Brokers can’t do it all, especially if they want any kind of work-life balance. Delegating the right tasks to the right people is the key. More than three decades ago, Leslie McDonnell hired a part-time person to help her with an overload of work. “It was really scary to let go. I realized if I …
Category: News
May 20
How to Handle Agents’ Concerns About Industry Changes
As the industry closes in on changes resulting from the Sitzer-Burnett case, agents are looking for guidance, and brokers should be prepared to help. Real estate is an evolving industry, and it is natural to have questions about how practice changes may impact you and your business. “While the industry adapts to the practice changes …
May 19
Help Agents Get Comfortable Communicating Their Value
In most service-oriented industries, professionals typically have to prove themselves before customers sign on. Brokers can help agents explain their value so that it is understood by the customer. In most service-oriented industries, customers want to work with professionals who can prove they’re up to the task, whatever it may be. Customers want to understand …
May 13
What to do When a Star Agent Leaves
The loss of a top producer is always a blow, but it’s also an opportunity to learn more about your business and make changes if needed. If a top-performing agent tells you they’re leaving, don’t panic. The agent who closes 40% of your company’s sales just walked into your office to tell you they’re leaving …
May 13
How to Redirect Agents When They’ve Lost Momentum
If you’ve noticed one of your agents spinning their wheels without making any progress, it might be time to intervene. Tammi Brannan believes that all of us have the potential to get stuck in our ways. We’ve either done something one way so long that we can’t see how to change, or we’re sure our …
May 12
Refocus on Training to Keep Agents Sharp
Your brokerage needs agents who know how to do their jobs well. Offer training and resources to keep them engaged and on top of the market. Last July, Kristen Skebe had an agent come into her office, looking for something different. She wasn’t producing the way she wanted to, and she felt like she needed …
May 12
How to Become a Broker
Clocking hours in the field, continuing education, and state-specific licensing are all part of the trajectory. It’s been a few years. You’ve had success as an agent, and now you’re considering the idea of opening your own brokerage. Or maybe you’re already a broker and eager to advance your career or the careers of those …
May 09
Get Your Brokerage Involved in the Community
Community engagement has myriad benefits for your brokerage and your agents. Rose Varona likes to join fellow volunteers of a motorcycle ministry group from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. distributing food and drinks for the homeless in downtown Albuquerque, N.M. “In addition to providing nourishment, we offer prayers and resources for individuals seeking to reunite …
May 08
Setting Up Your Office
If you’re a broker ready for an office, keep in mind your business’s mission and needs when deciding on space. When the rent on her office increased, Atlanta-based Karen Hatcher, CEO and broker of Sovereign Realty & Management LLC, decided to buy her own space. Prioritizing convenience, visibility and value, she aimed to find a …
May 06
Establishing Expectations for the Office
You can’t expect an agent to meet a goal they don’t know exists. Establish expectations early, and reiterate them often. Carey Murcin, associate broker at Meservier & Associates in Auburn, Maine, sees a lot of agents moving from company to company. “I can only guess they are looking for something that they feel is not …
May 05
Help Seasoned and New Agents Work Together
Though both parties might balk at learning from one another, brokers can set the tone and relay the mutual benefit of working together. When he entered the real estate industry 10 years ago, Michael Biryla, team lead of The Mike Biryla Team at The Agency in New York, joined the team of a more established …
May 02
How (and Why) to Celebrate Agent Successes and Milestones
Recognition goes a long way to building loyalty and esteem. Christina Pappas, president of The Keys Company in South Florida, celebrates the successes of her agents and staff as part of their business culture. Pappas believes doing so builds a collaborative brokerage. “It’s the heart of our success, and we continue to find ways to …
