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Who carrys the torch for YOU?

After reading "the lovely wife's" blog on LOCK AND LOAD, it made me realize that TEAMS, especially husband/wife teams have a lot of selling potential that a single Realtor does not. A team has double opinions, time, ideas, and support for each other.

Not that I am furtively wishing I was part of a team, but I thought to get some opinions from all you SINGLE people out there. ( I mean single in business, not dating) about how you Team up with yourself and support yourself.

What kinds of things do you do to keep your time in check, come up with new ideas, who do you bounce your ideas off? Where do you get moral support? Who carrys your TORCH?

There are a lot of companies that offer team programs, but I am asking for loners here. Also, how do you find MENTORS? Everyone is so busy these days, that most Brokers do not have the time to be mentoring.

Thoughts, anyone?

Opinions are of Karen Hurst, Broker/Owner of Stonehurst Realty only. For a free consultation, visit me at Stonehurstrealty.com and find out if this is your time to buy.

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Posted by Karen Hurst ~ Principal Broker ~ Warwick ~ Rhode Island on 09/02/2006 10:09 AM

Comments (31)

support, teams, mentors, carry the torch

31 Comments on Who carrys the torch for YOU?

SEP

2006

Karen it's not about teams companies location etc. It's about what you put in your pocket in the end.

I'm very lucky as a member of Allen Hange's CyberStars(tm). We have mastermind groups to pool our knowledge and resources, resulting in a higher level of competence for us all.

Sometimes you don't need a coach or a broker to sit with and to give confirmation. You might need a sounding board or a right hand person that can look at your processes from the non-real estate agent view. I have to constantly remind some of the agents that the information is way over the heads of the client and can become very confusing. Take off the agents hat. If you were a buyer or seller, what type of information would you need and expect.

That is partly what I do for most of my clients because I am a good listener and prefer to look at every new process, design, layout and project in 3D.

As a single agent - both in real estate & life - your issue is the one I've found most frustrating. I sometimes bounce stuff off my adult kids, and once in a while, off others in the office. But I can do that only with certain new ideas.

What I'd really like to have is someone to "vent" to. We have to be so careful to not divulge confidential info or to have our comments repeated, that there's no one - except my dog - that I can truly trust to listen and not repeat. Once in awile, I'd like to be able to vent, get it off my chest, call the client/agent a so & so, so I can feel better and move on - knowing that my comments won't be repeated. At this time, poor Murphy is my only sounding board but I have to be careful even with him because he thinks I'm scolding HIM!

Hmm. My dog is probably the oldest in the world, he can't hear too well, Guess I could try my cat?! I do bounce things off my husband, however, he is not "in the business" and as we all know, the ethics of this business do not always agree with the general populations idea of what should and should not be. I guess thats where I have a real problem. I am in a situation right now that I cannot divulge and yet I want to make sure I "do the right thing". Also, the laws in each state are so different, that I guess I need a lawyer mentor, real estate mentor, mortgage broker lender, etc. Eventually I will probably hiring someone like Carolyn Nelson (above) but right now, finances don't consider it. Just talk softly to Murphy.

Karen,

You pose an excellent question, one of which I have no answer to, I have never been without a partner in this business. I do hope the "Rainers" ALL jump into this and give you the feedback you need. I am quite sure my advice on this would be outdated. Cheers "The Lovely Wife"

Karen, being the softie I am, give me a call between 4 and 5 pm EST today.

Teams are helpful but there are many types of teams you can learn from one of them being the AR blogging team...no right or wrong answers just alot of opinions.

Sometimes i wish i could work as a team. It could lighten the load

I started my career at Keller Williams, where every new agent is assigned an experienced mentor. Having a mentor is great because you have someone in your corner telling you what you need to be doing to get your systems in order. My mentor also suggested training classes that she felt would be beneficial. She has since left the company, but we still talk regularly, especially when I have a question or when she has a computer issue. : )

Karen, I have an accountability partner who is also a Realtor in the business. I bounce things off him everyday. He listens to me rant, rave, complain, and then he asks me what are you going to do to get back on your horse! I also have formed a little group of Realtors who went to school, and started their businesses the same time I did. That's great to meet every once in a while and share.

Hi Karen, I'm a solo Realtor and greatly prefer it that way. I guess I'm just a lone wolf type of guy. I'm a self motivator and always have been. The LW and I worked together for quite a few years but I couldn't work with anybody else. I'm too much of a control freak.

I agree with Sheri,

I too teamed up with Keller Williams because of their philosophy of mentors and Brokers who do not compete with you for business.

I can get a response to any question I have about real estate from my broker with just a single phone call...or knocking on his door.

Awesome I say...simply awesome.....

