Property Collective
12 min read
Is it time for a change? How to choose the right real estate agency to work for.
There's no harm in wondering whether a change is a good idea, and as a real estate agent, you may have many reasons for looking for a fresh start somewhere new. Or perhaps you haven't even given it much thought until now.
The truth is, we can all get complacent in our careers, especially when the day-to-day doesn’t seem as exciting or as challenging as it once was.
Of course, it is crucial to lead with our brains, not our hearts, when making these kinds of decisions. But if you do think it is the right time to move on from your current agency, here are a few tips on how to find the next best thing for you.
The first step is to take stock of where you are today - across all areas of your life. Sometimes we get so stuck in the busyness of everything that we don't allow ourselves the breathing room to really consider if we are sinking, treading water, or swimming.
Maybe work feels particularly stressful as you don't have the right balance between home and family time, or now that the kids are a bit older, you're actually ready to step up in your career. It's important to know how you're feeling about life around you right now, so you can begin to paint a picture of 'where to next'.
Before you even begin your search for potential new agencies, you have to be sure of what it is you actually want, with a plan for the future! Then you’ll have the ability to narrow down who can actually give you what you’re looking for and minimise the risk of making the wrong choice.
It's crucial to consider the values of any future agency to ensure you will be moving into a position where you will feel respected. And this includes the culture that has been fostered in house too.
Real estate agents can quite often be seen as 'lone wolves' - but this isn't always the case. Whether you want greater autonomy in your next role or the opportunity to work closely within a group of agents, establish what's on offer before you make the switch.
As a real estate agent, you have likely built some very long-term relationships with clients. And you'll need to confirm if they can 'come with you' when you go somewhere new. You may also need to be prepared for any questions they have about why you are changing brands and have some rehearsed answers to back up what you're doing.
It's also a case of looking at the type of people you work best with - whether it's first home buyers, retirees, or investors - and uncovering whether you will still be able to serve them at another agency. If they have a particular location or target market different from where you have been working previously, are you happy to start afresh?
Along with aligning values, you also want to make sure that you're able to build the right brand under a new agency. Do you have the freedom to make yourself stand out (in the right way), or are you required to stick within a certain framework? And will the agency you settle on be the right brand fit for who you are?
People are very clever at recognising if someone doesn't 'fit' the image they are portraying, so ensure you'll be able to clearly communicate who you are and why you have chosen to affiliate yourself with that particular agency.
Leadership is key if you're looking to take the next step in your real estate career. It's important for them to have an insight into what you're looking to achieve with your move, so they can support you on that journey (and help you to understand how you'll be able to get there within their agency).
Maybe you would like the opportunity to mentor agents new to the game or work towards greater responsibility in terms of the operational side of things. Whatever you want in your future, you need to know it's possible at the agency you're considering aligning yourself with.
And don't be afraid to ask about their vision too. Where do they see the agency in five years' time? How are they adapting to challenges in the marketplace? Where could they see you fitting in? What kind of growth do they see within the agency, and how will they achieve that? How do they help their agents to prosper?
Of course, you also need to broach the subject of commission, especially if one of the reasons you want to switch agencies is because you don't feel you're being treated fairly where you are. Get clear about what the split is and when/how that is paid, as well as any fees you're responsible for.
The reality is that you're never going to get everything you want by shifting. You will need to negotiate and make some compromises (just not too many!). Have a think about the following reasons to move, and ask yourself which are the most important to you:
We hope the above has given you enough to think about, especially if you’re sitting on the fence about whether to move or not. But at the end of the day, if you decide to change agencies for all the right reasons - then it can’t be wrong!
Looking for more ways to boost your real estate career? Check out these posts:
Upskilling For Real Estate Agents - Why It's Always A Good Idea To Learn Something New
How To Market Yourself (And Your Listings) To Get Results During A Property Downturn
The truth is, we can all get complacent in our careers, especially when the day-to-day doesn’t seem as exciting or as challenging as it once was.
