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Do you make the company? Or does the Company make you?

By Collen and Ivan West Hollywood

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker- Sunset Strip

December 03, 2010 09:26 AM

Day (193,194,195,196)

Does the Brokerage brand make a difference when choosing an agent?

I use to say "Yes, it certainly does."

Now, I am not sure. I am starting to think that the good deeds and service that the particular agent offers is more or less the important decision when choosing an agent.

When we started our search to find the "perfect" place to hang our license we interviewed everyone. The Keller Williams, Hilton and Hyland, Prudential, you name it we heard their pitches. We eventually went with Coldwell Banker because it is internationally known, and a very big presence in Los Angeles.

We needed a name that would support our business until we developed a name for ourselves.

To develop a name takes years, but once the name is there. Does it matter anymore what company you are with?

People are seeing our growth and starting to take notice. But at what point can you say I think I have paid some dues. I can now negotiate for myself and my company.

I Love our brokerage now, but if others are starting to offer better deals..... You begin to question yourself and your Bank Account.

(For the other Real Estate Agents)
Any input? What Makes your Company your home? The money? The presence?

www.collenandivan.com

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David Popoff

DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT

Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

The brokerage is a tool, just like ActiveRain. What you put in is what you get out, but some tools are better than other's. Here on the East Coast we have William Raveis and they have the best tools for a number of reasons:

The number one real estate website, check it out!
Largest FAMILY owned Real Estate Company in New England, yes it makes a difference.
One stop shopping... Real Estate, Insurance, Mortgage serivices all in house.

But like I said it's a tool, so it all ends up in the hands of the user, how hard and talented of a Realtor are you ?????

Great Blog ~ Suggested.

Dec 03, 2010 09:38 AM

Collen and Ivan West Hollywood

Coldwell Banker- Sunset Strip - West Hollywood, CA

Hi David,

Thanks for your comment. So I would say yes, we are very talented. We are closing a lot of deals in our first year. We started in may and have closed over 10 deals. our area is West Hollywood, and Hollywood hills area. We work our butts off everyday and rarely take any time off. But we are beginning to see our checks and a little disgruntled about how much commission our company takes from us. We have had other offers from our competing brokerages in our area offer us much better commission splits. But we see how most of the other companies feel more like a pyramid scheme and more about quantity versus quality.

-Collen and Ivan

Dec 03, 2010 09:53 AM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

What makes my company my home? Hmmm. Good question. Like you I did my research before deciding on William Raveis (saw this reblog on David Popoff's blog that's why you have two agents from the same family-owned real estate firm on the East Coast commenting on your blog.

What makes Raveis my home is my sales manager and my colleagues. I could probably get a better deal elsewhere, but I don't know if it would be significantly different unless I went to a 100% commission firm or started my own broker firm. I've seen agents leave for a better commission split and return to Raveis when they ended up making less (Raveis is #1 in market share, that does count for something).

I couldn't work for a firm that just focused on the sales aspect. Raveis has a high focus on customer service and repeat business, which is why it has grown so fast and continues to grow in the Northeast.

I generate my own leads, so I could go elsewhere and it sounds like you could, too. I've also focused on creating my own brand from the start just like you have. This enables your business to be portable, so if you get a much better deal, it's worth looking into it. Yes, the name of the business matters, but only inasfar as it offers something different. Raveis's website is a differentiating factor.

Dec 03, 2010 10:30 AM

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Collen and Ivan West Hollywood

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