This week, I left my Coldwell Banker office in Worcester to return to the Keller Williams office in Westborough, the first Keller Williams office in New England. The Keller Williams office I first joined back in 2004.
Coldwell Banker Worcester - Park Ave is a great office. everyone in that office are all super and they are true professionals. Having been both a Coldwell Banker and a Keller Williams agent, I wasn't intentionally comparing, but that's what happened. I just had to go back to Keller Williams.
What it is for me is philosophy. With Keller Williams, my business is mine, not the company's.
I couldn't take the feeling of "corporate" anymore...
I was affiliated with Coldwell Banker from 1997 through 2004, and then I changed to Keller Williams. I was with both the Westborough and Worcester office through 2006, changing back to Coldwell Banker in April 2006. I suppose you may say I've "been around"...
Keller Williams is THE MOST AGENT CENTRIC COMPANY I've ever seen. It's all about the agent, not the company. The agent is the one communicating with the buyers and sellers. The agent is the one doing all the running around, the driving, the work. The agent is the one taking care of the business.
The Keller Williams model understands that real estate is a local, people to people business. National ads don't matter to me. My clients are all local. I do my best to service them, not my company.
Simply put, the Keller Williams model is the only one that I'm aware of that an agent can enter into and come closest to running their own business without actually opening their own business, and STILL have the support of a major real estate franchise behind them. I'm sure their are other models; I either am unaware of them or my opinion may beg to differ.
I can run my business MY way, without having a "corporate" shadow behind me. That alone was a problem for me. There is a feeling of "togetherness" with Keller Williams I haven't seen elsewhere. It really is unique. Of course, there are restrictions everywhere you look, and Keller Williams is a corporation, too. For someone like me, who's been in real estate for over 26 years, I prefer an environment where I am allowed to be more of a business owner. I'm talking "the little things" here.. More flexibility to design and buy business cards. An ACTUAL Website (Not Webpage), with Keller Williams, with an IDX from Wolfnet. Wolfnet is a great IDX. These "little" things make a big deal to me. Even when I bought my signs, they were MY signs; my phone number. Price? Around $240 or so for 5 signs, with a couple of riders. Less than $50 a house.. Reusable...
It's a "no brainer.."
I read a book, "Small is the New Big", by Seth Godin. That book was a "revelation", and a "confirmation."
"Revelation" in the sense if it's "corporate", that doesn't necessarily mean it's right. "Revelation" in the sense that "corporate" at times may tend to think a little bit much too much of themselves.
Of course, this is MY opinion. Everyone's entitled to theirs...
The books are open at any Keller Williams office, The agents really do have a stake in the success of the company. I couldn't grasp that concept at first. It was just a mind boggling concept that I couldn't get into and had to leave and come back to appreciate. Knowing you are business partners with the agency you're affiliated with can have the potential to "bring:" you to a new level. The agents actually have a say in the management, the everyday operations, and the general direction of the company. Profit sharing may be available and although it shouldn't be depended on, it's a nice potential bonus. When agents recruit agents, they do it from their heart. When some agents take turns running training classes, they do it from their heart. At least they're supposed to. At least I always did.
Of course, "corporate" isn't normally keen on that...
I am an independent contractor. I like to "feel" that way. "Corporate" and "Independent Contractor" seem like a contradiction to me. They can't mix well, at least for me...
The support services from Keller Williams are the best I can find. Every company has it's unique features. So does Keller Willams. The training," oh my God!" At Keller Williams, there is SO much training available. On a daily basis. Free. Sure, you can also get advanced stuff like coaching and materials you may pay for, but believe me, most of it is free. In a market like this, training and support are necessities, not luxuries. Repetition is the key to success in learning. That's Keller Williams' strongest asset. The best way to learn and master a topic is by teaching it. I used to love public speaking, and I REALLY missed it. Nobody likes to be "muzzled" after a while.
How about the client's needs? Well, if you know me personally, you know how fanatical I can be about that.
The internet is the portal to market homes today. With "KWLS", a listing is added in all the important websites; ie., Googlebase, Trulia, Zillow, etc...
I get an "instant notification" via email from any website anywhere, including my website and other websites via my smart phone.
My own signs. All the calls go to me.
In March, Openhouse.com, owned by Realogy, will allow any agent or company to DIRECTLY input listings for open houses. Right now, it can be done, through an "FTP". The system will be infinitely easier in March. It costs the agents NOTHING. Zip, Nada. Not a flat penny..
The internet is the place everything's happening.
So, what else was "the frosting on the cake"?
I bought and read a book by the the CEO of Keller Williams, named "Shift: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times"...
I haven't read any other book or been able to even find another book that comes even close to what this book does.
This book helped me because as a real estate agent in tough times, I needed a guidebook on what to know. For my clients, it explains to me and gives me the information I need to provide data to buyers and sellers about what they should know about today's market. You have NO idea how I felt after reading this book. This book was 100% information. I met Gary Keller and Dave Jenks a couple of years ago and I can tell you, they both are two of the most "down to earth" guys out there; they seem to truly care about their agents concerns and are only interested in helping everyone succeed. They left a lasting impression on THIS guy.
What else can I say? I want my past clients to know that I'm always there for them; that I will never change improving or "tweaking" what I can, and through my return to Keller Williams I am looking forward to providing the very best I can of myself. I am in the Westborough office at 276 Turnpike Road.
My address is as follows;
Keller Williams
Jim Gatos, Agent Partner
276 Turnpike Road
Suite 221
Westborough, MA 01581
508-365-3581
Primarily, I am at the Westborough office because through Westborough, I can be accessible to my Metrowest clientele through Route 9 and 495. I can be accessible to my Millbury - Grafton clientele through Route 20. I can go to Worcester through Route 9. Clinton through Route 135 to I-290 or "the back roads"... Hudson-Marlborough, and even Sterling - Lancaster are within driving distance. Of course, Auburn and Oxford - Webster - Dudley, Leicester, and Spencer are accessible too. The location is an added "plus"...
The services both the Worcester & Westborough offices give to their agents are top notch; I spoke to both the Worcester and the Westborough office but for my needs, Westborough won out. Both offices are great. Both have "super" "Team Leaders" and I can say from experience Kathleen Goneau, the Team Leader (manager and trainer) at my office is UNBELIEVABLE! I don't have the 5 plus hours of typing I need now to type how great she is! Maybe another time...
Through this blog, I will be showcasing in the forthcoming posts the many great features of Keller Williams and what I can do to better service my clientele. I welcome any and all questions, as always.
Here's a video from Keller Williams Realty concerning the "Shift" book I was talking about. If you're interested in obtaining any of Gary's Books, including "Flip!" and "The MIllionaire Real Estate Investor", let me know... Contact me Here...
