Comments on: At Home or At the Office?

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:19:57 +0000

@Steve_Simon I aksed this question recently on AgentGenius http://agentgenius.com/?p=6061 - I love my home office

By: Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:54:13 +0000

I have worked from home for many years and love it. As my team grew I needed a central location to drop off files for the team members.

I just hired a new assistant and she is handling the contracts to close so she is there.

My team is spread out all over the county and they all prefer to work from home, but are mostly in the car.

I had my former broker tell me that agents that come into the office are higher producers. Not so. All of the top producers were working from home in Ann Arbor. Since he lived in a small rural area, it just did not apply. It is all about time management.

Now not to be sexist in this statement, but I have found most men do like going to the office more and that is who I see there. LOL

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:04:35 +0000

Matt – Maybe both is the answer, with limited hours at the office. Our office is neither energetic or a morgue, however, I don’t think it is much different than most offices around town. I am more energized being with or talking to clients discussing their real estate needs or having lunch with good Realtor friends, than dressing up for the office.

I like my jean days, and I can change quickly if I need to at home.

Jim – I started about 7 years ago also, and as stated earlier, I wonder who the new agents are learning from today. There are just not that many hanging around the office like there were just 7 years ago.

Teresa – I remember your post; at the time I was considering a new broker. I am happiest at home also, but regardless of whether or not I choose to have both, I have definitely decided to schedule a printing day. It is one of the things I pay for, which used to be paid for by the brokers. How times change!

Thanks everyone for your input!

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:53:04 +0000

Kevin – Thanks! As an agent who has done both, I prefer the virtual vs. the brick and mortar. At the same time, there exist the mindset that clients care if you have an office. In reality, I have only met three people at my office in the last two years. They were from out of town and we had to meet somewhere. Indiana is a bit behind in the virtual office concept and I have seen many here at AG I would work for in a heartbeat. Maybe I’ll have to pave the way here in Indy.

Lisa – I hear this and yet I see the same people at the office, all dressed for a day’s work, just sitting in their office; selling nothing. I know it doesn’t apply to all. I feel like I can accomplish that at home. I agree with new agents being in the office; I was when I was new. In today’s virtual environment, though, I wonder, what agents would they learn from? In our office, those who are there, are behind closed doors.

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:41:27 +0000

Ben – Nice car! That would make going to the office downright fun, especially here in the racing capital of the world. Slap my RE/MAX signs on the side and what buyer wouldn’t want to buy a home with me; for a ride in my car, of course.

It does take discipline and for me, knowing when to call it a day. I live close enough to work (6 miles) but I really just don’t enjoy it.

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:29:42 +0000

Elaine – Your hours sound like mine; of course, I only close the top of my laptop – it really nevers goes off. I do enjoy being home in the mornings, pj’s, coffee, checking email, phone calls, etc. it’s comfortable and a great way to start the work day.

Mack – Funny – you’re right, no one there is going to be my client. I feel the same way, but my team seems to think we need more “office” time.

Holly – Exactly how I like my days I even use my own color printer while paying $55.00 a month for office supllies. I may have to schedule a printing hour at the office.

Larry – I hear this often, which is why I ask the question, especially from a team leader position. I do know I never quit working because my office is at home. I do need to learn to shut the door and turn off the phone, so I can enjoy my home.

By: Paula Henry

Paula Henry — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:20:13 +0000

Chuck – In my early years, I was strictly office and being a newbie, really learned a lot from other agents. I don’t see that as much of a benefit in my current office. The benefits of being in the office for me is to meet with my team and having all files in one location when one of us decides to take vacation. Of course, that can be done online, also.

We recently merged two RE/MAX offices, so the noise level is a bit much. I am talking private office, if I choose to go to the office. There may be room for both in my life.

By: Teresa Boardman

Teresa Boardman — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:18:50 +0000

I wrote something very similar here a few months ago. Brokerages don’t have anything to offer agents like me. I have a social life outside of real estate and do not need to belong to an office for social reasons. I have everything I need at home. We don’t really have floor time and things have been changed so that expenses that used to be picked up by the brokerage are now our problem.

By: Jim Duncan

Jim Duncan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:55:23 +0000

Lisa –

I have to agree with you here, primarily for the newer agents. I learned a ton when I started 7 years ago just by listening to the ambient noise in the office. That’s just not an option when working at home. Perhaps an apprenticeship of 18 months under good brokers’ tutelage and then the agent could work from home …

And on this –

I am sure that those who commented here are the exception,

I would absolutely agree three times over.

By: Matt Thomson

Matt Thomson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:27:22 +0000

I have both, but only within the past 18 months did I take out space at our office. I thought that I wanted to be more comfortable, have less distractions, etc., and thought that I could have that at home. In many ways I do.
BUT…there is no substitute–for me–for the synergy created by a positive office environment. I have gathered some great info here on AG, but the information I’ve gathered just by being part of conversations around our office have been invaluable.
There’s also something about the professional feeling of dressing up and going to the office. For me, it helps. I think that your office needs to be a positive place, however. I walk into some offices here in town and feel like it’s a library or a morgue or a junior high gossip hall. I couldn’t work in those environments.
For me, I need the energy of my office…of course I’m writing this in sweat pants, a stained sweatshirt, and my dog by my side in my home office. Nice to have both!