Not All Real Estate Franchise Systems Are Built the Same

What To Look For if You are Considering Affiliation

Once you’ve made the decision in your mind that you are ready to move from being an independent brokerage to a member of a franchise, the next question is: “Which one?” With dozens of national real estate franchises to choose from, you need to look closely at which is the best fit for you and your agents and which will bring you the best processes and systems for growth.

In other words, in looking at each franchise you’ll need to ask, “What’s in it for me?”

How Does the Franchise Support Its Franchisees? 

Some real estate franchises offer little more than their brand name and access to marketing materials, and you are left to do everything else on your own.  When you consider an affiliation, you should make sure that your franchisor is not only offering a recognized brand name to leverage, but is providing an active and comprehensive plan for your business growth that has proven to be effective.
Will you be treated as a valued member of their franchise family? Will your new franchisor be there when you need assistance? Do they offer a proven methodology for recruiting and selling? Will joining give you a support network to alleviate that feeling of being all alone and give you a place to turn to for advice and guidance when you need it? Will your growth now be an ongoing collaborative effort between you and your franchisor that empowers you to make positive, productive decisions for your business?

When evaluating real estate franchise systems, ongoing training and support has to be a key component of a solid franchise business proposition. The industry doesn’t stand still, so neither can you or your agents. It is important to keep skills sharp to continue to compete. For instance, at Weichert, affiliates are taught a system for success. The tenants of this system are reinforced in the training and tools we provide brokers and their agents through multiple channels that are active and always a step ahead. It includes personal, expert consultation from our service team when you need it, online training for both brokers and agents, leadership seminars, regional trainings, webinars, Weichert University our 24/7 online training portal, and expert coaching for every aspect of your business. This practical, comprehensive and “hands-on” partnership brings continual insight and support to brokers and their agents, especially in the toughest times.

Technology and Tools

Will the franchises you are considering provide you the right technology and tools to help support your business and help your agents be productive?

Technology is changing so fast that it can be difficult for an independent broker or their agents to keep up. You should be able to look to your affiliate to furnish the latest, intuitive technology and tools and to provide a constant source of training and coaching around their use.

For example, just a few of the tools Weichert provides its affiliates include a CRM (Client Relationship Management system), paperless transaction management system, web-stores with customized marketing templates and a digital tool to help create a killer listing presentation. Our “Doors” listing presentation is unique in the industry and is constantly cited by our affiliates as key to their stellar close rates. Tools and training should be available to you and your entire team in a way that completely supports your growth objectives and go-to market strategy.

Weichert also invests in lead generation. It drives traffic to its national website which generates leads that are screened and passed to a live agent within minutes.  It’s a great supplement to an agent’s day-to-day sales activities.

At the end of the day, the more you can provide your agents, the more valued your brokerage will be in their eyes.

Recruiting Support

Recruiting agents may be the single most important part of getting to the next level of success with your brokerage. Too many brokers reach a plateau with their agent count and can’t seem to move past it.  Real Estate Franchises like Weichert not only provide you the advantage of a recognized brand name, but they provide you with a system of best practices and support tools to help you get and keep the people you need to be successful.  Once you get your recruits, Weichert also offers its Fast Track training to help you get them up and running fast.

Talk to Other Franchisees

When evaluating Franchise opportunities, by all means call other affiliated brokers in your area or even across the nation to discuss their experience with the company. Any Franchisor worth their salt will be more than happy to supply you with names and phone numbers of other owners to call. Get them to speak candidly about their experience both good and bad. Your goal is not to find the perfect franchise, but to find one that is perfect for you.

Carefully consider the culture of the franchises you are considering. A good fit shouldn’t require you to change everything you do and how you do it. After all you’ve already built a successful business. Instead a good franchisor should roll up their sleeves and get in the trench with you. They can show you better ways to do things and better tools to use, but you will bring a lifetime of knowledge about your market and your people. The best model for franchising is active collaboration.

Start your Conversations with Weichert.

Deciding to affiliate is a big deal, we get it. But if you do it right with a company like Weichert, your only regret should be that you didn’t make the move sooner.

Call us today at 877-567-3350 or visit http://www.weichertfranchise.com

Original content posted on https://www.weichertfranchise.com/blog/not-all-real-estate-franchise-systems-are-built-the-same/