Just recently obtained my Real Estate License, & was wondering if anyone knew if a good place to work out of?

Question

Hey, after waiting nearly 6 months for the state to issue me a realtor license (after background check and whatnot) I'm starting the interview process to see which agency's seem like a good place work out of.

I live near Salem, Oregon, 20, male. I consider myself relatively intelligent, but have no experience (besides the schooling) in the field, and nobody i know personally in the field...

Anyway, was wondering 1st if anyone has any experience with agency's in the salem area, but if not; perhaps, experience with any particular nationwide agencies.. Positive or negative feedback would be greatly appreciated. Also, what I should be looking for when interviewing different agencies? and lastly, I am considering working for an agency that specializes in property management (apartments, etc.), and if you have experience with a company of that nature, what light can you shed for me?

Honestly, just looking for any and all advice on the topic.
Thanks

Answer 1

Have been in the real estate industry for 15 years, working all aspects (real estate, property management, title, escrow and mortgages) and I have found that the best company to work for and with is Keller Williams...they have a great track record, great profit sharing plan and seem to really care about the well-being of their realtors (they are treated like more than just a commission). Plus they have a good track record for being socially active and promoting good will activities and contributions towards good causes (like Katrina relief). Check out their website...

www.kw.com

Good luck, don't give up...it can be a brutal market and only the determined and strong survive. Figure out a way to make a name for yourself by promoting a unique style/image and always see your clients as more than just a paycheck and you will go far.

Answer 2

I work in real estate as a developer and have worked with all of the national agencies over the past couple of years ive had the best experience by far with ReMerica, thats just one mans opinion, i think its more the agent then the agency though as sucessful sales people will rise to the top of any firm

Answer 3

Hey,
The other poster's advice about having six month's income is especially wise.
Also, commit to selling full time for at LEAST ONE YEAR. There is something about that 13 month mark, things start to happen when you may have been dry as a bone for 12 3/4 months. More than 1/2 the new agents don't last one full year and that is too bad, because it just takes that long.
Commit to taking a percentage of your first closing and putting it back into your business, through some sort of promotional thing.

This is what I did when I got my license: I am very family oriented and wanted a moral and not a cut throat company. However, the best training in our area was with the local Coldwell Banker company. I signed on, did the training and used the program I was taught. When I could not stand the back biting and could no longer tell whose name was on the knives in my back, I went on to a company whose brokers and owners I could trust and whose leadership I could follow. I then developed a mentoring program for them.

If real estate were a typical "job" I would not have approached it in this manner. But I paid C.B. 1/2 of everything I produced in income and paid for my own e and o insurance, etc while I worked there so I feel we each got what we paid for. They got 1/2 my income and I got training!

Interview at least 5 to 6 companies in your area. REMEMBER, YOU ARE INTERVIEWING THEM, THEY ARE NOT INTERVIEWING YOU!!!! YOU WILL PAY THEM WELL FOR EVERYTHING THEY OFFER YOU, from paperclips to copies, to training and errors and omissions insurance, so make sure they are going to invest in you. Make sure they will have some one track with you and help you set goals, ones that mean a lot to you, not just the broker's bottom line!

Take a list with you and ask each company what is important to you. At this point, you want training and support the most. Ask to MEET the training coordinator and ask if you can sit in on one class. Visit a sales meeting and get a feel for how the office dynamic is.

I read something like this in a book and used it when I trained agents:
"There are two types of training theories in real estate companies. If agents and the business are like Velcro, you can either hire lots and lots of people, throw them against the wall and keep the few who stick OR you can hire good agents, train them and support them so well that when they are thrown against the wall, they WILL stick."

Many companies will say to you, "oh you can shadow Annie Agent and learn all you need to know." In my experience this means "we don't really have a training program." On the other extreme, I found that C.B. wouldn't let me out of training for SO LONG, that I couldn't put into practice what I was learning. Find a balance.

Commission splits and fees are very important, but for your first year, you need support and training more than $50 extra on a closing.

Also, I used C.B. as an example. Each office is a franchise, so there may be a very good franchise in your area with more integrity than in mine. That goes for EVERY franchise. This is why you need to interview several companies. A good national company in one city may be owned by a jerk in another city!
DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED AND DON'T FEEL COMPELLED TO SIGN SOME KIND OF COMMITMENT CONTRACT AT THE INTERVIEW!

Best Wishes and remember, Character is what you do when NO ONE is looking.

Answer 4

If Prudential Real Estate has an office in Salem, try to work for them. It's a very supportive, powerful and friendly company. I worked for them in New York City, and I had a great time.

Don't forget, it will take MONTHS before you start making money in Real Estate. Be sure you are prepared for that.