Hey everybody - WAKE UP !!!

I can't believe you don't have answers to this question....

I want a great location, a nice sign and image, bright clean office with nice decor and lots of meeting space, appointment setting clerks, great copier/printers and mail folding machine, work tables to work on the mailings and such, private office, appointment setters, homefeedback.com closing secretary service, and FREE COFFEEEE  : )

Of course there should be an extra computer or two, in case I stop by without my laptop, and an intranet where I can download company forms, contracts, addendums, and etc to print out on demand...  

Anybody else?

For the Broker:  

Sound management skills, great people skills, good availability to handle tough questions....  a great sense of humor is helpful : )

Take the time to understand how I tick, what KIND of salesperson I am, and help me grow according to the way I am wired...  Don't just push the latest programs or techniques...  

Work with me... in a slow time, carry an ad bill or assistant payroll for me until things get better...

If you are going to have "sales" meetings, make them snappy, have an agenda and follow the agenda, make them very informational (seek out things for us to know).  Help me grow my business, and it will help you grow yours, guaranteed.

Shelly

I don't want my broker to compete with me for business.  I want my broker to check in with me once a month either by telephone or in person to see if I need anything from them.  I want to be able to reach/find my broker when I need them.  No petty rules, don't nickle and dime me to death, no meetings for the sake of having a meeting.  Do the marketing to get the phone ringing if you're going to insist on floor time.

I agree with you Belinda, the broker I work with now has everything you talk about. One of the reasons I left my old broker is because of nickle and dime to death and love to compete with agents. I would also like to add that if you are going to be a fair broker, you should not cut side deals with some agents and the bost how you never cut deals. Just my 2 cents...

David: It all depends on what the commission split is. The more the split the more you should provide. So "charge what your worth but be worth what you charge".

This is a public forum, so be careful of your comments.

Understand your agents qualifications and their personality so you will know how to encourage and guide them.

When an agent "hounds" you, it's because they want to tell you something but don't feel you have listened in the past and hence you are being "hounded".  

Don't become friends with your agents but be approachable.

Set your policies up front and have them sign an agreement that they fully understand the rules, regulations and etiquette that your company is structured under.  

The real estate office is for real estate only.  It is not for agents children to come in and play on the computers while Mom or Dad work.

If there is a newly licensed agent - make sure they are being mentored, that they are under the "arms" of a great mentor or you.  Mentoring isn't just reading lists, books, oh, I have a problem, but it is also having someone train them on how to do a good qualified CMA, how to conduct an open house, holding true to their promises to their clients, understanding the market place, etc....

Give them a house, maybe your house, to do a CMA to practice with?  

Mandatory attendance to office meetings and  broker's opens required - otherwise, they don't understand the changes, policies or qualify to assist when a lead comes into the office.  

Give them a value proposition that they won't want to walk away from.

[Shelly sez: If you are going to have "sales" meetings, make them snappy]

Make them electronically! That's how we have ours. I send the girlz e-mails when there are changes, new listings or issues and if they're personal issues, they are private e-mails. So everyone learns and no one feels picked on.

When it all comes down to it, the commission split is important as well as shared costs of advertising!  After all, the agents will be advertising half for themselves and half for the office, so why not 50/50 advertising costs?  That is one thing that mine does!  Offer plenty of FREE continuing education classes for your agents to attend too!

What do you expect from your broker? NOTHING! And, I'll be glad when I get it. Meetings! I live to attend meetings! Meetins where I'm asked for my input and asked not to give it. Yet, I'm invited to more meetings. Can't they leave me alone? I'm honest! I told them when they hung my license, I'm incorrigible. Still they want to fix me. A desk in the corner with a telephone and internet access, along with access to the copier, files, and forms. Coffee.

I like the idea of an electronic sales meeting.  There are a lot of new agents in my office and some older ones.  The new ones haven't listened and the older ones are still abiding by the old rules.  

Greg I hear what you are saying.  I was looking at things from a perspective of a managing broker that doesn't care about making sure that everything is above board.  I enjoy being left alone.  I don't like meetings - especially when I'm deaf and I come out of the one hour "session" and could have read it in five minutes to catch up.   My first broker was awesome.  

Don't treat your agents as employees (unless they would be actual employees) ... their are INDEPENDENT contractors. It's reasonable to ask them to come to meetings if you have agenda to go over, you shouldn't force them to do something that doesn't fit their style of work. If they don't like to go on tours, let them make the choice ... if they don't like to do floor time, don't force them ... help them build their business, don't compete ... unhappy agents are not going to stay, they'll find another office that will fit their needs better. We are a small office, at least for now ... so I had no problem telling my agents ... if you need to bring your kids with you, if they are not disruptive, I don't have a problem with it ... if you need to bring your dog for whatever reason, that's ok ... life and family should come first ... our job is a lot easier when our families are happy.

The one thing I expect from a Broker is that he knows and understands the laws by which we are governed and makes sure his agents are aware and follow the laws/rules & regulations.

Darcy

Gregory you would love working for me. I respect incorrigibility! Only e-meetings. Coffee, computers and refrig. I'll even tell you where I hide the beer . . . oh, and Coop for the hold music. ;)