Selecting a brokerage firm (Newly licensed)

[Sasi Kumar]

Hi all,

I got my real estate broker license in WA state earlier this week for the first time.

I have been a full time employee in WA in the software field and would like to continue that while i kickstart on the side this real estate effort.

2 Questions-
1) I am looking for brokerage firm that i can join that could help me in kickstarting my career with good guidance. I have looked online and it looks like keller williams & exp reality seem to be a couple on top of my list. Any guidance would be appreciated.

2) Given that i will continue my present job, does a part-time or independent contractor makes sense? or do i have other alternatives.

Cheers

[Hamp Lee III]

I've been a part time agent for a several months. Outside of the training program my brokerage has, I've been sticking with a few of things.

1. Study, Study, Study. Train, Train, Train. You’ll soon discover that the information you’re studying to pass your real estate exam doesn't even scratch the surface of all you need to learn to be a good real estate agent. So, I would recommend going through your brokerage training (if they have one), reading books, watching videos, and listening to podcasts. There are a couple of great books in the BP bookstore on being an agent.

2. Select a niche. There's so much we can do as real estate agents. If you don't select a niche, you'll spin around in circles trying to do a little of everything and not mastering anything. I suggest starting with what you're already doing. I'm an active duty member who invests. I’m a third-generation real estate investor. I want to help families build their financial legacies through real estate. This has been working very well for me, so really spend time honing your niche.

3. Select a brokerage. My decision to choose a brokerage largely came from what I needed now, and your specific niche. As active duty Air Force. I found that many brick and mortar brokerages wouldn’t work for me. I found a great cloud-based brokerage that will allow me to train without physically being in the office taking leave from my military position.

I think about finding a brokerage like going shoe shopping. What works for you today may not work tomorrow. Make the best decision for you today. If it doesn’t work, make the best decision that day. There are so many options otherwise that will keep your head spinning.

Lastly, remember that you are interviewing the brokerages not the other way around. Be yourself and go in with what you are looking for. I had three things, but they changed as I visited more brokerages and narrowed down what I wanted.

4. Provide value to others. Posting on BP and sharing real estate information with your sphere of influence (and social media) is a great way to get started. It lets others know you're a real estate agent, and you know what you're talking about. It's a great way to build trust. Farming your local subdivision with monthly newsletters can also do this, depending on your niche. Believe me, people will reach out to you.

5. Identify the needs of your SOI. Your SOI may have specific needs. Many of the people in my SOI want to use their VA loan a second time or start investing. So, I'll adjust my messages to focus on those areas. Your SOI is unique, but when you provide value to them, you might see an even greater return.

I hope this helps.