The debate rages on about whether the big brokerages will adapt and thrive in a web 2.0 world, and whether the internet savvy boutique firms will be sustainable without big brand backing. As an agent in today’s market, I just want to work somewhere where I can be successful. It’s not crazy that it’s taken a while for me to figure out where that is, right?
Tools? Support? Training?
My needs as an agent have evolved since I got started in this business. New agents need strong broker support to guide them as they write their first contracts, market their first listings, and grow from newbies into more experienced professionals. Training and support for a new agent are totally different than those for seasoned agents. When I started out I barely knew the right questions to ask before I joined a company and got started. Thankfully, I had great training and a very helpful broker. I made a company switch when I outgrew that system, but still didn’t realize exactly what I was looking for until I didn’t find it at the next firm.
Sometimes the environment we are looking for that will allow us to thrive isn’t something we can explain, or quantify. It’s easier to say what we don’t want rather than what we do. It’s not always about the commission split or the desk space, it’s about the untangibles…the way that the agents interact, the makeup of the people in the office.
You Aren’t Alone
I’ve talked with lots of different agents lately that are not satisfied, and feel held back, by their current brokerage situation, but are paralyzed by fear of disrupting their marketing, or of making the wrong choice. Truthfully, though, if you are having that discussion with someone, your discontent is distracting you from being as successful as you would like to be, or doing the business that you want or need to do.
If you aren’t getting the support you need from your company, take a step back and figure out what’s lacking. Explore your options: will your current firm make some changes to help you out, or should you explore some other offices to see if they are a better fit? You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. And reach out to other agents who have made successful transitions to see what they did to make the process work.
Don’t Waste Time
You can’t underestimate the power of satisfaction in your choice of company…when you don’t have to waste your mental energy on unhappiness, your energy for your business is rejuvenated. Leaving an office behind doesn’t always mean it was a bad office, a bad choice, or a bad place to work. It only means that it wasn’t the best fit for you.
