With the real estate market changing this year I have seen a lot of Realtors changing office in search of "Greener Pastures". I could write a whole book about why Realtors need to be careful about looking for an office or Broker that will make them successful but I have addressed my strong feelings about that in previous posts.
Since "Greener Pastures" rarely exist I encourage Brokers and agents to be careful when they part and to make sure bridges are not burned and peace exists in spite of a difference of opinions.
After I sold my real estate company in 1997 I joined a very visible and successful real estate company. My business started to grow and each year was better than the last. My business grew in spite of some things I saw in ownership and leadership that I did not agree with.
In 2002 a Realtor I worked with and a partner of his decided to open another RE/MAX office and I was invited to be part of the new office. I had a deep respect for my friend and thought he was making a good move so I decided to join the new office along with 6 other agents. It was a huge shot heard around our town and a lot of things were being said.
When I made the decision to join the new team I made an appointment to talk to my existing broker. I mentioned my concern for some of the decisions that had been made and a concern for some of his actions. I said I did not harbor any ill feelings but I was making a change to the new office. The first thing out of his mouth is "What will it take to keep you here?". I responded by saying that this was not up for negotiation and my decision was made and final. Again, I was asked "What will it take to keep you here?". I again responded by saying my decision was made and was final and wished him well.
When my broker realized I was not staying but indeed going I was immediately told that "I was boarding a sinking ship!" and "You are going to fail!" A few other choice words were mentioned that I cannot repeat. He started to yell at me profously I told my broker I was sorry he felt the way he did and that I did not want to end our relationship on a bad note and I wanted nothing but the best for him and his company. He would not even shake my hand when I offered it and that was that.
My new office started in early 2002 and by 2005 it was the #1 RE/MAX real estate company in our market area and still holds that honor today. It grew from the 7 of us in 2002 to 65 licensed agents in 2006.
In early 2005 I saw a Realtor come out of my current brokers office and he had a tear in his eye. I asked him if everything was alright and he responded by saying he could not believe what just happened. He said he met with our broker to tell him he was leaving our company concentrate on a real estate career in neighboring Boise about 15 minutes from our office.
He went on to say that our broker was sad to see him go and then said. "You are a smart man and I am sure you have thought this out well. I wish you the best and want you to know you are always welcome back. May I pray for you?"
He said my broker proceeded to pray for him and his new career. He was just blown away and he just lost it.
My point is that there are a lot of emotions flying around in the real estate market. A lot of brokers are seeing agents leave and either search for another real estate company or go into a different career altogether.
Regardless of the decisions we make it makes a whole lot of sense to respect each other and to want the best for everyone that walks in and out of our office. Simply take the HIGH ROAD.
Remember that we can pierce each others hearts with a sword or we can heal with words of respect and kindness. We eventually have to work with each other and having "good feelings" between us will pay huge dividends.
George:
Great post! It was very painful and emotional for me to leave my first broker. We didn't leave on good terms but I definitely went to "Greener Pastures".
I believe his words were something like, "Don't let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you." and then he thew a bottle of Jack Daniels at me. Just kidding. About the Jack Daniels part.
That was very touching about what your current broker did for the agent that left him. He sounds like a great guy!
George, your current Broker sounds like a jewel. I've only left one company and been with RE/MAX ever sense, my first Broker was very nice and really wanted me to stay. I told her I had no hard feelings and it was just a business decision. After she knew my mind was made up she said, well give me the keys. And I did, she didn't not speak to me at any event for years. Finally she did and this year invited me back to manage the company. No, thanks management is not for me.
Your broker left a door wide open for him to come back if it didnt' work out and that is how it should be. I never understood, when I first got into the business why agent left under a cover of darkness.
The high road would certainly always be the best choice. I've only been with my present Broker, so I don't have any personal experience with this. You make great choices, George.
@ Missy--I also wonder why Agents leave under a cloak of darkness. In most cases, it seems you're talking to the Agent one day, friendly, normal business as usual and then the next day they've left without a word to most of the other Agents....always so hush, hush. I don't see what the big deal is. I'm the type who if I were to decide to leave, I would speak with my Broker first and then send a group e-mail to the Agents to at least say "goodbye", "nice knowing and working with you" and then talk personally to any who wanted to talk about it...I know we're all wired differently though. I guess their reasoning could be that they don't want to discuss why they're leaving and/or that it's none of our business why they're leaving, which I guess it isn't really (LOL), but I'm just thinking about what I would do.
George
This of course is a great post. Yours always are. But the striking thing is somthing similar happened to me some years ago. The only thing was it was reversed. I had to let an employee go. I hated to do it but they just couldn't handle the job. I offered to help her find a job, call in some favors, but whe was so angery, so very hateful. It hurt me deeply. We always have to remember that what leaves the mouth cannot be drawn back in. It is out there forever.
Thanks George.
