In the last few months I have seen several real estate brokerages heavily recruiting agents from other companies. In our daily mail at the office there are a stack of envelopes from other real estate companies to each and every agent within our company. While on floor duty I have answered the phone to have another broker try to recruit me.
Just a few of my observations:
- I find these practices tacky and show a total lack of class.
- They seem to be willing to take on any agent.
- Why would I want to hang my license with a company who will take on anyone and everyone? Their reputation will not be helped and their E&O insurance will be going through the roof if it is not already.
- What type of agents are they attracting with these tactics?
I consider these tactics poaching. Why not just set up a table in front of our entrance and hand out brochures and applications to our agents as they enter the building?
I am glad my company does not resort to contacting agents from other brokerages at their place of business to recruit them. I think it is a total lack of class. If I ever decided to leave the brokerage I am with (which I have no designs to do), those companies would not be on my list of possible new homes.
I am sure there are some who will defend the practice; probably on the grounds that it is effective. I have heard similar arguments for other business practices that I find distasteful.
So what do you think?
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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®, ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR
Century 21 Liberty Homes
Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers. His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.
Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and the Leeward Regional Chairman of the Honolulu Board of Realtors. To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents.
www.HawaiiRandy.com * Oahu (Honolulu County) Property Search * Hawaii Military Relocations
Randy, don't even get me started on this rant! I left a major brokerage because of all the recruiting they do. I would hear the team leader gloat in meetings about recruiting a top producer from a small boutique company and think it was funny that she had hurt them financially. Tacky and a total lack of class.
This particular company was all about numbers of agents and listings. They didn't care about the agents once they recruited them...they just wanted the numbers.
I'm with you Randy...for any business to use these tactics as a way of getting numbers up (like Linda is talking about) as well as just plain lacking class .... that's like going into the store and saying hey...wanna come work at mine? I know ALL businesses use different "models" to conduct their businesses but when they don't realize how they appear ..... just for the dala ... :)
Linda - I bet you didn't feel warm and fuzzy about having your license there.
Sally - I think they know how they appear, they just don't care.
Randy our #1 brokerage went bankrupt back in Sept and another large one just shut down several satellites and consolidated to one office. I thin they are hurting and desperate which is no excuse for hounding :)
Back in the spring I had one brokerage insinuate that my brokerage was going broke. Nothing like adding scare tactics to make me want to move .........NOT!
Right On, Randy!
It really gets old getting their shameless advertisements.
Have A Happy Thanksgiving!
Lucky :)
I suspect many brokerages are desperate to fill vacated seats. I have two that pursue me, even after I told them I have no intention of ever considering their company. If I left my current company for some reason, I'd likely work for myself and not hang my license anywhere because I don't have to work for anybody.
One company sends direct mail pieces to my home, shoots out corny e-mails that I no longer open and sends little gifts to my office, and this is after I told the broker I'm not willing to go to lunch or even talk to her. She's wasting her time. But if she's anything, it's persistent.
Randy,
I get at least one piece of mail a week....and at least 2 emails a week from recruiters.
My Broker says it is almost a full time job talking to Agents that get recruited and have questions from the broker as to what is true and what is fiction.
Natalie - I guess he believes in practice what he preaches and not what he does.
Bob & Carolin - A practice I find particular classless.
Renee - Pretty pathetic; if I were to ever leave the company I am with it would not be to join one like that.
Lucky - It does get old. I especially find it amazing that there are a couple of companies claiming to be the number one in our area and boast the most agents. First of all I can look that up. Second having a ton of part time agents is no attraction to me.
Happy Thanksgiving
Elizabeth - Knowing that she is probably doing that with many other agents in your area; are you supposed to feel special?
Dan - That must get tiring.
Randy,
This cracks me up, Laura just opened yesterday's mail and I had a letter from the number two company in our area (who claims to be number one) thanking me for helping to cooperate with them in selling their listings throughout the year. Now instead of blatant, they are going to try subtle. ;)
Lucky :)
Lucky - I see many agents who also claim to be number 1. I am amazed how many number ones there are. That is partly why I chose my slogan. "Not Just Another Pretty Face"
Carol - The ones I am seeing are getting even more aggressive.
It's a bit much when they call and write to your office. That, is classless. I'm all for a free and open market (in professional services, too) but there is a line that needs to be drawn.
I'll compete as hard as the next guy for a loan but I won't stand in the BofA lobby, handing out my card.
Want to have some fun? Invite them to meet you for a recruiting meeting at your office. Ahhh, don't do that, some cheeky b@$##d will probably take you up on it.