Why you would single us KW'ers out is beyond me! :)

Seriously though...I'm where I'm at with my Keller Williams office not because of the split or the amenities or the building or location...I'm there because of the culture (wooo, now there's an uncommon buzzword in the real estate broker world!).  

I think that the market is the same at EVERY affiliation...the only thing that I believe MIGHT be different is that people's perception of what it takes to sell a house changes and ultimately, that might mean they lean towards a national affiliated broker rather than a local Mom and Pop broker.  

Facts are facts...if you do not learn how to market and prospect, the market is going to control YOU.  If you learn these basic skills, you can control the market.  

KW just released a poll from their Millionaire Systems  that said the average agent spends less than three hours per day and 76% prospect less than 30 minutes or not at all each day.  Then wonder why the market has turned...

Ditto Ron.... Just drink the cool-aid and LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT... That's what it's all about... Do things differently and systematically. But you have to do what has proven itself over and over and over again.

"So what makes KW different?" I asked a young, enthusiastic new REALTOR® (and KW affiliate) at a local board gathering. She bubbled over with two words "Profit Sharing", that was what sold her on KW.

Any KWs out there want to expand on that comment? Now is your chance.

P.S. I met a more reserved ReMax agent there that said the majic phrase at ReMax was "100% commissions" ( I am sure there are flat monthly office fees and per transactions fees, etc.). The mistake I think many make is relying on someone else to make them successful..."100% of what"... you still have to get out there and make it happen..."profit sharing"...better get out there and generate some profits if you want to stay in that club. We each have to take responsibility for our own success, regardless of the market.

So true Bill. In the old days offices used to supply leads and some tools.

Very few of those remain. Therefore each agent is responsible for their own success. Some offices promise leads to get them on board, then don't produce. I knew one agent who just licensed joined a national affiliation and was promised leads with her 70/30 split. Then later found out, those leads would cost another 30% and they were the bottom of the barrell leads. I agree that agents who are not doing well will keep searching for the pie in the sky. Educating them is best, like your above comments, will help. There is no free ride. Pick a place your are comfortable with, get the best split possible, then work hard and promote your own name and reputation. Market.

John said that about Keller Williams because of a previous post where an agent was considering a change. All of the Keller Williams folks jumped to the front to promote their office admitting they get profit sharing from recruiting. They also shared some great plans.

Hmmm....  Agree that changing brokers won't change market,

BUT - Begging to differ that a down market is not a time to make changes in affiliation.

A down market might be a VERY GOOD time to change affiliations.

A tough market is unforgiving when it comes to weaker brokerages, and acts to magnify the strengths of the good ones.

I changes last October (in one of the two states I work, remained at local market leader in the other state)

The one I left was :

losing market share

weak on technology

cutting agent support staff

offered no real agent support systems

broker was fire fighter, rather than leader

The one I joined was:

the only office in town that grew sales in '06

offered more technology

had an adequate and growing staff of clerical and support personnel

offered in house support/agent training

broker is local market leader

offered free agent coaching

THE KELLER WILLIAMS® PHILOSOPHY!  

Our Mission:

To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.

Our Vision:

To be the Company of choice for a new generation of real estate agents and owners.

Our Values:

God, Family, then Business

Our Goal:

625 Market Centers

82,000 Associates

8,200 Millionaires

Our Belief System:

Our beliefs are an essential part of who we are and how we conduct business. The Keller Williams® Belief System is the foundation for providing the ultimate in service for our clients.

Ron, I believe John gave mention to your real estate brand because of an earlier post. An agent was belly aching about his office and looking to change. There must have been six or more posts from your brand name telling him to come to their heaven. I don’t think the agent has a clue as to what is required to be successful in Real Estate Sales. Why anyone would want an agent who was being fed at one store (and grumbling about it) to come on board with their office is beyond me. And another agent from your brand in this thread claimed the “values” at that store front were “God, family, business”. Nice but it made me a little worried if there were an affiliation with those values. By that I mean, is there one church were members attend? Heck, there are affiliations with Title, Mortgage, and Insurance companies why not get all the like minded individuals in the same Church? It is a brave new world!

Danny,

What about the other 73,800 associates, you don't want them to be millionaires?

Only once did I think of changing affilliation and it was from a mom and pop operation to my own. I did not wish to be a part of a large name brand company because actually the agents I dealt with from the major brands seems to not do everything themselves from start to finish. One in particular was hard to work with because he never set up any inspections, someone in his office did, so I never could find out from the agent I was dealing with, what was going on. I always handled it all and that is why I decided to go it on my own. I was already doing and paying for everything. I am good with that.

Lucia,

That is the secret we want eveyone to know... We want to teach everyone who wants to be a millionaire how to get there.  It is not easy, but it can be done with guidance and help from people at who want to seeyou meet or exceed your goals and dreams.

Our Mission:

To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.

I understand what John is saying.  If you took your time and made a good choice in the beginning for your affliation, this isn't the time to confuse the public about where you are!!  

I joined our office last year, the top agent at the time started in the business durg the go go years and had only seen the go go years.  He usually sold propeties over the 500k price point.  Well the market changed, the bottom fell out of the price point and it happened quickly.  

Instead of taking a long close look at himself, his marketing and his targets, he decided to jump ships.  He is still around, doing ok, but not what he thought...

Now, on the other hand, if you are taking a long hard look at your business and find that the company you are with cannot support you and your goals, is losing market share, is decreasing advertising instead of increasing... You may be better off choosing a different place.  But first look in the mirror.  Just my very humble opinion.

Shelly

Hot or slow market, the reasons for changing affiliations vary.  The guy who thinks he will do better at another firm, may need that psychological push to change his past work habits.  More often I see personality changes in people who have moved their license. Some are temporary others longer lasting.  

In a slow market the bigger offices certainly have the advantage.  More resources and excellent training.  

As for the KW thing, there was alot of jockeying going on.