jan 03, 2010 10:52 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Sometimes Agents try to do the right thing but their Broker isn't in the office.  I tried twice to speak with my Broker directly but on the second trip I just did it.  However, I did not leave in the middle of the night or without notice.  She knew I was leaving and had a personal reason for not being there the first time I went in, but not the second.  You are right, you need to tell them, not just sneak out!

Feb 01, 2011 11:05 AM
Jeremy Joslin
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - South Windsor, CT
Professional Real Estate Marketing and Sales

I couldn't imagine doing it any other way than face to face but it takes all kinds to make up the real estate world.

Jul 28, 2012 10:24 AM