I clearly remember choosing a brokerage based on the lead structure that they had in place to help their agents gain business and the office structure to support their agents. I chose a location that I felt was right for me, and I’ve never regretted that. As the years passed, however, I found that what I wanted from my brokerage and what my brokerage wanted from me grew to be two very different things. I wanted autonomy, a chance to do business my way, and while I didn’t outgrow the company I didn’t have a very different concept of how I wanted to be as an agent.
Brokerages mean something different to each agent. How many agents here even have a desk at their brokers office anymore? The digital age has meant that some brokers don’t even have a formal office, and the broker is nothing more than a person who holds your license. My questions to the Agent Genius community are this:
- What does your broker offer you that you find the most value in?
- What do you find to be of little to no value that you see other brokerages offering?
- Why did you choose one brokerage over another?
When I define my needs as an agent it is a completely different list from a few years ago. While training is still important to me (we never stop learning), in-house brokerage training was a value-added proposition that no longer held value. I find greater value in the REBarcamps and sessions from experts that I admire and want to learn from.
I’ve found that as my business grows I rely less on leads that my broker gives me and more on the leads I gain from my own sphere of influence, and it’s far more profitable to boot! My current office provides me with free desk space, and although it’s not necessary, I like the idea of having an anchored location to work from and meet clients at rather than setting up all of my appointments at the local Starbucks. If my office charged for desk space, I’d probably pay for it.
I chose my current brokerage from the independence and autonomy that they allow me over how I market and promote myself. The freedom from required “desk duty” that some brokerages mandate was also a big factor. I need my time spent prospecting and meeting clients, not answering the company phone and waiting for walk-ins.
There’s no right or wrong answer here (obviously), so share your experiences and tell us what matters to you!
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