The ads were on and off….not really a plus because each office had a quota and there were way too many agents.

Free legal – awesome! definite plus – except the time the legal department cracked a joke about Rick and I making each other company in jail after we reported a mortgage fraud scam to them.

Compensation plans were really bad IMHO

Giving 40% of my commission to relocation eventhough I didn’t have to go through them was unacceptable

Great manager – absolutely!! The couple of managers we had were A1 but the one we have now is top notch as well.

To think that last week I was contacted by a local news station to do a Luxury REal Estate Market Piece and my broker was available to me on the spot and willing for me to show one of his Luxury Listings…..is priceless – I would have never had that support in CB.

Again, what’s important here is for everyone to weigh the pros and cons and feel happy with what they are getting and for your business style to match that of the brokerages and for your expectations to be met.

I know CB can be a little “stiff”, but overall I really like them, and I’ve been to other companies too… Here’s why I like them…

1. They pay for the first couple of ads in the paper.

2. They pay for Open House ads.

3. They have a great location for an office.

4. Even though I thought I was not too happy with having to refer my outgoing referrals to the corporate referral dept, in all honesty they do a great job.

5. Best Mortgage company I’ve dealt with overall is NEMoves Mortgage (part of Coldwell Banker).

6. I can do anything I want on the web in terms of having my own IDX and I pay for it with an outside vendor.

7. Most of my calls from the internet go all to me.

8. I can have my blog provided I have a disclaimer (and I do).

9. Legal is free.

10. Excellent support and training. Ongoing and also continuing education for maintaining my license.

11. Very fair and competitive compensation plans.

12. A great manager.

The independents in my area, for the most part, are either with one leg in the grave, or they are generally arrogant and “backwards”.. Couple of good ones but they have hardly any recognition. Keller Williams? I’ve been there for 2 years in my area.. No comment, but I’m not there.

If you are unhappy then get to a place you may like. Business will continue without you if you let it.

I do think that if a lot of these Mega Brokerages would change their rigid structures somewhat, they would have a lot more satisfied and producing agents – to me is a no brainer….but making them feel hostage and hearing all the horror stories from agents that have left, leaves a sour taste for many and a hint of “fear”.

Study your needs – look at your options – there are plenty of brokerage models out there – Mega Brokers don’t mean as much to many agents today.

Anyway, I have a friend moving to Miami next spring – I’ll surely send them your way!

Have a terrific day!
Jennifer

Ted – I really like the KW business model, so much so that I joined a KW office before CB. The way the office is handled and controlled and the way that business model is followed by its brokers is huge…..needless to say, I was not happy w/ it and left 4 months later.

The whole big office concept in order to talk and related to a team is definitely a myth. I can tell you that when I plan a brokers open, I call each local agent personally and invite them to come. I have great rapport w/ all of them, no matter the office and it has to do more with the way you engage your colleagues than the office you are in – thanks for you take btw.

Jay – cold calling is not for everyone, and some agents still live by it…to each its own. E & O , well…..when it comes to getting actual representation, it doesn’t matter who you paid.

Nicole, thanks for sharing your story as well and CONGRATULATIONS!! My biggest problem with the big brokerages was the whole “relocation and referral” issues. To think that if you referred a client to me I had to go through their relocation department and give away 40% is absolutely insane!