George, thank you for your nice post. I do not have any experiences of leaving a broker. my only dear broker who taught me all i knew died of heart attack. It was difficult for me to even think of replacing him. all I have is beautiful memories about him. after that I went solo with a broker family member of my departed broker. thanks for listening and thanks again for your post.
Treating people well and not burning bridges should be the mantra for all industries, not just ours. What a clear cut case you make for this in your story here.
I'm happy that you found a brokerage that treats people well. Your broker is one of the good guys.
As I think back to brokers with whom I work, a very special one comes to mind. I had worked with him for over 10 years, loved him as a mentor and a visionary. He was beloved by his agents then as he is now in several states, and widely respected throughout the industry. When I left his company, he called me at home and begged me to stay. Then when he found out I was committed to my decision, he called me names that don't bear repeating. 'Turns out he was right about it being the wrong decision for me, and I would have gone back within a week (or several other times over the years), except for the way he talked to me. I learned a lot from this lesson, and one of the things is exactly what you said: It's best to always take the high road.
There are so many good ways to handle a separation, it is a shame that too many people fall into the worst ways.
It is one of the best times in life to reveal your inner character, part friends, and not burn bridges.
George,
Well written as usual! Great advice for life in general. (I hate using cliches but do it all the time anyway...) You have to be careful about burning bridges. You never know when you'll have to go back over the bridge. As I've said in other comments, do the right thing and good things happen.
George-It is so true how many brokers burn the bridges behind them. It was a very tough decision for me to leave my first office. I liked my broker and the training I had gotten as a new agent but I wanted the chance to make more independent decisions about my business that I couldn't do there. I was berated for my decision yet if a new agent asks me today where they should start I always tell them for the best training they should check out that company first. I've never looked back and still wish my former broker all the best despite the feeling that he gave me as I walked out the door.
George, taking the high road is always better. I wish everyone was as above board to deal with as you are. Best wishes in all that you do
I had a three hour exit interview when I left my last office almost a year ago. He was delaying me because he didn't want me to get to the division by the time it closed on Friday.
I stayed honest with him and he respectfully asked me not to "take" anyone with me. I told him I would not actively seek recruiting but if someone would ask me why I left I wouldn't lie.
Fast forward to last week, his brokerage closed down completely.
Sometimes we have to get a better outlook on our careers. Moving on can be tough.
Wow! What a great post. I'm fortunate enough to have left my first broker on good terms. We still eat lunch together once a month.
George, your new broker sounds like a diamond in the rough. I happen to work for a broker who is a devout and open Christian. What an awesome experience it is to have someone over you who answers to a higher power. Rock on!
I thought I was the only one that had a really BAD experience leaving a broker. My manager was actually decent when we first started talking about me leaving. Once he realized that I wasn't going to change my mind...all HELL broke loose. He became the manager from HELL. It was really shocking. I maintained my composure and got out of that office as quickly as I could. I am happy to report that I made a good decision. I have been with my current broker for a year and "It's All Good"
Enjoyable post, George, adna valuable lesson to keep in mind. I left my old company when I moved to CA and the parting was as good as it could possible be! I was lucky, but then I was also not moving to a competitor. The world is just too small and life too short to be petty when people decide to make changes they feel are in their best interest. It seems that people's true colors emerge in these situations.
Jeff
George, It was tough for me to leave my first broker too. I had moved over 45 minutes from the office, and the commute, let alone the fact that it was a small town office (not a national chain) made it a necessity to move. I also had differences in opinion about the way he conducted the business.
I made the change, being careful not to leave any business there, then my former broker tried to find a way to "steal" the majority of the commission for my niece's new construction home (the only commission I had to leave there when I made the move). When I provided the documentation and threatened arbitration he backed down. He knew I was serious and that I would go through with it. What's fair is fair. The move, for me, was to "greener pastures!" His actions just proved to me that I made the right decision.
I left my first broker and he stalked me for a month. Had a hard time collecting money for the settlement I handled after leaving too.
The second one I left sued me for my web site and wouldn't pay me commissions due. I won the law suit and he had to pay me too. But, it occupied a lot of time an money for 2 years.
The third one wouldn't pay me and I had to sue him for the $60,000 he owed me for closings I handled after I left. He finally settled the day he was served with the law suit.
I then decided to get my own broker's license. I haven't had any easy "separations". They didn't treat me right when I was with them and then didn't want me to leave. Go figure.
Hi George,
This story rang true for us. The first Broker I left was a CB broker and the manager actually threw his pen across the desk towards me to sign my exit papers. Since then, the same company has recruited me on several occasions and that one act soured me completely by that manager. We have also been in a position to make a decision on whether to stay where we have been for years or seek out those greener pastures. But we understand that you make your own pastures green no matter where you are. Some offices are more supportive than others but we are all independent contractors that need to keep an eye on our own business model. Thanks for the truly inspiring post.
