What is the Best Real Estate Company to Work For?

Are you considering a real estate career in the state of Arizona? If so, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is, “What is the best real estate company to work for?” After several months of studying and preparing, this is one of the most important decisions you will make.

As you compare the best real estate brokerages in the state of Arizona, one thing is for certain. Century 21 is at the top of the list. With a culture of excitement and opportunity, Century 21 offers new realtors the ability to learn and grow.

As a trusted brokerage firm, we’re here to help you navigate some of the biggest decisions of your career in real estate. This blog post provides a foundation for choosing the right brokerage company from the beginning. In this resource, you’ll learn about culture, education, and professional opportunities. 

Read below to find out what you should look for in a real estate company and to discover some of the characteristics you should avoid. 

The Results: Best Real Estate Companies of 2020

TheClose.com conducted a study into the best real estate companies for 2020, evaluating each company based on their own research, interviews with agents, and conversation with industry professionals. 

They also compared findings from Indeed, Glassdoor, and other career websites, considering the feedback from realtors who have worked for these companies.

The Close determined the best real estate companies to be as follows: 

• Century 21
• Keller Williams
• Coldwell Banker
• RE/MAX
• eXp Realty

All this being said, what’s considered to be the “best” real estate company depends on your unique goals, interests, and needs as a real estate agent. So, in this guide, we are also including some tips for how to compare your options and choose the best company for you.

Things to Consider When Searching for the Best Real Estate Company

If you’re a brand new real estate agent, you may have just passed your licensing exam. If so, this likely means that you’re ready to hit the ground running! 

Before you do, you should consider a few important facts about your early years in real estate:

• Expect to work under a brokerage firm. Many states require that new realtors work under the authority of a brokerage firm for at least 2 years. In some scenarios, this requirement needs to be fulfilled before a realtor can apply for a broker’s license to work on their own.

• Expect to learn more about refining your skills. New realtors are often eager to hit the ground running. But the first 2 years in business might be a period of refinement. As a new realtor, these years are likely to hold both failures and successes as you learn to navigate a new field.

• Expect to set your sights on gaining experience, rather than your fair share. Sometimes, new agents are put off by splitting commissions with a brokerage firm. However, this is typically required and something you can easily offset as you gain more experience. While discussing commission splits is important, this shouldn’t be the only factor affecting your decision.

As with any workplace, there are certain qualities that make some real estate companies better to work for than others. Below, you’ll learn which of these qualities are most important as you choose your brokerage firm.

Company Culture

When considering different real estate companies, ask yourself how well you get along with current staff. Can you imagine coming into the office every day? Are the real estate agents supportive and helpful, or are they competitive and closed off? 

Culture may also differ depending on the size of the real estate company you choose. Smaller, boutique real estate firms will offer a different experience than you’d receive at a nationally-recognized brand. 

National brands, such as Century 21, can provide a great outlet for substantial resources and hands-on experience. If you prefer a large team of connected coworkers, then a bigger national company could offer the culture you’re looking for.

Independent vs. Franchise?

One of the decisions you must also make is between independent brokerage firms and franchises. A franchise experience, such as Century 21, can provide significant personal training and accountability. You may also receive additional resources and recognition, since the scope of the company is nationwide. 

If, however, you prefer to operate with more freedom and less structure, an independent brokerage could be a better long-term choice. As a new realtor, you might expect to work with a franchise team for a short time and then transition to a boutique company as your network and experience grows.

Professional Opportunities

Another important quality of any real estate company is how many professional opportunities are available. Professional opportunities might include networking events, conferences, access to associations, and more. 

Professional opportunity can also describe a company’s level of technology use and innovation. Does your company stay on top of current trends? Are real estate agents given industry best practices and helpful resources? The more opportunities that a company can provide to its staff, the greater the success of each individual team member. 

Brand Awareness

While not always the case, there is something to be said for national recognition. Many homebuyers choose to work with reputable brands that have a documented history of real estate success. For this reason, brand awareness is another top quality to consider. 

Century 21 is proud to have more brand awareness than any other national brokerage brand. Additionally, the brand should be able to navigate changes in the real estate market and to continually build trust with new homebuyers. This type of trust and recognition means that real estate agents can directly reap the benefits of working alongside a trusted national company.

Education

Having the ability to access top of the line education is also vital to the careers of new real estate agents. Which company would you rather work for? One that offers extensive training and resources, or one that leaves you to find these critical resources on your own time?

When it comes to working for the best real estate company, look for ongoing educational opportunities. This means that your training isn’t only at the time of hire, but that you also have continual access to education.

Furthermore, does your real estate company prioritize continued learning by setting aside the necessary time? Many real estate agents have cluttered and busy schedules to maintain. Between showings and paperwork, does your firm reserve enough time for new classes and opportunities? 

As you choose a real estate company, look for firms that can provide both new and experience real estate agents with:

• In-house training sessions with other realtors in the firm
• External trainings that provide new perspectives
• Marketing classes for the development of important skills
• Re-training before license renewals or other certifications

Signs of a Bad Real Estate Company

As many good qualities as there are when it comes to describing real estate companies, there are also several negative qualities. No matter where you perform your real estate career, always be mindful of the following red flags. These can help you know when a real estate company might not be the best fit for your professional needs or work style.

• Poor communication. Good, clear, and concise communication should be at the top of the list for healthy workplaces. Not only does communication help you understand expectations, but it also helps unite a team under one common goal. When looking at real estate companies, ask how the communication styles in the company may help or hinder an agent’s work environment.

• Absent leadership. Having a solid leadership team is especially important at large national brokerage firms. As you interview and compare options, is it clear who is in charge? Without proper leadership, a real estate company may not be able to provide other services such as education and professional opportunities.

• Meager marketing tactics. Marketing is often the way that real estate firms bolster their success. If a company has a skimpy marketing budget or refuses to invest in prime networking opportunities, it should be a red flag. A good real estate company prioritizes marketing as a way to establish recognition within the community at large.

• Unhealthy pressure to perform. The pressure to perform stands in sharp contrast to a positive, uplifting team culture. Are members of the management team always harping on selling more just to meet a set goal or number? While performance incentives can be good, creating a harsh or critical environment is not in the best interest of any real estate agent. 

• Failure to leverage important tools. Technology is one of the many ways that a real estate company can stay on top of market trends and make outreach efforts count. If a company’s leadership fails to implement industry-leading best practices, it’s often to the detriment of an entire team. Steer clear of any company that refuses to include innovation or performance tools in their long-term plan.

Is Century 21 Realty the Right Fit for You?

As a new realtor, the options ahead may seem overwhelming. If you’re newly licensed in the state of Arizona, we invite you to learn more about the Century 21 Northwest Realty team. Our resources can help you find the best real estate brokerage that meets your needs and values. 

The Century 21 Northwest Realty Careers page can help you navigate the steps required to begin your journey. You’ll also discover new opportunities for professional growth, education, and licensure. And if you’re looking for a real estate mentor, we’ve got the support in place to help you there, too! 

We hope you’ll get to know the team at Century 21 Northwest Realty and that you’ll connect with our mission to go above and beyond. Whether you’re just getting started in your career or looking to make a change, you can contact our team of real estate professionals at any time.