by Tamara Brown

Created on: April 27, 2009

Selecting the right broker-sponsor with whom to begin your real estate career is a decision not be taken lightly. The is the person who will not only be your mentor, but who will help to set the tone of your entire career. You will want to pick an a broker who runs an office with a good reputation, who has a quality training program and who will give you the support you need to be successful.

Begin by finding several prospects from which to choose. Look at the real estate ads in the newspaper, and take note of the offices that have well designed ads, and several listings in the area in which you would like to focus. You can also attend open houses and ask the agents working them about the offices they work in. Ask friends about their experiences with local Realtors as well. You will want to be associated with a broker who has an excellent reputation. Once you have a long list of names, narrow them down to your top four or five choices.

Now that you have your narrowed list, it is time to begin the interview process. Contact each office and enquire if they are currently looking for new agents. If they are, ask to schedule an interview with the broker.

Remember that as you go to the interview, you are interviewing the broker as much as he is interviewing her. Here are several questions that you will want to be sure to have the answer to before committing to work in his office.

What training programs do you have for new agents? This is an important question because even though you have finished your certification to become a licensed agent, you still have a lot to learn. A good training program will give you an advantage in developing your skills as an agent

2. How do you assign floor duty? As a new agent, you won't have as many contacts as the more experienced agents in the office. Floor duty, answering incoming phone calls, may seem insignificant, but will actually be your main source of new clients for a while. You may also want to ask if agents in the office are open to having you conduct open houses for them as well.

3. What types of marketing are available through the office? some offices have full time marketing personnel who will create your newspaper ads, fliers and other marketing tools. Find out what is available and what the cost will be for using these services.

4. What is the commission % split? The percentage of each sale that goes to your broker can vary depending on the area of the country that you live in. Compare the various numbers to find the best split that you can. Also, inquire if that number will change in your favor once you bring in a certain amount of sales.

5. What costs am I expected to pay? Beware of additional costs, especially if the commission % that the broker takes is low. Sometimes a broker will take a low commission, but more than make it up in additional fees. Some may charge you money to rent your desk, use the phones and even the copier.

6. What is the average number of monthly transactions for this office? This will help you to know what kind of business you can expect to do once you learn the ropes and get some more experience. Plus, a busy office attracts more customers than a quiet one.

Your broker-sponsor is more than just a person who will hold your real estate license for you. This person and the office that he runs are the the main factors in you becoming a successful agent and earning a good living. Find someone who can be your mentor, someone who is willing to take you under his wing and help you to succeed in the competitive world of real estate sales.

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