In a recent ProSchools webinar “Selecting a Broker” we discussed things someone new getting their real estate license should ask and consider when interviewing managing brokers. Over 30 of ProSchools’ real estate students attended this well-received topic. Our guest speaker, John Spitzer, Principal Broker with John L Scott in Portland, OR answered these questions for our blog.
What is the best advice you would give a new agent for success?
A. Start the interviewing process early. Choose your broker early so when you pass the exam, you can start right away without downtime.
B. Set up your sphere of influence on an Excel spread sheet while at school and let friends and family know you are going into real estate. You will be able to get your announcements out day one. Some of your friends and family planning to sell may wait for you to get licensed to help you out. There is nothing worse than hearing that if they had only known they would have listed or purchased through you!
C. Be proactive. Don’t wait for the business to come to you. Go out and get it!! Make phone calls, start a listing farm, do whatever you have to expand to your sphere of influence. The more people you contact, the more appointments you will get and the more sales you will make.
What are the best questions a new agent should ask when interviewing real estate companies?
A. What kind of experience does the Manager have? You should be thinking to yourself, is this person someone I can work with who will be there for me and knows what he is doing. How much is he around? The manager is going to take you under his wing and show you the ropes.
B. What kind of training do you have and how is it delivered?
C. What is your compensation program?
D. What kind of tools and technology do you have?
E. Does the company have a website and what kind of exposure does it have?
F. What kind of office or desk space will I have?
G. What kind of staff do you have and what kind of support can I expect?
H. Can you help me develop a business plan and implement it?
I. What kind of floor time do you have and are there houses I can hold open?
What sets your company apart from others? For example, John L Scott excels in 3 areas.
A. Great managers, many with over 30 years in the business.
B. Cutting edge tools. An example would be our custom developed CMA Program with Trend Graphics and Listing Presentation. Another example would be using our website with your iPhone where you can stand in front of a house and the GPS in your iPhone tells the website the listing you are located next to and brings up the multiple listing information on your phone.
C. Technology, especially our website is the best in the industry. Lennox Scott pioneered the internet for real estate and has received numerous awards for it. Our website has more unique visitors and hits than any other Real Estate Company website in the Northwest.
Feel free to contact John Spitzer if you live in the Portland metro area and want an excellent and knowledgeable managing broker and company to interview with:
John A. Spitzer, CRB Principal Broker State of Oregon John L. Scott Real Estate Web - http://www.johnlscott.com or johnsp@JohnLScott.com or call 503-291-1900.