How do you find the right team? It starts with learning about the top-performing teams in your market. Not only do you want to find a team that produces results year after year, but you also want to ensure that the culture is a good fit.
Asking a few key questions will give you a lot of insight into how a team or brokerage operates.
Here’s what you should find out before joining a real estate team.
Team Logistics
Every team runs differently. Some have an office where agents can stop in whenever they want; others encourage members to be there daily. The resources provided can also vary. To learn more about how the team or brokerage operates regularly, you’ll want to learn what your roles and responsibilities are, as well as what the team provides for their agents. Here are a couple of questions to provide you with more insight on daily operations:
- What resources does the team provide?
- Do you have desk fees or floor time commitments?
Marketing
Marketing and real estate go hand in hand. Before you even go to the interview, check out the team’s website and social media pages. Do they only post about new listings and closings? Do you see just one agent over and over, or all the agents on the team? You can start to get a feel for both marketing skills and culture doing this. In the interview, be sure to find out:
- How do you support the marketing of properties?
- How do you support each agent’s individual brand marketing?
Training
Any agent will tell you, real estate school does not provide you with everything you need to be successful. Throughout your career, you should continuously be learning and setting new goals for yourself. Be sure to ask about the team’s learning environment and how they foster a growth mindset among all team members.
- What is the onboarding process?
- What type of training do you provide?
- Is there any outside coaching?
Working with Clients
A question every new real estate agent wonders is, How do I land my first client? Some teams will provide you with buyer leads only, and others give you the tools you need to fill your own pipeline with both buyers and sellers. Here are two questions to ask regarding clients:
- Where do leads come from?
- How soon can I work with buyers? Sellers?
Finding the right fit is essential to get your real estate career off to the right start. Be honest with yourself about what type of team you want to be on – whether its one where you can operate like a solo agent or one that provides more structure. After asking the right questions and meeting with severalf team leads, you’ll know which one is best for you.