Comments on: What do Agents Really Want?

By: Lesley

Lesley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:33:42 +0000

I went from a family owned company (mom retired) that I didn’t want to take over and joined the best of both worlds in my eyes. My company is an independently owned company that is killing the big guys in market share with almost 1/3 of the agents. Our owner and manager will only recruit agents who are producing and regularly cull the pack of those who aren’t cutting it. We are providing just about everything I could ever ask for (they are lagging a bit on the tech front, but I can make up for that on my own) and provide me with a better than fair split. The office is attractive and because all of the agents are productive, it is actually inspiring to be there. We all help each other out with covering open houses, showings, etc. when needed. We are there to work and while we do so (and quite well) we are enjoying each other. Our commissions are paid very quickly both in and out of house.

By: UK Investment Sales

UK Investment Sales — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:38:19 +0000

Resistance to change was high at the begining but our office is fast becoming nicely high tech. We’ve started blogging, submitting press releases and bulk emailing newsletters to our lists. Let’s face it the web savvy estate agent is the only one going to be earning commission over the next few months.

By: Suzanne Gantner

Suzanne Gantner — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:12:38 +0000

Teresa – you are so much like myself and have the same thoughts I do about a realty company or office. I don’t have to have the rah rah coaches and training, I don’t want to listen to someone who wrote a boring book because they couldn’t actually sell anything after they had gone thru their family, I don’t need it. When I was asked to join Sky Realty (who I work for now) I thought the same as you “what can you do for me.” I have not been disappointed.

My broker has web/tech classes each week, we all have our own websites, we are being taught how to blog, how to work on our websites, how to use the search engines, etc. It has been exhilirating to have such positive lessons given. When I see friends who work in large cattle call offices they are never as excited as I am as to the new way of real estate. I am happy to work out of my home office, go to the tech classes and drop by copier and coffee shop. You go!!

By: Change is Good | agentgenius.com- national real estate opinion column

Change is Good | agentgenius.com- national real estate opinion column — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:01:02 +0000

[...] business and marketing style, but a change that would benefit each one of our clients individually! Teresa wrote a post last week that reflects what each one of us is looking for in a brokerage [...]

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:58:31 +0000

This post may stem from naivety, but please bare with me because sometimes great ideas stem from inexperience.

From your article, and from what I’ve heard from many other agents, the brokerages that they work for offer far less than they provide. So my question is, why is it that an agent must work for a broker?

This question could have many implications and I’m open to hearing all of them. Legal reasons, old school reasons, or no better options reasons. I’d just like to hear your perspectives.

By: What am I looking For from a Real Estate Company? | agentgenius.com- national real estate opinion column

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:38:26 +0000

[...] thought it would be appropriate to follow up on my post last week, “What Agents Really Want“. I mostly wrote about what I don’t want or need. The point of the post was that we are [...]

By: Kaye Thomas

Kaye Thomas — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:24:36 +0000

T.. I also love this post.. it’s as if you are reading my mind.. How sad companies rarely recognize that good agents don’t need them… but rather they need more good agents.

I am fortunate to work for a Broker who recognizes and enourages his agents to work in a manner that best suits them.. If you want to be “in the office” great.. if not working from home is fine.

I have been home based for about 5 years and wouldn’t have it any other way. I do use the office for meeting clients but that’s about it. We have a weekly office meeting that agents want to attend as a lot of information is passed around about local happenings in our market. My broker is one of the most respected in the area. I could not imagine working for anyone else in town. He throws 2 parties a year to “Thank the agents” for how hard we work and for everyone to mingle a bit as many of us are rarely in the office.

I know he would back me 100% about anything and is alays thre to listen and offer sound advice. I feel very fortunate to be with my company..

By: Ken Smith

Ken Smith — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:24:17 +0000

@ Teresa – I think that is takes a thoughtful and inspired blog post to get quality comments. The reason you get so many great comments is due to the quality of the posts your write.

@ Jay – When you say “swiftly” how long before you cut checks? This is important as my thought was for opening an office was same day if the HUD and title company check are into the office by 2pm, otherwise the next day. There has to be some sort of cut off, just trying to see what others are doing.

@ Eric – what is that deadline to get paid same day?

By: Define “Real Estate Professional” | agentgenius.com- national real estate opinion column

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:34:40 +0000

[...] In a recent post by Teresa Boardmann she asked “What do Agents Really Want?” . [...]

By: Bill Lublin

Bill Lublin — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:03:53 +0000

Barry ;
“with all due respect..”Bite Me” with your pompous crap about who is and who isn’t a professional

What an articulate response and such an cunning literary contradiction. I am dazzled by your erudite arguments.

You are such a crackpot trying to impose your will upon someone. Save that for someone who will allow it. Ain’t gonna happen here!

Barry – this doesn’t make sense no matter how many times I read it. Exactly how am I trying to impose my will on you? You asked a question and I answered it.

You must be suffering short term memory loss. You were the one who asked for clarification. In an earlier comment you wrote what makes you think that: … I’m not a real estate “professional”..(whatever that moniker means) Which indicated that you wanted the term defined as used in my earlier response. And I don’t get how the definition is self -serving.

Dude..you must really think really..really..highly of yourself. No, I am actually fairly modest, but I do have lots and lots of awards and plaques that I have received which indicates that others think highly of me or my achievements.

As for the disbursement of commissions, of course the broker pays the commission. All he has to do is give the title agent written disbursement orders and the title agent can wire all the funds that need to be distributed at closing. Maybe YOU aren’t aware of that!

Actually Barry, that is factually inaccurate. In our state (and in many states where the broker is the only party authorized to receive compensation) the money has to be paid to the Broker before it can be paid to the salesperson. And Barry, I know well what a title company can do. I have owned one for the past 18 years.

You must have some pretty naive agents working for you if they buy that BS about having to wait to get paid. Other then trying to make a disparaging statement, What indicated to you that my agents wait to be paid? As soon as we receive funds, they are deposited and our agents are paid regularly and promptly.

I agree with Teresa (and every other agent who has ever been stalled waiting for a check that was due them) that an agent shouldn’t be waiting for funds they should be paid as soon as they are collected and cleared. I experienced that when I was an agent, and it was not an experience I would want to duplicate for myself or anyone else.

“Not a professional”…you crack me up! Barry, I’m glad I amuse you, but in the terms of this discussion you are not a real estate professional. You may be a professional at something else, but you don’t do what we do, experience what we experience, or have the same concerns that we have for our clients and customers.