Sharron, I will be interested too. I am ready to start looking for a good agent for my office. I am tired of trying to keep up with absolutely everything. I know my original broker did not spend any time with me and I was never in the main office, always on my own but that is because they felt like I had a conscience about people and business.

I did call alot because they never teach you actual hands on business that happens every day and how to deal with various scenarios. I have set up an office space real close to my desk where I will put my newbies in training to make sure they are treating clients and customers right. I am real leary of starting this but I need to. Not for the money but just for help. Of course, extra money coming in will be appreciated.

My first broker was a 'Mamacita' who I could go to for anything, and offered the insights into the 'psychology' of transactions as well as the technicalities. GREAT training for me, since I'm pretty right brained in my learning style and get a lot out of anecdotes etc.

My agents HAVE to bother me. It's in the manual (LOL) that they must come to me with anything they do not completely understand or anything they have never done before or are not adept at yet.

I WANT to know all the boring details.

I WANT to know how they are farming.

I HAVE TO know how they are advertising.

I DON'T WANT to do the work for them. How will they learn that way? But I'm there for tech support, to role play scenarios and we have 'cheat sheets' for everything from file contents to how to scan or  print an image file to what to do if someone threatens to sue.

There's a procedure for everything. That makes us all feel more secure in our actions.

Mary, If I move to Kansas can I come work for you?

I only have two agents working for my and another one should be joining soon, so it is a lot different than what would be normal for a bigger office. We get together once every two weeks or so when there are important things I need them to know or when I want them to work on some "homework" (such as working on their farms, etc. and we get it started in the office and they go from there. The weeks between meetings, I just call them both and we discuss anything they may have run into or may need advice on. And they know that if they need something, they can reach me by phone or e-mail. They have been in real estate for couple years now but only do a few deal sa year so I still like to oversee their offers before they submit them, whether we go over them over the phone or they fax me copies ... and they feel more comfortable that way too. That's how my first and best broker trained me ... for the first year or so we would have to run all our contracts by her. That was the best training I could get!

Lori, yes come on down or over or under, not sure where you are. You can be out standing in your field here, we have lots of fields.

Thank you Sharron. My biggest problem is I would rather do things myself so it will take some real patience on my part. But I really hope I am able to find someone who has character.

Yes Candice does and she does what I am going to do. I am going to know what my agents are doing and what they are thinking. Your company is represented by the actions of those that work for you so the broker needs to be hands on.

I know brokers who let their agents run amuk and I will not be doing that either. Those broker are only concerned with making $ and agents are out their flailing not knowing what to do and giving good agents a bad name. Off my box. sorry.

LOL, total pain in butt here but I'm not fond of courtrooms ~

Sharron, Thanks for this thread. It goes well with mine on broker commission splits. I'll follow this with interest.

My uncle (my broker) gave me very good training when I first got my license. He had me shadow him as he did deals. He'd make me go to zip forms and the MLS and write contracts on various MLS listing as if we were writing offers on those. These were just practice and not real transactions, but by the time I wrote my first offer, it already seemed old hat. He drilled me on which form to use for what, etc. Six months into my first year I had an agent with years of experience present an offer on my listing on the wrong form. I tried to nicely tell her of the mistake, but was really glad he made me learn all these things.

Candice, will you be my mentor?  I want to be you!!!

I believe the broker should

a) make sure the company / office has presence in the market place.  that the commission split earned off me is somewhat recycled into the business so we can both benefit.

b) should be actively recruiting, looking for the best and brightest.  As the company grows, the phone rings, the presence is larger in the market place, the better for all of us, and

c) should have ample training and be available to help solve problems or rather hear my solutions and help choose the right one that is ethical and legal, and just plain right.

d) don't mess with my money.  Pay me what you said you would on time.  No ifs, ands or butts about it.  and don't nickel and dime me everytime I turn around. Lets fairly have a compensation structure agreed to and don't mess with it.  don't mess with my money.

those are some of the things that I look for in my broker.