I have to say, I have heard many wonderfull comments about Keller Williams through the years. The agents always seem happy. When I first started, I had narrowed down my choice between them and the company I am now with. I felt I wanted to be with a smaller company because I thought it would be a good fit for me and it is. However, I can definately see the positive results of being with a company like KW.

I found two mentors in the Advanced Access forums. These two have help be alot of the years and it really helps to bounce ideas off people.

Toby, What is the Advanced Access forum?

Hey Karen, Advanced Access is the company who hosts our real estate website, http://www.advancedaccess.com. They have forums for all their clients to use. It used to be open to the public but they recently changed policy. There are a bunch of other though. Real Estate Webmaster forum is another great one but often times it gets techhy. there are tons available you just have to find the one that works for you. ActiveRain is the same concept only more.

Pam and I Team up on some listing and on others we don't. I enjoy the ones we do together more than the reg. old run of the mill buy/sells. I feel that if we can remove the Commission thing( $$ income) from our minds. either way as a single or a team we all can do better and have more fun and success.

SEP

2006

I want to thank you all on your insightful comments. It has made me rethink a few things. One, that you don't necessarily need a "human" mentor. By that I mean, you can go online and find a lot of answers. Two, Active Rain can be a mentor in its own right. (judging by all the replies I have received). And three, sometimes a "human" mentor will appear out of nowhere. (Whcih kind of happened here on this Blog). And last but not least, everyone is different, from the Lone Wolf (Bryant), at first I thought LW meant Lone Wolf, but you mean the Lovely Wife, to husband wife teams, Paul and Pam, (removing the commission thing from your minds), to the Keller Williams team America program. All are simply different ways meeting different needs. I still like Elaine Reese, talking to her dog Murphy. Guess my needs are different also.,

Bryant - whether active or retired, you DO have a team, with LW.

Karen - it would be tough for me to be a single agent again - I love having someone back at the office to set up an unexpected showing, or handle everything when I'm out of town at a conference, or talk knowledgeably to a potential client or referring agent while I'm with clients...

H/W teams are great when it works - for me and mine, it wouldn't (though we teamed in non-real estate businesses in the past. Now I have my daughter and son on my team, as wel as an "adopted" daughter of 20 years. The comraderie, the sounding board, the bouncing and improving of ideas, the backup, the matching of personality to client, and just the fun we have has taken my business to a wonderful new level.

p.s. Margaret Rome is a great example of a single agent! Talk to her about her "team".

Wow Sharon. I just checked out Margaret Rome. I think she is my new idol! What an amazing series of accomplishments, proving singlehandedly that technology works!

SEP

2006

One of our top producing agents, even in this market, is a husband and wife team. Or, I should say wife and husband team, since the wife was licensed first and has been with me for 7 years. Her husband provides a supporting role doing inspections, postings, brochures, mailings, etc., leaving the wife to do what she does better than just about anyone, that is show homes and write and negotiate contracts.

I have to say thanks for making this a featured blog. Guess Active Rain is my mentor!

SEP

2006

Teams offer a few benefits that "going it alone do not":

1- A team smooths out the income fluctuations by having more transactions.

2- Teams are generally more responsive to customer requests.

3- Specializations can develop within the team which raises the level of the service offering.

4- Teams must have a systematized approach to succeed; implemantaion of those systems will result in better productivity.

5- Teams give you back your life by allowing each team member to have time off

Being a new agent - and a single one at that - both professionally and personally - I understand the dilemma. Being associated with Third Tennessee Realty in Crossville, Tennessee has provided with me with a very experienced mentor to help me to "get my feet wet". She is always there to act as a sounding board.

SEP

2006

Karen:

Are you okay? Just checking in on you. Let me I am somewhat concerned by your silence? Looks like all is well. Let me know?

by "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka. Roar.

SEP

2006

I am online for 5 seconds this am. The Grandchildren are here! And I know you know what that means! Thanks so much for being concerned. I will be back in full force on the weekend. (hopefully) Karen

Karen:

I do! You have a Wonderful time! I just wanted to make sure you were okay!

by "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka. Roar

SEP

2006

Over the long haul, equal-partner teams tend not to work out due to conflicts over who has been doing the most work, generating the most leads, etc. If you are a newer agent, being part of a team of agents with a high-producing senior agent, can be a great thing. It's worth giving up some commission for the volume exposure. If you want more of a mentoring relationship, go to a smaller company where the broker enjoys training and developing agents. Good luck!

SEP

2006

Thanks Dave, Your advice is sound. I am actually in a small company myself and I can ask any questions I need to at any time. This is a good fit for me personally. I can come and go as I please and call them when I need them. I like the independence of it. Just sometimes wish I could tag along with someone and soak up the knowledge.

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