When I left my old office to go independent in September, I gave 30-days notice. When I told my friend and manager/owner about my plans, she gave me a big hug, wished me well and gethered everybody around for a happy hour. In the last few months, I've encountered a few situations that I had questions about and she still takes the time to help. It doesn't get any better than knowing someone has your back and wants you to be successful.
I have been with the same company for 12 years, we have changed from a local company to a National Franchise during that time, but we are still the same crew. During the years some of our agents have gone off to other companies for a promise of a larger split, or some other incentive. Some of them have made their way back, often bringing agents along with them. I must assume from seeing the returns that our Owners are not ones to slam the door but instead kept the feelings positive. An interesting difference is the reaction of the agents in the office in comparison to the Owners when we lose agents, whether they are going to other companies or leaving the business completely. The Owners take it hard, the agents take it as less competition and more of the pie for them. Eventually though, if you lose agents, the company has a smaller budget for advertising and support staff and all the benefits we have grown accustomed to. We need a happy middle ground of trimming out the competition while maintaining cash flow.
George,
Well written and excellent post! It is amazing that the first question that comes out of a broker's mouth when you inform them that you are leaving is, "What will it take to keep you here?". Your present broker sounds like a wise and genuine man. That is someone anyone can be proud to be working with.
Dave
Great post I have been to several offices in the Snohomish County Washington area and each time was hard to leave. Even if you are leaving under distressed conditions its still hard to leave the people that you work with day in and day out.
I do wish that I had started my career at Keller Williams as I have been to a few offices now within that organization and each office no matter if run badly or not really seems to attract a great group of people.
Todd Hueffed
www.ThatHomeZone.com in partnership with Keller Williams North Seattle
I'm glad to hear that you're working with such a caring person, George. They are few and far between. I know some just like him around here, but we have our fair share of the other. Once of which just happened in the last few months. Bummer. They were good agents unfairly treated.
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Burning bridges, like your former broker did, is completely unwise. This business is a small world. One should always doors open.
Hey everyone...Just made a pit stop at the office and wanted to thank you all again for sharing your comments and opinions. I wish you all peace with every office you are with!
George - You always have some wisdom to share.
This past year I have had some burned bridges thats for sure, and I decided that the high road to take was to just walk away and move on with my business. I wanted to tell them how I felt, I wanted to defend myself, I want to know why? But in the end I chose to take the high road and accept that not all bridges are created equally.
Lenn- I am sure the reason why the three brokers that you left gave you a hard time because you were such a competent,experienced and hardworking real estate agent and that once you became a broker,you would be even better. Great post.
George - I left my former real estate firm without even telling them which was not a good thing. But how much can you take when you broker is so unprofessionally,curses a lot -TOO MUCH,office atmosphere sucks,cancels classes in office and they don't even tell you and are sometimes being pressured into doing things you dont feel like doing like holding a open house on a house that is overpriced like over $200,000. Yeah. So I had to leave that company. It so happens everybody that leaves my former office now comes to my current office.
Rebecca - Thank you for the compliment and thanks to Judy, Lanrae and everyone else that has taken the time to leave comments. I appreciate you all.
George, you truly made a wise decision by choosing a broker with the attitude your's has! As a broker, I have had agents leave for "greener pastures" and then choose to return a year later. I've also had agents choose to leave and been glad to see them go. The one thing all these scenarios have had in common is that I wish them well and try to make the transition painless. I also give out their contact number when someone calls for them after they leave!
As a new agent, my first move was heartbreaking and my former broker made it very difficult for me...to this day I have a hard time being enthusiastic about showing properties his company has listed. My one hope is that any agent who has ever worked for me remembers me fondly, and I am blessed when some who are now brokers of their own companies call me for help. I don't believe in ever burning bridges.
George, Great post. I have recently been through the event of changing Brokers. Not a good experience. I think these actions hurt all of us individually and professionalally as a whole. I believe and hope that shedding light on this subject may help bring the necessary changes that are needed. Plain and simply...it is good leadership and management and it seems your Broker possesses these qualities. I am sure his professional and positive actions are effective and benificial to all, with this type of leadership.
Thank you my friends...It is very interesting to read what you have all been through with your office experiences. I just hope all brokers and agents will read not only my post but all of the wonderful comments and realize how important it is not burn bridges and take the HIGH ROAD.
I reall appreciate all of you very much!
This was a great post, My first broker had me booted off my MLS ,change my password, prevented me and my team member from working that weekend, announced to the board via email I was no longer with the firm, Boy did he burn bridges with me. I moved on to greener pastures, worked less ,made more.
it is now a good life!
Thanks for speaking my heart. When I left my first position it was a nightmare of yelling, blaming and accusation. It even went so far as threatening emails including one from boss's mother! I was asked for the return of anything this person had ever given me including coffee as a house warming. It got so ridiculous I had to threaten legal action. It conitnued every so often for months! I personally wanted to end on a better note but it was clear that the only thing to do was not respond any further. When friendship and business mix the cocktail is sometimes quite unplatable.
What a great Broker you have, hold on to that one!!
Vanessa