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Rainmaker
3,417,456
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

There are two types, the large who offers a great deal of class time, online instruction then sends you into the word alone. There is also smaller companies, who lack the courses, but will mentor you or have you shadow learning by doing. The next factor is cost, how much do they charge you, what do they pay you and what do you get for what you pay. DO they offer leads or are you on your own?

Aug 03, 2016 09:38 PM
Rainmaker
2,231,519
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Interview with the most popular brokerages in your area and find out which will be best for you according to your needs and wants.  It's a very personal decision. 

Aug 03, 2016 10:53 PM
Rainmaker
5,292,059
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good luck my first two were nowhere like I am not.  As there people that work for them if they like them

Aug 05, 2016 10:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,546,224
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Meet with the broker and the office staff and make sure you "click" with them.  Aside from that, check out Scott Godzyk's answer.

Aug 05, 2016 04:58 AM
Rainmaker
8,237,031
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Interview with several of the successful firms in your market to learn about your options.

Aug 04, 2016 09:13 PM
Rainmaker
4,322,295
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Robert Borden - go with the broker/office where you can get a mentor and good education/training.

Do not worry about split right now - as long as it's a fair split.

Aug 04, 2016 03:54 PM
Rainmaker
5,774,106
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Robert,

Follow Dorie Dillard 's advice, and see if you are a match to what you need and want. A

Aug 04, 2016 01:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,349,988
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

You are interviewing them..what can they do for you? What culture are you looking for? Do they have training and mentors to help you?

Aug 04, 2016 12:44 PM
Rainmaker
2,234,865
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

Is the broker offering you a good training or mentorship program. Maybe they just want another warm body to fill a chair. Find out what the broker can do for you. 

Aug 04, 2016 12:35 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,144
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

The honest truth is you will not know until you are there awhile. But before you make a decision you can ask tons of questions, talk with other agents in the company and go with what your gut tells you.

Aug 04, 2016 12:27 PM
Rainmaker
634,582
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Work with him/her for 6 months. Are you better trained, more confident and making good connections with potential clients? Have you learned by shadowing other agents? Do you get good support from your broker? A yes to all of these means you're on the right team at least for now. Many no answers means you're not.

Aug 04, 2016 12:11 PM
Ambassador
3,764,541
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Here's a post I wrote about this very thing:

Choose Your First Broker Very Carefully!

And if you make the wrong choice, it's easy to change.  

Aug 04, 2016 12:02 PM
Ambassador
2,717,898
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Training.

Commission splits.

Office Environment / Corporate Culture.

  Interview several Brokers.

Aug 04, 2016 09:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,269,143
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Most will promise they will train you and give you leads many say more than they do. Interested in your desk fee ....

Aug 04, 2016 08:34 AM
Rainmaker
1,758,937
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Is he a competing broker? Will he mentor you without expecting a larger cut? Lots of questions to ponder.

Aug 04, 2016 08:10 AM
Ambassador
742,369
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

The beauty about being an independent agent is that you can change brokers anytime.

Aug 04, 2016 08:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,395,083
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Depends on what you need and want from a broker. You might need training or support or you might want a better split. Decide what you want first and then interview all of the local brokers to decide who suits you.

Aug 04, 2016 05:53 AM
Ambassador
6,766,375
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It is a tough choice, which one will train and mentor you to be the best in this field?

Aug 04, 2016 01:35 AM
Ambassador
3,447,516
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Training is huge for a new agent. Keep in mind ... they are selling and hoping to hook you. Talk to other new agents where you are interviewing. Get their feedback on how it is going for them.  Listen to your gut. If it sounds too good to be true ... it probably is.  

Aug 04, 2016 01:20 AM
Rainmaker
138,887
Kelly Turbeville
Keller Williams - Lake Forest, CA
Turning Real Estate Dreams into Reality

When I was new, I went with the company that had the best training but not just in contracts more so in how to get business and marketing.   I sat through a training class and a sales meeting before I committed to see if I liked the overall vibe and energy of the office. 

If you want any information regarding Keller Williams, which I moved to about a year ago, I am happy to share!

Aug 04, 2016 01:06 AM
Rainer
28,628
Mo Vahdati
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Marketing Your Homes to the World

Before you commit to them, ask them if you can attend a sales meeting or any training classes as a guest.  It will give you a good insight into the office culture.

Aug 04, 2016 12:43 AM
Rainmaker
4,791,716
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Ask lots of questions.  

Look for the best match for training and/or mentorship.  

Go with your gut instincts.

Aug 04, 2016 12:40 AM
Rainmaker
2,872,471
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Same qualities that you would want in a friend.

Aug 03, 2016 11:30 PM
Rainmaker
5,585,039
Barbara Todaro
Retired...Mentoring Newbies - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

it depends on what you're looking for....you SHOULD be looking for quality training and mentoring after being trained.... the rest is left up to your instincts.... there is a personality element to consider....and those who are "like minded" should be at the top of your list before you choose...

Aug 03, 2016 11:17 PM
Ambassador
2,364,185
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

The broker that will be right for you now is the one who will mentor and train you and offer the support you need to build a successful business.   

Be aware that 90% of newly licensed agents quit the business within 2 years. If you don't want to be a statistic, affiliate with an office that will help you be successful, not just hang your license and throw you to the wolves. I wrote an article on that 80/20 statistic, as it pertains to real estate, yesterday. 

There are many articles on this platform that answer this How To Choose A Broker question in more depth, if you do a search in the upper right search box.   Good luck.


Aug 03, 2016 11:09 PM
Rainmaker
5,558,757
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Interviews are a two way street! Ask questions! Feel comfortable? Knowledge, reputation, training!

Aug 03, 2016 11:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,657
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

You can only make a list of what you think you want in a broker - for example, as a new agent, I would think training, maybe a mentorship program or very supporter broker and environment would be at the top of your list.  

If you are new and uncertain how the income stream is going to go in the beginning, I would look for a brokerage that welcomes and encourages new agents (not all business models work well for new agents) and does not charge you for every pen you use or for office space UNLESS you feel the benefits will outweigh the costs.  

A higher commission split in the beginning does not necessarily equate to success, so I would not make that a priority in the beginning.  

I would also trust my gut to know when I have found the right place. 

 

Aug 03, 2016 10:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,847
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Interview them and make sure they supply the services you need at the right price.  See if all of your requirements are met.

Aug 03, 2016 10:33 PM
Rainmaker
5,177,792
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

You will not know until you try.  Interview many, ask questions, meet other agents in the office.  The good thing if you make the wrong decision go somewhere else.

Aug 03, 2016 10:31 PM
Rainmaker
3,074,716
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

Scott Godzyk nailed this one!

Aug 03, 2016 10:09 PM
Rainmaker
936,418
Jeff Pearl
Samson Properties / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

You don't always. That's why you need to research, interview, and talk to other agents that are working there, and if possible, talk to agents who were there and left. There is no perfect scenario.

Aug 03, 2016 10:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Robert Borden Do you have a good report with the broker? Does the broker have a mentoring and training program?

Aug 03, 2016 10:04 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,277
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Scott has given you good advice.

Aug 03, 2016 09:50 PM
Rainer
56,784
LeAnn Sink - Realtor Knoxville, TN
United Real Estate Solutions - Knoxville, TN
#ThinkSink when you need an agent.

Ya don't until you get in there! What works for one, or sounds and looks good on paper may not pan out for you. Vice versa too; what may not be a good choice for someone else may be perfect for you.  You just have to dive in to your first choice and test it out.

Aug 03, 2016 09:41 PM