One of the questions I often get from new real estate agents is “Should a new agent join a team or not?” And that is a great question.  Let’s talk about it.

PROS of joining a team

• You can have a great mentor.
• You can learn the basics of real estate from a more experienced agent.
• You can “practice” on someone else’s leads/clients.
• Often, it leads to income more quickly than going solo.
• There is support, emotional and possibly financial, on a team.
• You can focus on just one area; listing, administrative, buyers, etc.

CONS of joining a team

• If you are on a team where leads are not assigned and plentiful, and you are expected to gather your own leads, why wouldn’t you do this on your own where you won’t have to split your monies with the team?
• If you get on a team that is lead by an inexperienced leader, you may not get much mentoring.
• You may have an agreement that locks you in for a year, or more.

For each real estate agent the choice to join a team is one that has to fit them, their goals and their ambition level. Many a great real estate team is headed up by the alpha dog (the rainmaker) and is filled with developing agents and/or agents that tried solo but discovered they needed the camaraderie of a team to push them and help them succeed.

On the other hand I’ve seen agents, new and otherwise, join teams and thereby take on the additional commission splits that go with the team concept and then are expected to pretty much generate leads as if they were a solo agent.  What the heck is that all about?

If you are thinking of joining a team be sure to talk with the “team leader” several times.  Find out about their culture, their commission splits, their expectations, etc.  Find out if this is someone you will want to hang out with because believe me, you will be hanging out with them as well as working for them.

It is my sincere hope this gives you more to think about.  Be sure to ask any questions you may have by contacting me or leaving a comment below.

Have a business.  Have a life.