Need Advice

[ripper19]

I live in Southern California and am taking my real estate test on the 5th of September. I need advice on where to start looking for a job. Where should I look? What should I do and not do?

[jbyrne]

Good luck on your exam!! I live in Oklahoma and took mine twice in one day. Study, study, study!!! Although, if you are reading this you've probably already taken the test. Hope you did well!!!

Once you've passed the test you should go interview at a few different companies. Keep in mind you are NOT only interviewing for a job but you are also interviewing them for a potential broker. Below are a few questions to ask...

Might I recomend Keller Williams Realty. They are a WONDERFUL company!!! Check out their website.

If you decide to go with Keller Williams, please let them know that Jennifer Byrne at the Owasso, Oklahoma location referred you. They have a referral program that you will LOVE!! Good luck!! Let me know how it goes!!



What do you offer in the way of training?
Who does the training?
What is the schedule for training?
Mentoring Program?
Charges for mentoring?
Charges for post license program?
Continuing education for associates and charges?

Floor Time?
How many walk-ins, call-ins? Can we expect prospects this way?

Commission Split? (get it in writing)
What does the average associate make in a year? First year?
What are you looking for in an associate?

Why do most associates leave?
Is there anything else I should know about the company that has not been asked or covered?

Office Expenses:
Office space
Can we share a space?
Long distance/faxes
Phone calls
Receptionist
Stationary
Other __________________________________________________ __________

Advertising Expenses:
Business Cards
Flyers
Newspaper
MLS
Websites
Billboards
Radio
TV
Signs
Open House Expense/food
Broker Open/food
Other

[Nat_Ferguson]

Jennifer hit the nail on the head with her list of questions to ask. My recommendation is First Team Real Estate being that you live here in Southern California. I recieved the best training and support of my career there. I have many friends that are agent's that work for Keller Williams that report good things, although it almost a "cult-like" brokerage. All the best to you in your career! :D

[jbyrne]

Oh I very much disagree with the comment about Keller Williams. Although, I only speak for my market center but we as a whole have the same Philosophy. I absolutely LOVE working for a company who puts Family and God first. Our training is great too!! We have KW Universerty, online training, in house training, etc. There is some kind of education going on EVERY day!! I don't know much about the company you work for but I'm sure its a great company in your area as KW is a great company in ours and around the country.

This is our Philosophy:

Win-Win
Or no deal
Integrity
Do the right thing
Customers
Always come first
Commitment
In all things
Communication
Seek first to understand
Creativity
Ideas before results
Teamwork
Together everyone achieves more
Trust
Starts with honesty
Success
Results through people

[vanclark]

Keep in mind it is great to join a high quality company, but never take your eyes off the fact that you are the one that needs to make it happen.

Whatever you do when you start don't "Get ready, to get ready" like so many losing agents have done.

[fong47]

I own a home in NYC and I want to move to the suburb of Long Island, is it a good time to sell now? Will I get the full value of my home.

[axinvestor]

Best of luck. Hope you pass and find a great job. Wished I had advice. Sorry.

[Codythebest]

company who puts Family and God first.

Make sure you take a company which does not mix family and God.
Fortunately, where you are, there are not more churches than gas stations at every corners...
Just go with a company that gives you good training. That's key.

[MLS Guru]

Ripper19, congratulations on passing the test!

You passed, right? :D

[sjpeters]

You absolutely should start out at Keller Williams as a newbie. You need all the training and support you can get. I moved there when I first started because the boutique firm I was with did not teach me enough. There is a lot to learn and it is scary starting out.

You need to check out the "caps" at each office. They are different. That is, after you cap a certain amount, the rest of the year you keep most of the money.

After you are comfortable with what you are doing you need to shop around for a company where you can just hang your license and keep most of the money because no company, even Keller Williams, deserves to take the kind of money away from you that they all do. You are doing all the work and getting all the business. I don't know of any commissioned company that give you leads.

Any way, good luck. It is a tough market right now.

[txrealestate]

Hi, When I was deciding on which company, I looked at which one would work best for me. I checked into what all the companies offered, and decided on Exit Realty. I have family with them and they have been thrilled with them. I was looking for a company that I could be an independent contractor with, no desk fees, has training, and offered me the opportunity to build residual income, retirement income and beneficiary income. Needless to say, they've surpassed everything I was looking for ! I've passed the info on to other realtor friends who were not aware that they could actually have the opportunity to build those types of residual incomes for their family. It's been a blessing! Good luck! :)