Beyond Commission Splits: What You Need to Know About Broker Alignment - Chapter 9

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Aligning with the right broker or business partner is crucial for real estate success, yet many agents struggle with this decision. I wrote chapter nine of my eBook specifically to address this common challenge after repeatedly answering questions about brokerage alignment.

Listen now for all the things you might not be thinking about!

Some Highlights from this Episode:
• Always interview multiple brokerages to get a comprehensive view of available options
• Ensure alignment with your core values like integrity, family time, and faith
• Clarify exactly when and how support will be available to you
• Understand what systems, CRM, and technology platforms are included
• Consider gray area answers to specific questions as red flags
• Remember that vendors like inspectors and lenders directly reflect on your business
• Trust your intuition when making final decisions

If you need help with brokerage decisions or have questions, reach out to me anytime. I'm here and happy to help you navigate this important choice.

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Angie Gerber
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
aligning with the right broker and partner.
I hear it so often from agentsor see it, especially on social
media.
You know agents posting theysaid they would help me, or how
do you like your brokerage, orwhat about this one, or what
about that one and all of it.
And so that's chapter nine ofthe ebook.

(00:24):
Again, I wrote this for agents.
I kept answering the samequestion after question after
question, and one that came upoften was again, aligning with
brokers, and I wanted to answerthe question.
So to the agents out there ifyou are looking for a brokerage
team or business partner, alwaysinterview a few at a minimum.

(00:50):
You'll want to get a good feelof what's out there.
This is something I did not doin the beginning and I believe
everything happens for a reasonand I absolutely was exactly
where I should have been, andyet now so much has changed and
there are so many differentoptions.
So definitely interview a fewat a minimum.

(01:11):
And here are some questions toyou know, ask in and things to
look for.
First off, do they align withyour values?
If you value integrity, familytime, faith, you know do they
show up and operate from yoursame core values and what tools

(01:33):
and resources do they offer togrow and sustain your business?
You know, based on thecommission splits, what do they
provide for leads, marketing andtraining?
What does the ongoing traininglook like and how often is it,
and are there additional costsfor it?

(01:55):
All very good questions to askyour brokerage and especially if
you're joining a team, whatthat looks like, you know, and
ask who supports you and howavailable are they to help and
when.
I think that's key because Isee so often agents say they

(02:16):
said they would help me, theysaid they would be there and I
can't get a hold of them or takesome days to call back.
So I think having thisexpectation very clear, crystal
clear on what you can expect andwhen is very useful and helpful
when making a decision.
Next would be looking at whatsystems are included.

(02:39):
You know what CRM leads.
You know what platform do theyuse.
Do they offer a dialer, giveyou a computer or a phone?
All of it?
It's all very important tounderstand what you're getting
back for what you're paying andsplitting out.
You know who checks forcompliance on your contracts.

(03:00):
If needed, marking material,signage cards, social media
posts.
We are under a different levelof scrutiny and compliance and
so you want to make sure thatyou're compliant and your
brokerage and or team shouldkeep you out of realtor jail.

(03:21):
That's a lot of their job is tomake sure that you're complying
and doing things by the books.
You know, ask for referrals,check them out on social media,
find other business partnersthey've had in the past that
have left.
You know that's a good referralto ask for, not someone that's
with them, but someone that'sleft, and why See about that.

(03:44):
Someone that's with them butsomeone that's left and why See
about that.
That will give you a lot ofinsight and also keep these
questions in mind as you'relooking for transaction
coordinators, lenders,inspectors, title companies.
You know contractors.
What does it look like when youwork together?
What are the expectations forcommunications?

(04:06):
You know tasks they have intimeframes for both you and your
clients?
If the answers you are gettingto any of these specific
questions that you are askingare in a gray area, that is a
red flag.
That is a red flag.

(04:28):
See, the person, brokerage orteam that you're talking with
more than likely doesn't havethe proper systems, support or
knowledge available to help yousucceed and thrive.
If you get answers like, oh yes, that will come down the
pipeline, or we'll talk aboutthat later, or you're just
unclear about the splits or howthis works, or you know
everything should be in writingand side note reading your

(04:51):
independent contractor agreementis also very important.
I don't know how many agentsI've talked to and I say, well,
what does your you know ICA say?
And they're like what?
And I just can't even believeit.
They don't even know what it isor remember signing it.
So really be thinking aboutthat as well.
No gray, no gray areas.

(05:13):
It's a red flag.
If there are any you know, andbased on your business and what
you're looking for, you can geta list of additional questions
and really good questions,either by you know, google, any
of the AI tools out there, maybereal estate groups on social
media.
That's another place.
I see a lot of really helpfulpeople there.

(05:34):
They'll answer questions aswell and go prepared for any
interview or anyone you'retalking to.
You should have a list ofquestions and you are
interviewing them as much asthey're interviewing you, if not
more, because a lot ofbrokerages are just looking for
numbers and agents to join them.

(05:56):
So actually you're the one inthe driver's seat when looking
at which brokerage you are goingto be joining and why.
But really, in the end, alwaysfollow your intuition, because
it doesn't lie.
Even if you end up making adifferent choice down the road

(06:18):
and almost all agents do it'spart of your journey.
Very rarely, I mean, you'll seethem once in a while.
Those you know 15, 20, 25 plusyears at the same brokerage.
That's truly those agents arefar and few in between, because
as you grow and your businessgrows, there should be change.

(06:40):
I mean, that's just how itworks.
So I encourage you not to justget stuck in one place but know
what all the opportunities areout there and you can always say
no and at least know whatyou're saying no.
To Also watch out for a toxicenvironments, because those are
really motivation killer.

(07:01):
You know you want to gosomewhere that gives you energy
and inspires you to grow intothe best version of yourself
that you can grow into today andtomorrow.
And if you really continue tohave the Monday blues and don't
want to go in, you know that's asign that a change is needed.

(07:21):
So when partnering with vendorsagain as such as inspectors,
title companies, loan officers,contractors, you name it I want
you to keep in mind that thesevendors are a direct reflection
of you and your business, sothese questions are just as
important to them, because ifyou are referring any of these

(07:42):
out to your clients, they are adirect extension of your you and
your business, meaning that ifsomething goes wrong, it's going
to come back and land on you.
You are 100% responsible foryour clients and when you refer
them to someone, stay in contactwith them Again.

(08:03):
Ask these things up front sothat you understand to 100% no
gray areas what you and yourclients can expect from your
vendors Very, very important.
I've seen a lot of things gosideways because agents aren't
partnering with good people thatare at least to their standard,

(08:24):
if not better, of how theyserve their customers and
clients.
So it's very important you know, on average, over 40 people
touch a real estate transaction.
So making sure you havetop-notch vendors working with
your clients is key, and it willalso make your job and the
transaction getting to thefinish line a whole lot easier.

(08:48):
So, as we're wrapping up today,think about it.
I want you to take action.
If you are interviewing anybrokerages, our business
partners, our team members, askfor referrals, be prepared with
a list of questions and in theend, you know, I would say,
always follow your intuition.

(09:08):
It's here for a reason and youcan make the best decision right
now for you based upon theinformation you have in this
moment, knowing that things arefluid, it can change.
But go ahead and listen to thisagain, write some of these
questions down and, of course,as always, reach out to me if I

(09:29):
can be helping in any way,because I'm here and happy to do
so, and we'll see you next time.
And for now, go sell somethingand have an amazing week.