For their potential to increase productivity, energize the professional environment and create a platform for a more balanced life, real estate teams continue to take the industry by storm. RE/MAX – home to teams big and small all around the globe – appeals to teams with its widely-recognized customizable business model that empowers affiliates to build business their way.
Just announced at the 2022 RE/MAX R4 convention, RE/MAX is offering REAL Teams Solution powered by Workman Success Systems to affiliates in the U.S. and Canada. The program features education, coaching and resources surrounding real estate teams.
“I think RE/MAX has always been cutting edge when it comes to technology and doing things in the forefront,” said Verl Workman, Founder and CEO of training platform Workman Success Systems. “And we’ve been supporting and working with RE/MAX teams since we started the business. RE/MAX saw value and watched our teams grow and wanted to lead the industry again in providing all of their agents with the tools and the resources and that process to build teams at any level. That’s what Real Teams is.”
On the most recent episode of Keepin’ It Real with Nick Bailey – broadcast live from R4 – RE/MAX President and CEO Bailey explored all aspects of real estate teams, including who is best-suited to run one.
Bailey was joined by panelists Workman, Rachael Veldkamp, team leader and Co-Broker/Owner of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids in Michigan, and Jared James, Founder and CEO of real estate coaching company Jared James Enterprises.
Why people choose to form teams
Why do people create teams? According to Workman, they often form when an agent – with leadership qualities – wants to expand their bandwidth without compromising the quality of their service
“People [create] a team to create leverage. They want to give, they don’t want to let the client down, they want to provide high services, and they don’t want to do at the expense of the people they love the most. So, they create leverage by incorporating great systems and hiring great people,” he said.
Veldkamp, a team leader herself, agreed – and added that working in a team structure is a strategy to avoid burnout and maintain momentum.
“I feel that teams have created an opportunity for real estate agents to be able to do more and live a better and more abundant life,” Veldkamp said.
Her journey to assembling a team stemmed from uncertainty.
“I did not want to give my clients up at all – I love my clients. I built a great repeat and referral business. And I was like, ‘Can anybody do it as well as me? I’m not sure,'” she remembered. “Then I started to realize I was so burned out that it was time to say, ‘Hey, you know what? There are people with other gifts and abilities that can do things better than I can, and I just need to let things go and serve my clients better.'”
James told the audience that the toughest hurdle for aspiring team leaders is relinquishing control. That’s where proper coaching, mentoring and trust come into play.
“Someone doesn’t have to do things the way you do it for it to be done right or better,” James said.
Logistics when working in a group setting
Some people believe a team should split duties across the board, while others – like James – believe in specializing.
“I’ve found that when people do what it is they’re actually great at and their personality fits, they tend to be happier,” he said.
Workman believes that people like to master one role at a time and then try something new, thus unexpectedly covering all aspects of being a real estate agent. He approaches the subject of specialization with an open mind, advocating for individual desire.
He said, “There’s not a right answer here. Everybody’s right – it’s really what the individual wants.”
Finding success through leadership
James cautioned, however, that just because an agent is successful at buying and selling homes doesn’t mean they’ll automatically be successful leading a team.
Veldkamp expanded on that concept using her own experience.
“I agree that you have to have team structures and systems in place to be a good team leader. I really do,” she says. “And I agree with Jared that bringing people in and saying, ‘Hey, just go do it exactly like I do or exactly like the top producer does on that team’ doesn’t necessarily work either. I have plenty of teams in my office that have learned the hard way – including me – where you need to sit and you need to pour into people and you need to teach them.”
Bailey concluded the episode by advising agents to work within a professional structure – be it individual or on a team – that best suits them and amplifies their ability to deliver the best experience to customers.
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Written by LEAH CURTIS
