Growing pains...

Many agents are feeling the winds of an improving Real Estate market and desiring growth of their team or growth into a team.  When should an agent consider becoming a team and when should a team add members?  Different questions but the same answer works just fine.  Let's start with what isn't the answer:

1. Everybody else is doing it so I should.

2. I want to make money on other people.

3. I need people to help in the office with admin tasks.

4. I know someone who is looking to be on a team.

5. I don't like helping others.

So why would a individual become a team or a team expand? Simple:

1. I have systems and lead sources that create more opportunities than I can work or more than my current team can handle.

So why do I feel this way?  I've seen people attempt to grow because others did, without the systems and leads the others had, only fail and lose time and money.  Agents tell me all the time that I want to make a "little bit" off of some team members.  Agents looking to join teams tell me they want to join a team because they "are great with clients" but they don't have enough of them to work with. Sometimes the thought is, I have too much paperwork slowing me down in the office but I don't want to hire an admin and pay a salary so I will hire a licensed team member that can sell and do my paperwork. Let's play this scenario out.  I'm a licensed agent and join your team and part of my job is to do your paperwork and part is to sell real estate.  Of course our goal is that I'm good at both, so what does this look like? I take calls, process paperwork, set up showings, negotiate inspections, complete paperwork, and get all of it turned into the office so we can close files.  I'm also showing homes, listing homes, and doing open houses now for two agents but I used to be a $1 million dollar producer on my own and it's all I know.  Now I'm doing all my work as well as my $7 milion dollar team leader's.  This can be a recipe for disaster and in the end it can lead to a revolving door of team members.  Btw it is real hard as a team leader to go sell real estate when you're stuck in the office training.  

Start with a plan including job descriptions, titles, team polices, and a written contract.  Then begin interviewing potential matches based on the job descriptions.  I would even suggest asking your office to help screen potential people so you only meet with the best candidates.  In the end this can very a very successful way to grow your business and make more money but without proper planning and intentions, it can also be a big waste of time and money!

bon appetite 

Jimmy