You may have heard of "A Man without a Country"? This is a different take on that classic tale.
A little background...
I work for Keller Williams Realty. I have been in real estate off and on for over 30 years. I grew up in a family business, got in and out of real estate--and four years ago, when I discovered Keller Williams--felt that I had found a safe place that I could be forever.
My Market Center had close to 200 agents. We had a sales manager and an agent services coordinator. We were rocking and rolling. Then the same snafus and economic crisis nonsense that hit everyone else hit us. Agents left in droves like rats deserting a sinking ship. We dropped to 40-50 agents but were still viable. Then the owner of our company made the difficult decision to close the Market Center. Everyone--and especially me--was devastated. Some scrambled and left immediately to be followed by others when we were without a copier/scanner and much of our infrastructure and leadership were gone.
At one time, I determined that I loved San Francisco more than I loved Keller Williams. Then when it came down to blue (Prudential), green or black; I stuck it out with Keller Williams. 95% of my colleagues went to the Keller Williams office in Berkeley. I followed suit for a few days but quickly jumped ship to Keller Williams Oakland for a variety of reasons.
I am paying a high price for my loyalty. I love Keller Williams--and ever since attending MEGA Camp last August--have looked to the national level for my guidance and leadership. I am involved with MAPS coaching. I was on the ALC. And as of this week--I have "capped" (getting nearly 100% commission). Why should I complain, do you ask??
Because when I send listing information to buyers IN San Francisco or listing information to sellers IN San Francisco, my signature contains an Oakland address. Have I lost buyers or listings because of this? I don't know. I do know that it is difficult enough competing in a chauvinistic city like San Francisco as it is. Now my local board shows me as a non-local agent?!??!
I LOVE San Francisco. I live and work in San Francisco. I also love the Keller Williams model. In all honesty, I feel extremely let down by: my colleagues who left, the KW regional office (Maureen and Dick) for not allowing me to have a "branch" or MEGA agent office presence in San Francisco, and by the international corporate office for doing NOTHING to stabilize my Market Center which at one time was the flagship for Northern California!!
I feel abandoned and let down and seriously question if my loyalty is misplaced.
And then to add insult to injury--my new market center has refused to pay me for a transaction that closed on Monday! I had NO idea that having the admin function 20 miles away woud be such a detriment. But it seems to me that if people aren't around the corner or down the street, they are not accountable.
So the questions I ask myself are these: Did the Keller Williams model let me down? Did Keller Williams Realty Int'l let my market center down? Why can't Keller Williams be successful in San Francisco? And lastly, IF I can't count on my company, why should I continue to be loyal to them?????????
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Rebecca White (formerly of Keller Williams San Francisco Properties)
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