- Switching companies can cost you time and money.
- Carefully assess what and who you’d be leaving behind.
- Conduct diligent research to determine if you’d actually want to work at the new company.
Like a tumultuous market, a real estate office can run high with emotions. A deal goes south; the office printer jams yet again; a co-worker snubs you.
These seemingly small things can build up, making you ripe for the approach from a competing brokerage. You’re steamed just enough that you might sit down and listen to what someone else has to say.
Of course, there’s no harm in listening. However, before you make a move that could affect your pocketbook, relationships and productivity, take a minute to review the signs of a great company below.
If your current company already exhibits these qualities, you may want to stay put. But if you find yourself stretching to equate your current company to the qualifiers below, a positive change may be the move you need.
Solid reputation
Going with a brand you know and trust will not only put your mind at ease but also your clients’.
A positive reputation can attract new clients and retain loyal patrons. Having a solid company name listed behind your own can also help during transactions with other agents and brokerages. In multiple-offer scenarios, agents are more likely to push forward offers coming from reputable firms.
Agent collaboration
Who wants to walk into a cold and quiet office every day? Not any agents that I know — we’re the epitome of the social butterfly!
An office that’s full of energy, synergy and collaboration will affect your bottom line. Not only will you want to be there, which inherently increases productivity, but also the ideas you garner will help increase your sphere of influence and sell more properties.
If you aren’t sure about the camaraderie between the agents, ask to go on tour together or sit in a sales meeting. Assess if the environment is competitive or collaborative.
Supportive mentorship
A managing principal broker that is available to answer unending questions about sticky transactions and client relationships can be a life-saver, especially when first starting out.
Ask other agents if their principal broker is responsive. Does he or she call agents back? It’s a red flag when managers seem preoccupied with selling their own real estate.
Unending help
Beyond the invaluable mentorship provided, what else is set up to support agents?
Having a team on hand that will help with orderings signs, inputting listings online and organizing your database can be worth an extra fee because you’ll have more time to focus on what’s most important.
Community involvement
Not only does a real estate company’s community involvement speak volumes to your sphere of influence, it should resonate strongly with you.
Volunteer efforts, community initiatives or charitable fundraising can have a long-term effect on the local real estate market, directly tying into your efforts as an agent.
But even more importantly, if a company is not wholeheartedly demonstrating its commitment to your community, how can you be sure about its commitment to you?
There is no harm in keeping your options open. Sometimes it takes looking at what else is out there to help you realize what you already have.
Plenty of agents feel fed up with their current workplace and move on to what they believe to be greener pastures, only to be underwhelmed with the results.
If you find yourself questioning whether to stay or leave, consider the relationships and the community you would be leaving behind.
Matt Powell is the owner and general manager for Windermere Real Estate/Lane County in Eugene, Vida and Springfield, Oregon.
