National real estate franchises have become very powerful components of the country's real estate makeup, currently making up about 44 percent of all Realtor affiliated real estate brokerages. Of those, approximately 33 percent are independently owned offices within the national franchise. Roughly 40 percent of all Realtor salespersons belong to a franchise office. It is difficult to find a city of any size that does not have them. Is working in a franchise office different from working in an unaffiliated office? The answer is a qualified yes. Franchises have the advantage of national recognition and ordinarily have standardized training programs in which all new agents are expected to participate. You are also less likely to be left to fend for yourself, at least initially. Remember, however, that most of these companies are independent operations within the franchise structure. It is possible to have a wide difference in philosophies of operation between different offices in the same franchise.
It is probable that you will feel more pressure within some franchises to follow standardized procedures such as wearing distinctive clothing and displaying ad signs on your car. If these things bother you, find out in advance how much latitude you will have to operate as you see fit.
SMALL CAN BE BEAUTIFUL
Small offices, those having ten or fewer agents, can have some advantages. For example, you will likely have closer contact with your broker and the rest of the sales staff. It also generally takes less time to get things done in a small organization and ideas are translated into programs and policies more quickly. Although formal training may be of the homegrown variety, and more independent study might be required of you, there is no reason it cannot be effective.
Size is not the sole determinant of quality. Tremendous opportunities can be found in larger firms, particularly in the area of initial training. On the other hand, a concerned and knowledgeable broker on one side of the desk and you on the other may be equally effective.
DISORGANIZED MAY NOT BE ALL BAD
Conventional wisdom would advise you to steer clear of any office that appears disorganized and confused. For most people, and for most offices, that is sound advice. However, it is possible to find some real potential for success in this type of environment. If the company is basically solvent (that is, has been around for a while), and you are the type of person who thrives on taking advantage of opportunities unrecognized by others, you might prosper in an organization where rules and procedures are not clearly defined. I should advise you that this particular bit of advice has not been enthusiastically endorsed by other members of the real estate community.
HOME IS WHERE YOU HANG YOUR LICENSE
By the time you finish your investigation and interviews, you will have a reasonably clear idea where you would like to go to work. Identify your top three or four selections and make yourself available to the first broker on your list. What happens if that broker does not offer you a position? If you need to start immediately, you simply progress through the list until you are successful. If your first choice is far above your second, check out the possibility of future placement. If the broker is encouraging about bringing you on board within two or three months, it could be worth the wait.
Take heart-your hard work will pay off. The strong likelihood is that you will have several offers. Your task will be to choose from among them and then to start what will hopefully be a long and prosperous career in real estate.