In the excitement of earning your real estate license, it's easy to forget how important choosing the right brokerage is. It's an important decision though, and one you should take time deciding. Instead of getting swept up in the first place that asks you to hang your license, do some research, list pros and cons, and weigh each option carefully. Like any normal employment situation, you'll be dealing with an authority figure, coworkers, and the company as a whole. It is essential that all of those things are an ideal match for you. Here are some things you can do to help the process:

Ask Questions

New real estate agents should ask questions to their potential brokerage. It's beneficial for you and your prospective office to find a good fit. Some of the things to inquire about are:

• What's required of new agents – Do you have regular meetings, home tours, or do new agents need to do open houses? Do you require additional education, or office time? For some people, the more they require the better, for others, it may be a deal breaker.
• Lead style – How do people in the office generate leads? What's the brokerage's common method? Cold calling may not be your thing, but you may like contacting expired listings or FSBOs.
• Ask if they have mentorship program – Sometimes it helps to work with someone who has a lot of experience, and many brokerages have agents that act as mentors to new real estate agents.
• Find out their experience – As a new agent, you may not want to work with a brokerage who has been around less than a year, or that doesn't have a proven track record.
• Commission & fee structure – You'll want to know if you are going to pay a monthly fee, or if you give a percentage of each commission up to a specific amount.

Explore the Company Culture

When touring brokerages, spend some time there. What's the vibe—is it upbeat and personable, or do people buckle down and work whenever they're in the office? Will you have access to the broker, more training, or a coach? Do some research about the company in general and find out how they market and how well-known they are in your area. Although you'll primarily work independently, it's still smart to find a culture of people that you mesh with.

Find Out About Services & Support

Every brokerage has different levels of support and services. While some places it's a desk to place your laptop on, others have office assistants that fax, list your properties, and perform other business functions. Look at what they offer in the way of marketing and technology too.

Look at a Brokerage's Business Opportunities

For new real estate agents, being able to have floor time or do open houses is crucial to building your business. Find out about what opportunities the brokerage will provide in addition to the things you can do yourself.

Talk to the Agents in the Brokerage

Ask around the office to learn how people feel about working there. The answers will be one of the best indicators of whether a brokerage will work or not. See if they're happy, whether they like each other, or if they feel there are a lot of options for support and building business.

What works for one person won't work for everyone. In the end, go with what feels right for you. For new real estate agents in the Baltimore and Pennsylvania area, contact Homesale Realty to see if they're the right broker for you.