What to Do If Your Broker Won't Train You

A high split or training opportunities? As veteran agents know, most brokerages won't offer both. It's a tradeoff you make when choosing where to hang your real estate license.

However, some rookie agents, distracted by the gleam of a generous split, choose to pass by firms that offer training--and find themselves in over their heads in an industry that's brand new to them.

That's the predicament one new Realtor found himself in recently. For advice, he wrote to Vivian Olodun, a real estate consultant and former Marketing Director for a major brokerage in southeast Florida.

"Your broker is there to support you on very specific things. They're not there to babysit you, and you don't need a babysitter," Olodun says in the video below. "You can do this."

No Training? Here's What to Do

If your broker won't offer training, there are several things you can do. The easiest may be to simply switch brokerages. Franchises, for example, offer lower splits but great training—and once you've got a handle on the industry, you can always move to a company with a higher split.

You can also take matters into your own hands. Olodun advises finding a top producer in your area who's willing to mentor you (and she offers advice on approaching them).

And just a friendly reminder: You can always lean on RE Technology for your educational needs. Use our website to find informative webinars, news, and articles that help agents find and learn about real estate apps and tools.

If you're looking for advice on a specific type of technology, like a CMA or a lead generation tool, you can filter our content so that only those related to that tech type are displayed. Just select your preferred technology category from the side-scrolling list (as seen below):

• Tip: The first 10 category icons are listed in order of popularity; the rest are in alphabetical order.

Here are a few final DIY tips from us:

• Look for special offers. Some tech tools have special offers for new Realtors. For example, CRM and agent website provider IXACT Contact offers a 6-month Rookie Realtor program.
• Try a tech support service. App troubles or printing problems? A call-in (or email or live chat) support service like Tech Helpline can troubleshoot your issues and have back in business fast. Many MLSs and associations offer Tech Helpline as a member benefit, so check with your real estate organization to see if it's available to you.
• Sign up for training programs. Learn how to generate leads and create winning listing presentations from training programs like those offered by NAR or Paperless Agent.
• Turn to YouTube. There are TONS of YouTube channels dedicated to helping real estate agents. Try the channels of Tom Ferry, Loida Velasquez, and Katie Lance to start.
• Download a podcast. Want to learn on the go? Try these real estate podcasts.
• Learn from your peers—online. One of the greatest things about the internet is how easy it makes it to network with other real estate agents. Check out online real estate communities like ActiveRain to learn from your peers, or try Facebook Groups like Tech Support for Real Estate or What Should I Spend My Money On?

And, last but not least, don't forget live training summits and conferences like Inman Connect and NAR's twice-yearly events!