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Brandi -

It is very important to take the time to fully research many brokerages in ones area as it can have long lasting effects on a sales agent's career. When speaking to other agents I have been told to shop the most compatible corporate culture for myself as they can vary greatly.

The broker you choose to work for will be more than your boss, they need to be your best friend and partner. They are the person who will have your back when things go less than perfect so you need to be able to trust them fully.

An agent shopping for a brokerage should take many things into consideration. The office itself should be measured. Is it in a desirable and easy to access location? Is it visually pleasing and is there ample parking? The other agents working for the brokerage should be diverse in experience.

Does the brokerage offer marketing services? What kind of desk fees do they charge and what is the beginning commission split. They should have a visually pleasing web page that is easy to navigate. They should also have a good reputation in the community.

I have actually interviewed at two different brokerages so far and both were very reputable and offered great things for their agents. A big selling point for me was the type of support and education they offer to new agents. I wanted to know if they offer a post-license course or if I would have to take it online. I also asked if they offer a mentor program which both did. The biggest difference in the companies was commission split and diversity of agents.

One offered a much larger commission split but had a much larger ratio of new inexperienced agent to experienced agent ratio. There were about 4 agents out of 5 with less that a year of experience. I felt I would prefer the office with more experienced agents and a lower commission split as a new agent as I can always earn more with a more secure base of experience behind me.

Thomas -

The world of Real Estate has changed so much over the last few years. It used to be a lot of word of mouth, newspapers, and flyers. So many things changed when the world of the internet happened, let alone when social media took off. There are so many ways to reach your potential clients and even less expensive than running news paper ads. When I talk about it being cheaper than it is more of the idea that you are getting more for the money you are spending.

A lot of future agents may think that pay may be the most important thing. Yes, it is important to think about when researching future potential agencies that you want to work for.

Not only pay, but benefits, agency success rate, also what could possibly work with your style of selling properties. I will be working with my father-in-law for his real estate firm when I complete my degree in just a couple of weeks. With his firm it was easy to decide because I have been working for him for the last two years on his ranch.

We work well together in the different types of things that we have done. We have been able to communicate and understand each other. We know each other's weaknesses and strengths. That right there is a lot more than can be told on the internet and in interviews with different agencies.

Every person has different needs to consider when looking for an agency to work for and it may not always be a perfect match the first time you find an agency to work for. Sometimes it could take time and trial and error. Yes, in this field it is a lot of doing the job on your own but in a good agency it can be a team effort. When a agency works together it can strive to grow into something bigger than imagined.

Rita -

When it comes to picking potential agencies in Real Estate, it is important to do your research. When you look into different Real Estate offices, you want to find one that you can work and learn from in a comfortable environment and one that will help you grow as an agent and help you become successful. If I was in the process of searching, I would start with the bigger companies first such as Century 21 or Remax.

I would focus on what they have to offer, how the work environment is, and if it is a place I can benefit and learn from. Then, I would look towards the smaller companies that are present in town and what they have to offer, how the work environment is, and if it is a place I can benefit and learn from.

Another think that could help, is talking to any friends who have gone with an agency to purchase a home and talk about their experience with the company and the agent they had. How people talk about an agency and their experience with them is what builds a successful and trustworthy bond with potential customers.

Some of the important factors to consider include; Local Market Share and Agent Income, Composition and quality of Sales Staff, Recruiting and Retention Philosophy, Office Esprit de Corps, Agent Status (Independent Contractor or Employee?), Training Programs, Support Facilities, Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Membership, Realtor Affiliation, Office Ethics, Commission Splits, Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance, Your Obligations to the Firm and Special Functions (Edwards, 2006). When you first start off, of course you will not have the entire essential skills needed to apply all the factors that are listed on top.

However, if you start off small, such as with two or three, you can start working your way towards all the others. Most importantly, communication is key. If you do not have good communication skills, there would not be positive work relationships and businesses wouldn't advance or grow.

When it comes to Real Estate and technology, the two rely on each other. Without technology, clients wouldn't have access to as much information to properties being sold and ones that are being put on the market.

Because of technology, agents have the power to upload and update new and existing properties that are on the market or that have just been sold or taken off. Technology also makes it easier to communicate if the client or agent is unable to come to the office that day.

The most important use, in my opinion, is the power of social media. Agents can use social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram to help advertise and promote them, the company they are working for and the property they are trying to sell. Because of how many people actually use social media, this is a good way to pull in customers and potential clients.