Of course, it is crucial to lead with our brains, not our hearts, when making these kinds of decisions. But if you do think it is the right time to move on from your current agency, here are a few tips on how to find the next best thing for you.
Reflect on the now
The first step is to take stock of where you are today - across all areas of your life. Sometimes we get so stuck in the busyness of everything that we don't allow ourselves the breathing room to really consider if we are sinking, treading water, or swimming.
Maybe work feels particularly stressful as you don't have the right balance between home and family time, or now that the kids are a bit older, you're actually ready to step up in your career. It's important to know how you're feeling about life around you right now, so you can begin to paint a picture of 'where to next'.
Future-proof your career
Before you even begin your search for potential new agencies, you have to be sure of what it is you actually want, with a plan for the future! Then you’ll have the ability to narrow down who can actually give you what you’re looking for and minimise the risk of making the wrong choice.
Align values
It's crucial to consider the values of any future agency to ensure you will be moving into a position where you will feel respected. And this includes the culture that has been fostered in house too.
Real estate agents can quite often be seen as 'lone wolves' - but this isn't always the case. Whether you want greater autonomy in your next role or the opportunity to work closely within a group of agents, establish what's on offer before you make the switch.
Consider your clients
As a real estate agent, you have likely built some very long-term relationships with clients. And you'll need to confirm if they can 'come with you' when you go somewhere new. You may also need to be prepared for any questions they have about why you are changing brands and have some rehearsed answers to back up what you're doing.
It's also a case of looking at the type of people you work best with - whether it's first home buyers, retirees, or investors - and uncovering whether you will still be able to serve them at another agency. If they have a particular location or target market different from where you have been working previously, are you happy to start afresh?
Brand building
Along with aligning values, you also want to make sure that you're able to build the right brand under a new agency. Do you have the freedom to make yourself stand out (in the right way), or are you required to stick within a certain framework? And will the agency you settle on be the right brand fit for who you are?
People are very clever at recognising if someone doesn't 'fit' the image they are portraying, so ensure you'll be able to clearly communicate who you are and why you have chosen to affiliate yourself with that particular agency.
Support and leadership
Leadership is key if you're looking to take the next step in your real estate career. It's important for them to have an insight into what you're looking to achieve with your move, so they can support you on that journey (and help you to understand how you'll be able to get there within their agency).
Maybe you would like the opportunity to mentor agents new to the game or work towards greater responsibility in terms of the operational side of things. Whatever you want in your future, you need to know it's possible at the agency you're considering aligning yourself with.
And don't be afraid to ask about their vision too. Where do they see the agency in five years' time? How are they adapting to challenges in the marketplace? Where could they see you fitting in? What kind of growth do they see within the agency, and how will they achieve that? How do they help their agents to prosper?
Money talks
Of course, you also need to broach the subject of commission, especially if one of the reasons you want to switch agencies is because you don't feel you're being treated fairly where you are. Get clear about what the split is and when/how that is paid, as well as any fees you're responsible for.
Focus on what’s important
The reality is that you're never going to get everything you want by shifting. You will need to negotiate and make some compromises (just not too many!). Have a think about the following reasons to move, and ask yourself which are the most important to you:
- Greater earning potential
- The ability to mentor/build a team
- Flexibility to work remotely
- A focus on adapting to new technologies
- Is close to home
- Provides support in terms of marketing and administration
- Is a reputable and well-known brand
- Will allow me to grow my career into a leadership position
We hope the above has given you enough to think about, especially if you’re sitting on the fence about whether to move or not. But at the end of the day, if you decide to change agencies for all the right reasons - then it can’t be wrong!
Looking for more ways to boost your real estate career? Check out these posts:
Upskilling For Real Estate Agents - Why It's Always A Good Idea To Learn Something New
How To Market Yourself (And Your Listings) To Get Results During A Property Downturn
