New Recruits

Something that’s changed over time is the quality of the new recruits. Perhaps it’s because of the influx of technology or now that the housing recovery is steady, but there are more quality agents who are looking to join the business, and most of them are young and eager.

“They are a different level of people,” Tardy says. “They are younger than I would have hired 15 years ago. I used to hire more Baby Boomers, but now, I’m recruiting more agents from Gen Y. They want to be virtual, they want tools and they want to be taught how to handle the tools.”

During the real estate bubble in 2006, all kinds of people with different career backgrounds were getting a real estate license, jumping into the business thinking they could make a quick buck. However, when the recession hit, many gave up those dreams and were forced to stay with their paying jobs. Butt has noticed her recruits as of late are more committed to making real estate a full-time career.

“In previous years, so many people who thought they wanted into the business couldn’t leap into it,” Butt says. “They had to transition out from another career and had to do this part-time while they kept their salary paying/insurance paying job. In the last six months, more people are able to come into this full-time.”

According to Tardy, over the last few months classes have been filling up with people looking to get into the real estate business. The Chicago Association of Realtors added new members this spring at a rate of 75 to 100 enrolled each month. And given the inventory demands in most parts of the country, those figures are only expected to rise.

As the market turns, preparing agents for adapting to the new market conditions is inevitable, so recruiting top agents who are able to handle the market challenges is imperative. But it’s not about the amount of agents; it’s about the quality of agents. Focus on continuing to do solid business and build a strong office of quality agents, and your office will continue to gain market share in the local market. CA

John Brennan
RE/MAX of Naperville
Naperville
630.258.4331
john@goseehomes.com

Sheila Butt
Prudential First Realty
Crystal Lake
815.459.5900 ext. 279
sheilab@firstpru.com

Jim Miller
Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty
Chicago
773.617.6638
jmiller@jamesonsir.com

Cathie Tardy
Baird & Warner
St. Charles
630.262.7104
cathie.tardy@bairdwarner.com