Kevin is the Broker/Owner of IBR Realty, Minnesota's largest family owned, independent real estate brokerage. IBR uses a unique blend of virtual agent/traditional bricks and mortar business models and benefits from the best of each style. Kevin is dedicated to implementing web 2.0 concepts on a brokerage level and is slightly creeped out by referring to himself in the third person in this description.
Good morning Teresa, I believe agents can have it both ways. They can work for a brokerage that helps them build their business without charging an arm and a leg. I don't want to come off as being self congratulatory (pride goeth before the fall here in the midwest)but I feel my brokerage has been able to offer outstanding support to my agents while allowing them to serve their client's needs. I have about 300 agents in the area. I provide training, a high commission split, lots of high value services and am involved in helping them grow their business. What I don't provide is private offices or expensive staff. We have small boutique offices in different parts of the metro area which are accessible to my agents 24/7. These boutiques have meeting and production area and offer everything agents need to be productive. Three full time employees handle all financial and operation services. We allow agents the right to negotiate commissions and don't have a set fee. We would rather let the agents serve their client's unique needs than to handcuff them with unflexible commission structures. In your case, you could provide your extra business to other agents. Not all agents can be as selective as you and would welcome your leads. We don't charge a brokerage fee on referrals, so it would become a good profit center for you. We are still profitable, even in this market. Controlling our overhead has allowed us to help agents through this difficult time and provide them with the tools to help their clients to do the same.
We moved one of our sites to Diverse Solutions and really like the features. Lots of cool consumer stuff, the right amount of stickiness and a solid company to work with.
I am working (ever so slowly) on a class to present to local associations or real estate companies to provide an overview of web 2.0 history, development and applications. It is my hope to raise awareness among a greater number of agents and to get a 2.0 community established in the Minneapolis area. I tell my agents that they need to become proficient in an area and to establish themselves as experts if they want to attract clients. I am trying this same approach to attract agents by becoming a source of information about the evolution known as web 2.0. The task of pulling information together is mind boggling. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone has some good resources for me to tap into for this project. Like where to even start...
