Recruiting new agents? Beware!

I thought you should think this over if you are a broker and recruiting agents.

I have decided not to hire agents but select them! This may sound like a non-issue but just like any other profession we have good and bad agents...we have good and bad brokers too!

As a broker our business is only as good as our agents and the representation methods they use. This past week I was interviewing an agent. The nice part he was a referral from a broker leaving the business that I had know for some 10 years.

The broker gave me a great recommendation and the agent seemed to have a clear background history. I did my normal checks. I called the local MLS broad to see how long he has been a member. I found he has been in good standing for over five years and no problems. I did my other checks with the state to check the felony registry and licensing division and nothing. I called a couple of other of my agents to see if they new him...nothing.

So to me he had been clean and doing what he should have been doing selling property without issue.

I did my normal presentation on the company and then I moved into the legal area of representation and what I expect. How to contact me when and if an issue comes up. What to do and how to respond when a question comes up that he cannot answer. All the standard stuff.

I summarize by saying I don't want anyone to walk on the grey line of the law...and if you cross to the dark side...you will be dismissed...without question and immediately. So if you have a question if it is legal or even in the grey area, best not to do it...or call before taking any action.

He starts laughing....I have no clue what was funny...I just told him I would fire his butt if he didn't do things by the book and he is laughing? Then he says...This is exactly the kind of brokerage I want to work for IF I quit my day job!

Of course that make me ask "What do you do for your day job?".....do you know what is coming? I didn't....he says, "I am the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney!" You could have blown me over with a feather...I had no idea who he was...and it never came up in my background checks on him either.

Then I said to him.....WHY did you let me go through all this stuff and the legal presentation. He laughs and says, hey I put people in jail I am a criminal lawyer....I sell investment real estate and don't know all the legal ins and outs of real estate...you do...will you hire me?

Yup, you're hired! That is one agent I am glad is on my side! Not every broker can say they have the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney as an agent. Some may not want him that close to their operation either!

If you are a licensed agent in Michigan and wondering what to do...I can show you how to thrive not just survive! It is only a conversation but it could change your career. Drop me an email to set up an appointment for a personal and confidential interview. garywhite@FlexitRealty.com