Advice for a soon to be real estate agent.

[Brad Miller]

Not putting the cart before the horse but I'll be taking the exam next month and I'm looking for tip or pointers on a few things:

1. Where is the best place to take a cram course?  Online or in person, which is better?

2. What would be the major things to look for in a broker?  Training? Support? Commission %?

Being a newbie I'm hoping to get some advice from the experienced realtors out there.  Things to do/not do when getting your feet wet.  Any advice is very much appreciated.  

[Sharon Powell]

@Brad Miller

I took all my classes online through Texas A&M but did exam prep in a classroom setting. The interaction was really helpful, as were the instructor’s insights into the exam. You won’t get that online.

The broker question is tougher. There are tons of brokerage models and each has their own fee schedule, splits, training systems, neato swag, and a sales pitch to recruit you. The two things I found to be most important were:

1. Know yourself. If you are self-motivated and don’t need someone regulating your business (ie desk hours), then look at smaller or boutique brokerages that will allow you more autonomy. If you need structure, then the big traditional brokerages will suit you better.

2. Know without a doubt that your broker/supervisor/a team leader will answer the phone.

There are tons of things to consider, but for me these were the big ones. Best of luck on your exam!