What Should You Look for in a Real Estate Company?
The quick answer: Look for a real estate company that will teach you, not just hold your license. Ask who trains you and how often, what you'll pay in splits, caps and fees, where your first clients will come from, who answers when a deal goes wrong at night, and whether the people there are still selling homes every week.
The company with the nicest office isn't always the one that teaches you the most.
I've worked at four companies since I got my license in 2006. Each move taught me what really matters, and most of it has nothing to do with the lobby.
If you feel torn between a few offers, that's normal. Here are the questions to ask before you sign anything, so you pick the place that fits your goals.
Ask who'll pick up the phone at 9pm when your deal is falling apart.
In this guide
Who will train you, and how?
This is the first question for a new agent. Ask:
- Who teaches pricing, offers and negotiation?
- Are they still selling homes every week?
- Is training live, recorded or both?
- Will someone review your first offers and listing meetings with you?
A library of videos is nice. A person who answers your questions is better.
What will you pay to work there?
Get every number in writing:
- Your commission split, and whether it changes over time
- Any cap, and what happens after you reach it
- Monthly fees, desk fees and transaction fees
- Errors and omissions insurance
- Board and MLS dues, which you'll pay wherever you go
Add it all up for a year with one sale, five sales and twelve sales. The cheapest plan on paper isn't always cheapest in real life.
Where will your first clients come from?
Ask how agents there find business. Do they get leads, and what do those cost? Is there a referral fee? Is there a plan to help you market yourself to the people you already know?
Be careful with promises of free leads. Ask how many of last year's new agents closed a deal from them.
Who supports you when a deal gets hard?
Every deal has a bad day. Ask who you call when an inspection goes sideways or a buyer gets cold feet.
- Is there a manager or mentor you can reach at night and on weekends?
- Who helps with paperwork and deadlines?
- Will someone come to your first listing meeting with you?
Should you join a team or go on your own?
Both can work. A team can give you training, systems and marketing from day one, in exchange for a bigger share of your commission. Going on your own keeps more of each check, though you build everything yourself.
Ask any team what they cover, what you pay and how they help you grow. A good team should make you better, not just busier.
What tools and marketing do you get?
Ask what you'll use every day: the CRM, listing marketing, social media help, signs and print. Find out what's included and what you pay for.
Tools don't sell homes. People who know how to use them do, so ask who teaches you.
How do you know if the culture fits?
Talk with two or three agents who work there now, without a manager in the room. Ask what they love and what they'd change.
Notice how people talk about each other. A place where agents share what's working is a place where you'll grow.
What should you avoid?
- Pressure to sign on the spot
- Fees you can't get in writing
- Training led only by people who stopped selling years ago
- Promises of leads with no proof they close
Take your time. This choice shapes your first years in the business.
Why did I choose eXp Realty?
After four companies, I wanted room to grow, real tools and a network of agents who share what works. My brokerage, eXp Realty, is #1 in the US for homes sold.
The company matters. What matters more is the people you learn from every day. I coach every agent on our team myself. If you're weighing a move from another company, read how to change real estate brokerages first.
What homes are for sale in Andover MA, North Andover MA, Haverhill MA and Salem NH right now?
Here are the homes for sale right now, live from the MLS. The newest ones show first. Tap any home for photos and details.
For new and future agents in MA and NH
Want help picking a school, a company and a plan?
Call me. Bring your questions and your goals, and we'll learn from each other.
About Lisa Sevajian
Lisa Sevajian is a Realtor with the Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp Realty, licensed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She has guided almost 2,000 families through buying and selling and has ranked in the top 1.5% of over 1.4 million Realtors nationwide, verified by RealTrends. She serves the Andovers, the Merrimack Valley, Seacoast MA and NH, Southern NH and the North Shore. Buying, she makes sure you don't overpay. Selling, she makes sure you don't say yes to too little. Call Lisa Sevajian at 978-457-3406.
Home, for me, is here
This is home for me. I grew up north of Boston. I raised my two daughters here as a single mom while I built my business. When they were little, they hosted open houses with me.
Home was North Andover MA. I grew up in the library neighborhood on Mifflin Drive, later moved out to the country side of town, and loved every moment of my 40 or so years there. I hiked Weir Hill with my dogs, and a lot of my mornings started at Good Day Cafe.
So when you ask me about a town, you get more than numbers. Ask me about a school, a street or your commute, and you get someone who has lived it. If you're making a move here, you won't make it alone.
Lisa is an expert negotiator and we were able to get everything that we wanted for our offer.
Kevin Liu, bought a home in Georgetown MA, verified Zillow review
She listened to me and understood what I needed in this home sale.
Elizabeth Reifsnyder, sold a home in Andover MA, verified Zillow review
Read real client storiesSee all reviewsMore about Lisa Sevajian
Featured by HGTV, Forbes, HousingWire, Boston magazine, RealTrends Verified and Boston Agent Magazine, syndicated by The Globe and Mail and Yahoo Finance, among many others.
Questions people ask
What should a new agent look for in a real estate brokerage in Massachusetts?
Real training from people who still sell homes, clear fees in writing, a plan for your first clients, and someone to call when a deal gets hard.
What questions should I ask a New Hampshire real estate brokerage before joining?
Ask who trains you, what you'll pay in splits, caps and fees, where clients come from, who supports you on hard deals, and what tools are included.
Is it better to join a real estate team as a new agent in Massachusetts?
It can be. A team can give you training, systems and marketing from day one, in exchange for a bigger share of your commission.
What fees do real estate agents in New Hampshire pay their brokerage?
It varies. Ask about your split, any cap, monthly fees, desk fees, transaction fees and errors and omissions insurance, and get them in writing.
What's a real estate commission cap?
A cap is the most you pay your company in a year. After you reach it, you keep more of each commission. Ask each company how theirs works.
Do real estate brokerages give new agents leads?
Some do. Ask what they cost, whether there's a referral fee and how many new agents closed a deal from them last year.
How do I compare real estate brokerages in Massachusetts and New Hampshire?
Add up every fee for a year with one, five and twelve sales, then compare training, support and culture side by side.
What are red flags in a real estate brokerage?
Pressure to sign on the spot, fees you can't get in writing, training from people who stopped selling and lead promises with no proof.
Can I change real estate companies later in Massachusetts or New Hampshire?
Yes. Agents move for training, tools, culture or money. Plan the move so your clients and listings are taken care of.
Why do agents join eXp Realty?
Reasons vary. Many agents look at its tools, its agent network and its size. eXp Realty is #1 in the US for homes sold.
Does the real estate company matter to clients in New Hampshire?
Clients mostly hire the agent. The company matters most for how well it trains and supports you.
This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.
I'll guide you home.
Lisa Sevajian