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Shawna Janikowski

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Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Only consider the brokers who ask to see your real estate agent business plan.
Go with the one who sits with you and explains how he/she will go about helping you implement.

Feb 07, 2022 02:30 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

They are interviewing you and you are interviewing them. Chemistry with the managing broker is important, followed by coaching and training. Compensation should not be a consideration while you are implementing the beginning of your career. Good luck!

Feb 08, 2022 04:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Interview a handful of brokers. Ask a lot of questions about training. Don't worry about money right now. You don't know anything, you won't be making money until you do. PERIOD.
Who's going to help you get smarter? Who do you personally like? Are they going to be around if you need them?

Feb 08, 2022 05:04 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Congratulations on passing your exam.  

For me, training was everything.  Learning the contracts inside and out was key for me. Having someone available to ask questions and get help, if needed, is essential. 

Go with your gut.  

I wish you all the best. 

Feb 07, 2022 03:50 PM
Ambassador
3,125,842
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

There are so many factors to consider. Asking the real estate school instructors would be a fantastic place to start, since they are the educators. Congrats on passing your exam!

Feb 07, 2022 03:40 PM
Ambassador
2,178,603
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

As a newbie, you will probably want to be in an office with a good training and mentoring program. Many of the recruiters say they have training but they really don't have a system.

Feb 08, 2022 04:59 AM
Rainmaker
821,135
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Congratulations on passing your exam.

Understand your choices regarding a franchise vs. boutique office. 

Will you have to join a Board of Realtors and National Association of Realtors? 

If you choose to make x $ per year, do the math.  How many sales and how many hours will be dedicated to achieving your goal. 

Who will be mentoring you along? 

How long have other agents been with the broker who gives all those checkmarks.  

Welcome to Active Rain!  How did you find us? 

Every Tuesday at 2pm eastern we have a zoom call. Today! here is the link:

Please visit George Souto's Weekly Post on the AR Zoom Meeting for Details. 

All these fellow professionals commenting here are a great starting point. 😎

 

Feb 08, 2022 07:16 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I firmly believe that the best place for a new agent is on a Real Estate Team , as a Buyer Agent . Leads will be provided by the Team.

Feb 08, 2022 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,169
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Select the office that will best meet your present needs. The relationships with your broker and the agents in the office will impact the level of your success. My preference would be to be in a highly productive environment with agents that have demonstrated great success.

Feb 07, 2022 05:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,556,633
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

They do say the same things, and promise the moon.  I recommend you read the book "21 Things I Wish My Broker had Told Me'.  

Feb 09, 2022 07:21 AM
Rainmaker
693,775
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Be sure to ask a lot of questions.  Good training is a must.  Will they help in your marketing.  How will they help?  Ask about commission splits and if there will be a mentor provided.  If so, what will the mentor cost in terms of your split.  Find out about what level your cap will be set at.  Is there an opportunity to be on a team?  If so, what does that mean?

Ask if there are any financial benefits the company offers besides a commission.  I have probably made about as much money from those other benefits than I have from my commissions over the last couple of years.  There really is a lot to discuss and you have to be ready with your own set of questions.  My first interview, I did not know to ask questions and it cost me.

Feb 08, 2022 08:20 AM
Ambassador
2,436,099
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Congratulations on passing your exam. Definitely take the time you need to select the broker that fits your needs. Talk to agents in that company and ask them what the strengths and weaknesses of that company are.

Feb 08, 2022 08:05 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Shopping for Brokers? How about getting started where they offer free training or classes, so you get exposure? Once you get a feel or idea for how to hit the ground running, forms, spiel, and most important being able to dialog Q & A with credibility, you can then decide how to tweak supervision etc. Remember the rule: an investment has to give a return. At some point, wherever you are, monetization must take place

Feb 08, 2022 06:33 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Congratulations! Get ready for the adventure and read the response by Candice A. Donofrio again.  :)

Feb 08, 2022 05:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,152
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I agree with  Wayne Martin chose them for a purpose. 

Feb 08, 2022 05:09 AM
Rainer
195,422
Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

Decide what is most important to you.  Maybe that is training, or compensation, or culture, or location.  Whatever it is - determine that.  Then look for a broker that offers that.

Feb 07, 2022 06:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

#1 Gut Feeling.

#2 Support & Mentorship required, what's their plan for you?

#3 What brand is successful in your service area?

Feb 08, 2022 04:24 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Ask regarding support such as training and mentoring. Beyond that, go with your gut as to whom you trust most and with whom you think you'd like to work. Be mindful of "desk costs" and other possible fees upon signing.

Feb 08, 2022 11:58 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Congrats on passing your exam Shawna!! and welcome to the game.

Hire a brokerage with the resources to provide excellent tech, coaching and training.

Cant go wrong with KW.

Feb 08, 2022 09:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Congratulations on passing your exam. 

Feb 08, 2022 09:46 AM
Rainer
337,854
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

When I was selecting my first real estate brokerage firm, I was coming into the business with a lot of corporate experience which helped me in the selection aspect. Most firms claimed to offer great training- though I was a corporate training manager- and I previously designed the global training infrastructure at a couple of firms- so a lot of these claims didn't hold a lot of weight as I dug into questions around training. I had some very specific questions prepared that really helped me narrow the selection. My market is very different from the rest of the nation- so a key question I asked the brokers when I interviewed may or may not apply (or might apply differently) - but I asked- "Can you elaborate on some of the toughest deals you have closed and how can I leverage your knowledge from this experience?" The broker responded back with the he had recently closed a co-op purchase with an overseas investor (most co-op's will only sell to US residents- and the apartment must be either a primary or secondary residence) - and the investor wanted a place that he can rent on Day 1 of ownership (most co-op's won't let you sublet until you live in the apartment for 2 or more years- if they even allow subletting) and the investor only wanted to put down 10% (most co-op's require a minimum of 20% down and most banks require 30-50% down for investors and 60-70% down for overseas investors). He was more than willing to include me in these types of client conversations for me to learn from. They offered me the job- and I have been with the same managing broker ever since. 

Feb 11, 2022 11:41 AM
Rainer
155,337
Anthony Kirlew
Group 46:10 Network @ eXp Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Helping You Make Fiscally Sound Real Estate Deals!

Congrats and welcome to one of the best industries in the world!

As far as a broker I recommend EXP. I have been with many over my career, and I love all that they have to offer (world-class training, multiple revenue streams such as employee stock purchase program, and great leadership!)

That being said, I also recommend starting with a team - and one that has a successful track record. This will give you access to mentors and help that you would not have on your own. You only learn this business through experience. As one of my instructors said, "this course will help you get a license, but it won't teach you to be a great agent."

If you know any agents in your area ask them what they like the most about their broker/team and also what they wish they could change.

Feb 10, 2022 07:23 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

They "say the same things".  What are they willing to put in writing?

Feb 08, 2022 06:48 PM