The real estate industry is undergoing a significant shift, with brick-and-mortar brokerages seeing a decline in foot traffic as more agents work remotely. This trend is leaving newly licensed agents with fewer opportunities to learn from seasoned agents and gain practical experience. Mike Krause, a broker at Royal LePage Meadowtowne, recalls that when he started selling in 2003, he learned a great deal simply by being in the office and observing experienced agents.
Krause notes that being surrounded by longtime agents was an asset, as he could hear how they spoke about listings in sales meetings and gain valuable insight. He tries to be available to new agents, but acknowledges that building relationships is different now. Krause prefers to work from the office, finding that it helps him be more present at home with his family.
Andrea Jones, a broker at Remax Real Estate Centre, has a different approach, preferring to conduct her business entirely online. She visits the office only to collect mail, finding that agents who work from the office are either busy making phone calls or socializing. Jones believes that technology has made it harder for new agents to access mentorship, particularly without a significant price tag.
Jones thinks that people cannot develop the same kind of relationship over texts and social media that they would in person or over the phone. She adds that agents who rely solely on technology for communication can miss out on learning how to build rapport with other agents, a skill that is invaluable in real estate. Krause agrees, stating that interacting with fellow colleagues at the office is essential for building these skills, which are critical in everyday conversation.
Mark Wolle, broker of record at Royal LePage Wolle Realty, has seen the shift in brokerage space from being a requirement to now being a resource. Wolle created a nine-week training program for new agents, pairing them with a mentor from the start. This approach ensures that new agents have both academic knowledge and an experienced agent to turn to for guidance.
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Krause applauds this initiative, but finds that many online resources fall short of replicating real-life lessons. He believes that in-person meetings and trainings allow for more organic conversations and lead to real-life examples being shared by fellow agents.
Krause and Jones agree that the shift towards remote work could deepen the mentorship gap for new agents. Krause thinks that more brokerages will downsize to include more workstations and less private office space. While he believes that having these spaces is important, he acknowledges that it may not be the norm nowadays.
The real estate industry is undergoing a significant transformation.
Mark Wolle, broker of record at Royal LePage Wolle Realty, has seen the shift in brokerage space from being a requirement to now being a resource. Wolle created a nine-week training program for new agents, pairing them with a mentor from the start.
