Finding the Right Teammates

Hiring the right person can be a tremendous boon. The right hire will likely be a complementary personality, someone with whom the agent feels he or she can easily interact and trust. Forming a partnership with a capable family member is a common way to get a team going, particularly for Realtors who pass the torch to their children. Hazel Goldman operates Hazel’s Homes under Re/MAX with her son Evan as her partner.

“It took many years of me being in business by myself and many years of him working with me before he became my actual partner,” Goldman said. “That was to make sure that we would be on the same page and doing things the same way.” Goldman and her son have a full-time administrative assistant who works as an independent contractor.

For James Hoffman, president-broker of Opulence International Realty, a great hire for his team is all about “talent. We’re a very diverse group, and from a corporate perspective, we focus on the international side. It’s about the unique qualities of each person.” Opulence consists of a six-member management team and 34 sales associates.

Determining the right size for the team is really up to the agent and what his or her needs might be. Technically, a team could consist of just the Realtor and a personal assistant. Many agent teams hire marketing professionals to take care of their social media presence as well as their traditional advertising. Designated staff members may handle the details of openings and closings.

Pay structures vary, as well. Many firms handle it by giving the agents a set percentage of each sale. Some offer a package that consists of salary plus commission. Front end office staff is typically salaried, while temporary and part-time workers might work at an hourly rate, with or without commission.

“When we have a particularly heavy load, we hire on an hourly basis,” Goldman said. “We bring in licensed people, and even if one of us is away we’ll bring someone in to help out.”