Special offer

When Should You Change Offices?

By
Real Estate Agent with EXIT REALTY BEND

     My name is Jim Mazziotti and I am the Principal Broker and Owner of EXIT REALTY BEND located in Bend, Oregon.  One of my primary building blocks to my successful brokerage is to recruit agents.  It's a numbers game....we all know that.  From a personal standpoint I focus on the quality of an agent interviewing in my office and not the quantity of their past sales performance. I hope they do the same when considering my office.  While it is, in fact, a numbers game, I only consider agents I want to be around, who have integrity and honesty, who show a team spirit and who are not premodonna's.  It's just that simple. If an agent has a hard time getting their head through the door they might as well turn around.

     I have an EXIT office....and here is my honest opinion. 

1.)  First. You MUST have an OPEN MIND.  You must be willing to ACCEPT CHANGE.  If you fail to do so you will die on the vine. Ask yourself: Do I Have An Open Mind When It Comes To My Business? If not, stay where you are. In fact...stop here....there is no further need to read on!

2.)  Think Outside The Box:  Here is what I know.  90% ( perhaps more ) of the agents I speak to have never heard of EXIT.  They have probably never really looked inside C21, Coldwell or ABC Realty. How can that be?  Certainly we are all busy with work and life.....but I am amazed that more agents have not at least been curious enough to surf the web and check out companies...and ESPECIALLY EXIT.  And it isn't just EXIT.  Open your mind, look around and learn.  This is your business folks.....you need to know as much about our business as possible!

3.) A new office has to feel right, be full of good and caring people and you MUST have a principal who cares and has excellent training and innovative ideas.  If not...walk.

4.) Call me.  Seriously. Call me.  It doesn't matter where you are in North America. Call me.  I will be happy to tell you about EXIT.  You don't have to worry about a tough interview, privacy or confidentiality when you call me. I will tell you the straight about EXIT and how this company works....then you decide.  There are over 1100 EXIT franchise offices in North America....I bet there is an opportunity near you! Let me tell you more!

5.) Be clear on desk fees, transaction fees, franchise fees, copier fees, E & O fees, copier fees.....the list goes on.  Make sure you have a clear understanding of your costs.  Ask if there is the ability to earn more than 100% in commissions. Ask if there is a plan for your retirement. God lord....you don't want to work until you fall over dead.  Unfortunately, many real estate agents do just that! Be clear.  To be clear you must have an idea of what your life plan is.  Do you?  If not...write it down now.  Think!

6.) Ready to Take On A New World:  This is the most important of all.  Understand the goals of the company you are considering.  Are they cutting edge or have they poorly prepared for the next 2 - 5 - 10 years.  Find out how they have positioned themselves for rising to the top. That is where you want to be....right?

   Whatever company you look at I feel these 6 tools are a starting point.  I have been with several companies....good and bad.  I have learned by my mistakes....and I would be happy to tell you the EXIT story at the very least.....but only if you have an open mind.  Open it up.....rise up and welcome new opportunities!

     I look forward to speaking to you.  If you get my voicemail I do promise to return your call....just leave a complete message.

     Here's to HAVING AN OPEN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR BUSINESS!

MAZZ

Antoinette Scognamiglio, GRI, ASP
Coldwell Banker Realty - Mountain Lakes, NJ
There's no substitute for EXPERIENCE!

Jim,

Great post and practical points to be considered when considering a change.  I like your attitude!

Have an awesome day!

May 02, 2007 12:23 AM
Laurie Mindnich
Centennial, CO
Exit Realty has large ads in realtor papers on Long Island.  They seem to be very actively going after real estate salepeople and brokers.  The only comment (I know nothing about the benefits of Exit; probably a really great opportunity) is that the ads are sort of...what's the word...not cheap, but not attractive.  That probably sounds ridiculous, but before we opened our company on the North Fork of Long Island, we explored other places.  I didn't look into Exit because I didn't like the feel of the ads.  This is not criticism at all, just an honest opinion of someone that might have found a great match, but was put off by the type of ad run.  I'll look into it again, though, having read your post- thank you!
May 02, 2007 12:40 AM
Jim Mazziotti
EXIT REALTY BEND - Bend, OR
Exit Realty Bend

EXIT ADS

Thank you Laurie for your honest opinion.  Yep. I agree.   In addition, about 70% of Realtors also have trouble with the....ah....well, the name. It's true.  I know of real estate agents who selected not to go with exit simply because of the name!  But I must tell you and for any readers....there is a good reason for the name.  Trust me on this.

The marketing for EXIT is improving greatly.  New promotional materials are excellent.  Billboard campaign is fantastic....but the older stuff did look, cheap.  I had to get over it because I know that my marketing keys-in on "me."  It's not too late to look at EXIT!  Let me know if you would like me to send you info....and you are always welcome to call me for the scoop!  Jim at 541-480-8835!

Thanks for your comments!

May 02, 2007 03:26 AM
Joddie Roberts
Mountain Real Estate and Property Management - Spokane, WA
Your Spokane Realtor - Spokane, WA
I have to be honest and say I skipped over Exit initially because of the name and...well, the colors.  It's what people remark about the most.  However, after having been in a large RE office for 2 years (1 of those years cutting commission checks to all those agents) and realizing I wanted more from a company - training to be exact - I had to make the move.  It wasn't even because Exit offers higher splits, residuals, etc.  It was simply because I wanted to be an excellent agent and knew I needed training to be one.  Lots of companies promise it, few follow through. 
May 02, 2007 04:55 PM
Exit Team Realty Coral Springs
Exit Team Realty - Coral Springs, FL

We just purchased the Jupiter Florida Exit franchise.  thanks for your post.

I look forward to getting to know many of the Exit owners.  One of the things I like about Exit is the mindset of making changes with the market where so many other brokerages stay with what HAS worked for them in the past.

Technology & the Internet is a great example of where Exit is placing an emphasis and we see this as being one of our largest strenghts.

 

Thanks again for sharing.

Jun 17, 2007 02:32 AM