Does Your Broker "GOT IT TO GO"

We talk about marketing and mobile devices and even about Skype Open Houses but what is it all worth if

your Broker does not provide the BEST IT services that money can buy. I have been providing IT services to Brokers and Agents among other clients throughout S.W. Florida for almost 15 years now. I have met with some of the biggest and smallest brokerages in our area. Let me share a personal conclusion with you...

MONEY MONEY MONEY
All Brokers have Brokitis.
Brokitis:  A disease that causes Brokers who drive up in a $50,000 BMW or Escalade to embellish you with how well they do and how successful their Brokerages are. They are a proud group and rightfully so. They finally finish up by telling you that they have no money for marketing and IT  but will find some room in the budget because, ..."We have to do something". ...They all have it. It doesn't seem to have a franchise or demographic assignment that causes any one group or entity to get it, they all simply have it. I accept that and have learned to live with it. Well I can live with it, you can't.

SORRY THE PRINTER / FAX IS DOWN AND THAT GUY ISN'T HERE TO FIX IT....
You're Agents, you need a Broker thats "GOT IT TO GO". You need fast IT support, expertise and cutting edge technology at your fingertips. If there is a glitch in The Matrix, you need NEO! Do you have quality IT support at your Brokerage? Is there a network printing and fax alternative available to you or do you have to

print out documents on your own printer? Do you have to print out  contracts on your printer and then walk across the office to fax them or can you fax from your desktop computer? All of this saves you a lot of money and time but,,,, DOES YOUR BROKER "GOT IT TO GO"?

      How much time do you spend screaming "why is the internet down and who do i call"? Does the staff look at each other and shrug. Does some guy thats "good" with computers that owes the Broker a favor walk up and glue it together so that its good enough for now? How often does the office manager yell "save what your doing we have to restart the network"? Is there real IT tech support to call in?

HOORAY! HOORAY!...WHERES MY CHECK!?
All of the pep-rallies, leadership classes, 2 hour seminars and HOWTO guest speakers is not going to make up for quality IT tech support onsite. While you're taking your 2 hour pep-rally class, i will be working with your competitors helping them to drill down on waterfront sailboat access properties to list for sale. Group cheering sessions and pep talks simply do not replace quality IT services when shopping for a Broker. So if you're looking to be a part time Agent then talk is good. If you are in it for the clubs and luncheons then  talking about being successful over tea may be a good option for you. If you're a serious Agent that wants to make money and who wants to be successful then talk is cheap, IT is money in your pocket. Besides do you really want to drive around with a dozen whining buyers in your car all day showing them the listings that I helped my Agents to capture through IT solutions? At the end of the day isn't that what its all about.

JUST SOLD ON YOUR STREET!
Does your Broker offer free just listed and just sold postcard mailings? If so is there IT support to show you how to drill down on the properties that you want to list? Is there somebody to mail merge that postcard stock with your contacts list? Is there a marketing department that can provide both publishing and printing services for you? Do they say, "sit down and lets do this"? Or does the Broker say that, "there is some guy that does this stuff for me on the side. They will try to help you to figure it out... when they get a chance".

DOES YOUR BROKER "GOT IT TO GO"?
Do you have leads placed in front of you when your feet hit the ground? Or do you get a pat on the back and a quick but meaningful "Good Luck, Call me if you need me. My door is always open." The first day that you connect to the office network is IT support setting you up on the network printers and faxes? Are they making sure that all of your MLS connectivity is working and up to date? Do they set up your first iMapp search and show you how to print labels with it? Is there an online, up to date DO NOT CALL list available for you to use?

Is your Broker giving you anything other than a Phone, a Network Jack, the WIFI Password and a "Good Luck Trooper"?

75% OF 0 = WHAT?????
Choosing a Broker involves a lot of decision making. Most of which revolves around commision splits. Never make the mistake of underestimating the value of good IT support and service within your brokerage. No matter how good your commision split is, if you can't email an offer to a seller or if you keep losing your internet connection while working with buyers you will not have any commissions to split. In todays world of easy technology you will look foolish and rightfully so.

So when choosing a Broker make sure that your Broker has "GOT IT TO GO". Look around and see how modern and up to date the Brokers technology and support systems are. Talk to the other agents in the office. Are they happy and confident with the technology or are they constantly going home to "finally get some work done"?

Marketing Technology is everything. Does your broker have a money saving deal for you with a Real Estate Photography Provider to go to your listings and photograph them for you? Do they provide a REALTOR.com showcase membership for you? Or does your Broker have a buddy or daughter that's good with a camera and that "may surprise you"? Even worse, is it that your Broker has no option for you at all.

Most Agents in S.W. Florida give their brokers and franchises up to 75% of their commissions. What is your Broker giving you back for that cash?
YOU KEPT $20K OF MY COMMISSIONS FOR WHAT???
Most commision splits and costs within franchises and competing brokers are pretty close to each other. When its all counted up and divided after a closing and after monthly fees or desk charges are paid your costs are about even-steven between Brokerages. The difference is what your Broker is giving you for your money... yep IT and Marketing.

Be sure your Broker has fast and up to date IT services and support. Check to see if they have a fast and dependable Internet Service Provider and that they offer dependable WIFI access. Are there Network Printers and Faxes for you to use? Are there Leads for you to start with? And most importantly does the broker provide a marketing and photography solution that you can affordably use?
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.... OR DOLLARS $$$

After the pep-rally is over and the cheerleaders all go home and as they say, the honeymoon is over, it will be you and your new Broker. Remember that all Brokers have Brokitis. They all have a big plan in the budget coming soon... Check out their website and see if its impressive, complete and useful. And don't forget that if they don't have it to show you now then they most likely ain't "GOT IT TO GO"...

Oh Yea... if any Agents would like to know who i provide Broker services for in your area just drop me a private email and i will keep it private! I have clients from North Sarasota down to Marco Island. 

And please make more money and buy more Virtual Tours from us!

Frank Colontonio
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