Choose a Broker to Sponsor Your License
Validity of your license is contingent upon broker sponsorship as required by Illinois law. Choosing a brokerage to work with is a critical decision that can literally make or break your career. Top producing agents know that it takes the right support, resources, and tools to meet clients' needs, on time - every time. Here's a list of items to keep in mind to ensure the best possible environment for your real estate career:
Technology:
According to a press release regarding the 2006 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, well over two-thirds of clients will use the internet to search for a home. A reputable brokerage with an eye on the future of technology will see how to implement current advancements into practical applications that will increase productivity. Your brokerage should offer an array of technologies suited to meeting the client's needs and marketing properties for sale, not to mention the all-too-essential tools that provide for effective and timely communication. One-on-One Mentoring:
Many new agents disappear into obscurity when beginning their career with a large brokerage. With one-on-one interaction you can learn what works and what doesn't, what a good idea is and what it isn't, what's been tried and what hasn't. Real life experiences and first-hand accounts of the industry can be the greatest resource you'll ever use in your Real Estate career - find a brokerage that works to make this available to you.Team Environment:
Most any profession driven by commissions usually garners a 'dog-eat-dog' mentality which allows counter-productive attitudes and actions to fester; cut-throat competition is the core mantra among a majority of brokerages. A brokerage that is truly focused on developing a sustainable future will understand that isn't possible without a solid team behind it. Your brokerage should offer team focused activities and resources across an array of topics, situations, and experiences. A Real Estate Agent requires an extremely large amount of resources that, at times, only a team working toward a common goal can provide.Situational Training:
Your educational experience might lead you to believe that most sales transactions are relatively uniform. Although this is mostly true, it's only to an extent. While government regulation may dictate a prescribed method of carrying out the sale, do you know how to effectively manage mulitple offers? Disagreements at the closing table? Property valuation? When agents find themselves in an unfamiliar situation or one that is just prone to painfully scrutinized accuracy, a brokerage that's sincerely interested in your success will make sure that situational, real-time training is available to you, always.