"Good for you, let me know if you need anything."

Crazy, crazy, crazy!  Your friend is lucky she has you to come to for help.  You would think her broker would be trying to ensure her success in this deal.

I am still waiting for that 1.5 million dollar call ! Unbelievable the attitude. But really believable based on what I am seeing in the market these days

Wow, that's pitiful, isn't it?  If her career is starting this way with her broker, she's probably in for a few more surprises, sadly.  Supporting new agents is SO important to ensure they are successful.   There is only so much "training" they can get from a video, or a book.  They need one on one as well, in my opinion. 

My old office in Nashville had a weekly meeting for the Rookie agents that they HAD to attend, as well as their own personal mentor.  We also had a non competing broker, that was there to help get deals put together, if needed.  More offices should have the same policy!  Bob Parks Realty is amazing :) 

Hi JA.

Couldn't agree more. 

Training?  A joke.  They teach scripts.  Not how to take care of the customer.

Ken

Wow, I feel sorry for the CLIENT.  A new agent does not even begin to know what they do not know and there is a lot of money at stake REGARDLESS of the amount of the transaction.  To some people, a $100,000 house is huge, so while it seems worse because this is a bigger number, it's not - regardless, we are dealing with other people's money and it's important to each of them. 

She does not have a good broker.  Period. And I agree, it does border on criminal.

There are plenty of great brokers out there who mentor, train and hand hold every step of the way...I know, I have one and despite being in a relatively large office (200 agents, 2 managing brokers), I feel as if I have a broker who somehow is ALWAYS there for me - and I don't know how he does it!

Jennifer - Is the Agent considering looking around for a better work atmosphere where more support and training is provided ?  She could ask around the Real Estate community in the area and begin to ask some of the agents that she knows at other offices of interest. 

I love this post. I know the experience. And I am so glad to see it in the open. Thanks, Jennifer.

One of the suprises for me as I learned more about the Real Estate business .... just how many brokers are just in the business of renting desks and collecting a "piece of the action."  

We deal with many agents and brokers from a different vantage point than other agents, brokers and customers.  It has been very revealing.

I am so fortunate that I was watched like a hawk by my Broker for my first year.  I wasn't allowed to submit a contract without her reviewing it first.  Thank you Arlyn!!!!!

Tina in Virginia

FYI Jennifer... this inspired me for a post (which, naturally links to yours). Thanks for the seed!! G

Jen- this echoes my experience with my first broker- a "big name" local agency with many offices. (see my recent blog on scripts).  We were even given "mentors", who used practically these exact words- Let us know if you have any questions. I found out later the mentors were getting paid for this!

Jennifer:

Being extroverted comes from knowledge and confidence in what you are talking about.

Richard

The brokers should just give all rookies a copy of Sell With Soul - and they'll be all set.

Wow, sounds like our first broker. I hope she has ActiveRain - that's how we were able to get through those first big tranasctions, with help from our friends on ActiveRain.

Jennifer - I agree with your general take on some of the large national brokerage churning new agents.  They make their 4-5 sales in the first 2 years and move on - usually out of the business.  However, I think that there is a bigger problem in the industry.  It includes independent contractor agreements, part-time agents, and low entry barriers into the profession.  It has developed a Walmart training model - that is, "just in time" delivery.  We see agents who don't want to learn the skills until they absolutely need them as opposed learning new skills daily and implementing them daily.  I'm not sure that the agents failure to develop a relationship with a lender, building inspector, etc. or learning about radon can be solely placed at the broker's feet.  We do meet and greets with our preferred service providers as a part of the orientation process.  Having said all this, I know one thing for sure.  Either my partner or I would be accompanying this agent and showing them the ropes on a $1.5 million sale.  However, at our brokerage, the shadowing process and working with buyers starts on their first day, not when they absolutely need assistance.

I think I could take a wild guess on that big name company with that split....glad I left them in the dust and moved on to a company that will have my back. 

     I've seen that time and time again! When I had my own firm, I made it a point to help them, be with them as needed and available toanswer questions or concerns. I enjoyed helping them become successful.

     One office I was at (may be same franchise?) did not even return any of my clients calls when my spouse was transferred to an out of area hospital in an emergecy and I could not call out. I did let them kow where I was and about the situation. Did not even refer calls to my best friend in our other branch. And the only thing on MY mind was my spouse. The office manager said"not her problem" and the boss had a flood in new condo when he ran the dishwasher so he just did not have time for any calls... in a week. Obviously I made a change... and a good one!

Wow, how ironic.  I have a close friend that had almost an identical situation.  She said the client must have figured her out because he stopped calling her back.  Luckily she knew that she didn't know squat and didn't dwell on it.  She took the high road and called it experience!

Jennifer - When a broker stands to make any amount of money from what their agents are producing, I just can't believe that the broker is not more than willing to help throughout the entire process.  That is why I am where I am at, and love my small independent broker.  She understands that if I make money, she makes money, and she is more than willing to help with anything and everything.