Whether you are a newly licensed agent or seasoned with years of experience, starting at a new real estate brokerage can come with some anxiety and apprehension about being part of a new work culture and learning new marketing tools and products to make your career a success.
Coldwell Banker Realty has proven success with attracting agents, successfully onboarding 440 new real estate professionals in the Atlanta region in 2021 and increasing its total number of agents by 17.5% for the year.
Here are some tips from the pros at Coldwell Banker Realty on how to approach your new affiliation with ease:
1. Learn everything in smaller amounts.
“When new agents affiliate with our company, I find that it’s extremely important to give them a guideline of how to approach education courses and learning about technology tools and products in a manner that makes it easier to build from one session to the next,” notes Caroline Wilson, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Realty’s Roswell office.
It can be overwhelming to jump in and immediately understand how all the marketing tools function and how to benefit the most from using them. Being organized and approaching new tools and product offerings with a specific purpose can allow agents to absorb information in a logical manner. Wilson advises learning smaller chunks of information at a time and building from one offering to the next. Also, she encourages leaning on the staff to help guide agents through the brokerage offerings.
2. Join a local real estate organization.
“Even if you are a seasoned agent, joining a local real estate organization can provide insight into new ways of approaching your marketing plan or learning more about a specific area of the home-buying process,” states Rhonda Morgan, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Realty’s Alpharetta / North Point office.
Atlanta is home to many real estate organizations, most of which provide opportunities to build your career with professional development courses, certifications and designations, as well as interact with other real estate professionals. According to Morgan, being an active member can help boost your credentials and is a nice addition to your resume.
3. Find a brokerage that enables you to expand your sales and business development skills.
“Coaching is one of the most important aspects of real estate sales. If you are not affiliated with a brokerage that provides skills, education opportunities, support and coaching that will help you generate more listings and a higher sales volume, year over year, then maybe you should rethink your current career path,” notes Amy Faulkner, branch office manager of Coldwell Banker Realty’s Intown office.
Effective education, coaching and support should include opportunities designed for individual and team-building success, provided by internal and external coaches who understand the company’s systems and programs. It should also include courses that have proven methods of boosting listings and sales, as well as panel discussions and idea-sharing events aimed at collaboration among peers. Faulkner also stresses the importance of affiliating with a brokerage that supports a non-competing management structure and has in-office staff to bolster marketing and technology with administrative assistance.
4. Affiliate with a brokerage that helps you plan for your financial future.
“Real estate sales don’t need to be focused solely on the present income opportunity. Planning to grow personal wealth over time adds tremendous value to agents to protect them and allow for a strong and healthy financial future,” states Mike Wright, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Realty’s Sandy Springs office.
Just like any other job, real estate agents should affiliate where they are also supported with plans to protect personal wealth and to build on it. Coldwell Banker offers SPARK, a 401k retirement plan to help independent real estate agents save for their future. Wright also notes that agents can build a stream of passive income with the company’s referral program, feel secure with the aid of a legal assistance program, take advantage of management opportunities for professional growth and save for the future with a SEP IRA retirement account.
5. Look for a brokerage with a strong and collaborative work environment.
“If you have the opportunity to be part of a greater network of agents who are supportive and collaborate locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally, you will be presented with the ability to learn more and have access to more leads, referrals and raise your average sales price,” notes Debra Bradley, managing broker of Coldwell Banker Realty’s Buckhead West Paces Ferry office.
Today, many people are moving and buying outside of their current housing market, so it is exceedingly important to be part of a collaborative and supportive network of agents who are not only in your backyard but also halfway across the country or around the world. Coldwell Banker’s network includes approximately 100,000 worldwide in 40 countries.
“Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta prides itself on helping people discover the full potential of their real estate career by showing them how to live an exceptional life with the use of a strong technology suite of products that will boost their production. Additionally, we are fortunate to have the support of a brand that provides an extraordinary home for its agents and brokers,” notes Massoud Atallah, regional vice president, Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta.
“As someone who started in real estate sales, it is my personal goal to continually put the affiliated agents first and invest in their daily and future success. We have been successful in the Atlanta region with attracting talent because we provide agents with resources that allow them to live up to their fullest potential and the management team in each of our 12 offices is fully dedicated to supporting the agents,” states Laura Rittenberg, president, Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta.
Founded in 1906, Coldwell Banker Realty is strongly rooted on the Core 4 values of Production Power, Coaching to Confidence, Wealth Builder and Culture of Awesomeness. In August 2020, Coldwell Banker® was named the No. 1 brokerage in agent satisfaction.1 If you are interested in learning more about a career in real estate sales with Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta, visit ColdwellBankerCareers.com.