Don't Become a Prisoner in Your Real Estate Office

Imagine the day you join a Real Estate office. You order your new business cards, order your signs, pick out your desk, and get issued a company uniform; a jumpsuit with horizontal black and white stripes. What? Yes. It also comes equipped with handcuffs, a ball and chain, and an expensive buy out clause.

Be CAREFUL what you sign. As an agent, you are an independent contractor. But, different companies have different independent contractor agreements and requirements. Know what you're getting yourself into before you sign anything. In other words, know your exit strategy. You could get yourself into a costly situation. And, worse, get yourself stuck in an environment that ruins your mindset.

Things to look for when signing an independent contractor agreement:
1) If I leave this company, do I get a reduction in commission on my upcoming closings I've already turned in to the office? Some companies reduce your commissions to a 50/50% split on contracts you've already turned in to the office preparing for closing.
2) Can my seller clients transfer their listings to me at my new company without penalty? Yes, listings are technically the property of your broker. So, make sure you know how he or she deals with the transfer of listing agreements.
3) Do I have a penalty to pay if I ever leave? Some brokerages charge a large fee or 2 to 3 months of previous rent. Some may require a 60 day or longer notice to waive any of these fees.

At Keller Williams Realty, we have a different philosophy. Your business is YOUR business. We know that people are only doing business with us because of YOU. So, if you ever decide you want to leave us, we let you transfer your listings easily. There is never a penalty or a fee either. We make doing business with us very EASY.

Your mindset is the most important equipment you have to succeed in Real Estate sales. So, protect it by knowing what you're signing. You don't want to become a prisoner in your own office; especially if it's an office that is NOT committed to seeing your business grow and flourish and you as a person reach new levels of growth, as well.

If at any time you'd like to experience freedom, shed the jumpsuit and call me at 205-397-6500. Let's get your business on track so you can buy your own uniform!