For those, feel that I need to offer something to the table as well.

shelly

Brokers Web Site:

I worked for a broker that had links to all the agents websites from the main company website.  You clicked on an office, saw a roster of all the agents, and when you clicked on them, it brought you to their individual websites.  Also, if a prospect just looked at listings on the main site, then clicked that they wanted more information, etc. the system looked at the zip code of the home, then matched up to the first 10 rotated agents that had signed up as working that zip code, then a message went out to those 10 agents via email and/or text message, first to respond to the system and pick up the lead, got it.

I didn't mind the broker advertising his site.  At all.  I got leads off that system.  Every agent was offered a website, for $25 a month maintainence.  

Now, my new broker doesn't have that.  I think my website (which still needs a lot of work) is better than the brokers!!!  So any shared advertising that we do, I put my own website addy in the ad (print).  

It is a hard thing, but I think what happens to any leads that come through that website needs to be the discussion.  I don't know how you couldn't put the company website in company shared advertising.  Or banners on websites must go somewhere...So, I think the thought has to be in what happens to the leads and how they are handled.  I like that the company has face out there and want more of that.

Just me .02

shelly

LOL, anytime Shelly! As for recruiting, I am so persnickety. The minute an agent plops his ass at my desk without an appointment, starts talking money before training and gives me the 'what can you do for me' bla bla, they're out. Agents got spoiled during the salad days and they are over.

I have 2 agents right now. In all the advertising, ALL the websites are always featured. Common practice would be for me to buy a page in our big color magazine, all the girls faces and contact info are in it. I have not had the chance to yet, but I need to get them added to my P2 sites. My main site is my baby. That's the only place they will not be. But they still get leads from it.

I pay, they benefit.

A second page, all the girls are in it. If the girls have listings they want featured, they get featured. The cost is split 3 ways, I always pay for at least a third. Sometimes, I will pay for half and let them split the other half.

If they want to do more on their dime, without me in there, fine as long as it's all legal.

I do a lot of direct mail, with just the office phone number. Callers can choose who they want to talk to. (My phone system is set up that they can hit an extension, then 7 and it will route to whatever number they have programmed in there). If it's me, and it's not imperative that I personally service the client, such as a referral from another client, it goes to whoever's turn it is.

I want the girls to get business. The only time I will be pissed is if I find out someone can't reach one of them. Then I scream like an Italian banshee.

As for money . . . we work with title companies who, after prior authorization by me, will cut agent split checks separately. Voila! If I am not in office and the closing package comes in, AS LONG AS agent files are complete (and they know it's death if not) they can detach their check from the stub and put the file on my desk for closing.

I used to hate waiting to get paid. So they don't have to. But if they don't have files in order, I have the right to hold their check.

Good reputations are also important.

Our system is similar to Candice's.  All the agents checks are cut at Escrow, so they know when the Escrow closes they get paid the same time I do.  

This was the first thing I decided to do when opening my office as I hated (just like Shelly) for the Broker to have time to pay me.  In fact once when I was asking about my check she made the comment "I am busy; you always want your money!"  go figure, no, I thought I would work for free.......

And the nickle and diming-once they deducted a ream of paper from my check $2.79 because the secretary saw me take a ream to my desk.  Now let's not mention the copier was in use, and I had clients at my desk that we were writing a contract with........nope, just deducted the money without even saying a word.

It is that petty stuff tahat makes good agents leave.

I can't even wrap my mind around that kind of small stuff, Kathy.

All I ask of the agents is, if they use something and you see it is almost gone, go to the drawer or cabinet and put more ink, paper, labels where we can get to them. Nothing is inaccessible.  Even personal use is acceptable to a degree, as long as it's not excessive.

If they see there is an empty box or package, I'm good--as long as someone gives me a heads up. I will go to OfficeMax or wherever and replace it. I just want us all to be able to work comfortably and get stuff done. We can't produce unprepared.