“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” There’s a reason this age-old phrase still holds weight. In the world of real estate, teams are becoming an increasingly popular method of growing business by increasing volume and hands on deck. If you’ve worked as a solo agent up until now, how do you make the big transition to starting a team? Here are a few ideas to get your planning on the right track.

1. Assess your business before building your team.
To build a successful team, you’ll want to have a clear understanding of your business.  That way, you’ll know exactly what sorts of professionals you’re looking to add to the ranks. Plus, you’ll want to identify which roles to offer. Need administrative help? Want to handle more volume by bringing on a buyer’s agent? Maybe you’d like someone dedicated to handling all marketing related matters in-office. Before you dreaming up your A-Team, get a realistic sense of what and who your business would most benefit from.

2. Make sure the numbers match up.
Team efforts should be profitable for all parties. If you’re looking to add volume, but you’d need to a hit on your take-home, then your calculations and priorities may be off kilter. You’ll want to get your math right from the outset and be sure that all payment and percentage breakdowns are carefully constructed and in writing. After all, why build a
team if won’t build your business?

3. Determine the most efficient means of communication.
As a solo agent, you’re used to doing everything on your own. While you may have a good rapport with clientele, you’ll need to establish quality communication habits with your new staff from the very beginning. Be sure that you’ve thought through and mapped your daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly workflows and duties. Then, outline ways to
bring your team together through systematic communication. From the moment your new team members join the ranks, there will dedicated habits to support optimal in-office communication that should keep things running clearly and efficiently.

4. Professional growth doesn’t end with the beginning of your team.
As a professional, you should be constantly evolving to stay ahead of the industry curve. Apply the same principle to your team and make consistent efforts to encourage professional and personal growth within your staff. From team-building days and sending professionals off to an informative class, to taking a more hands-on role and becoming a mentor in your own right—don’t just put the pieces together and see what happens. Take an active investment as team leader and be sure that your team is growing as individuals and together.

It can be overwhelming to take a new step and expand your career, but don’t shy away from growth. As long as you take a mindful, realistic approach to building your team, you’ll have all the facts and motivations straight—which will make it straightforward when it comes to adapting your team model to suit your business’s needs. Keep these philosophical ideas in mind as you consider next steps for your business.

Brandon Doyle – RETI Contributor