What do you means, you don't want to use our affiliate?
I just read an article about the brouhaha over at Long & Foster over whether or not agents should be using the affiliate owned companies for mortgages, insurance, closing, etc. Wes Foster claimed there was no pressure by anyone, ever! I'm not so sure that Wes' managers ever got that message! One of the reasons I went out on my own was the informal expectation that, while we know you are an independent contractor, we would like you to support out profit structure and use our affiliates. I was amazed at how many different ways they would make the suggestion. And while they were not supposed to retaliate against the non-users, guess who was a top producer in the office and who was passed over for the plum referrals and two-windowed office????
Anyway, what's your take on broker pressure, informal or otherwise to use company affiliates. As a business model, it makes sense for the owner. For the lazy, brown-nosing agent who wants to be the team player or worse yet - the next sales manager, it leads to unending management gratitude. For independent professionals, it's better to leave. Period.
Dave Rosenmarkle
Broker Owner
Highland Realty
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