2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANIES TO WORK FOR
2017 Guide to Working in Real Estate at the Top Offices
Working in real estate provides a simple solution to many consumers who want the best professional life they can get: the opportunity for a high salary based on their own performance, a flexible work schedule, and an interesting position.
Once you become a real estate agent, how do you know which real estate agencies you should apply at?
The best real estate companies to work for can vary wildly depending on your individual market and the type of working environment you prize the most. Real estate companies in the USA offer diverse elements that appeal to potential employees, as well as home buyers and sellers.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
How do you determine which agencies are the top real estate companies to work for? AdvisoryHQ has taken the initiative to assemble this ranking of the best real estate companies to work for.
We’ll cover important information regarding the tools available to a real estate salesperson employed by these companies, as well as what educational resources are available to you. If you’ve been trying to figure out which company is the best real estate broker to work for, you’re in luck with the detailed breakdown below.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the agencies below to go directly to the detailed review section for that real estate company):
Top 6 Best Real Estate Companies to Work for | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Best Real Estate Companies to Work for | Company Attributes | Key Benefits for Employees |
| Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate | Well-known for the home décor and lifestyle magazine under the same name |
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| Century 21 | Highest satisfaction for first-time and repeat buyers and sellers |
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| Coldwell Banker | Around since 1906 and available globally |
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| ERA | Founded on principle of using most advanced technology available |
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| Keller Williams | Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a top real estate company to work for |
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| RE/MAX | Top company for brand name awareness |
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Table: Top 6 Best Real Estate Companies in USA | Above list is sorted alphabetically
How Do You Become a Real Estate Agent?
Advertisements abound with catchy slogans that lead many individuals to believe that working in real estate is a lucrative career path. While it’s true that working in real estate can offer high salaries and flexible schedules, there is more to this career than simply filling out an application. What do you need to do first to become a real estate agent?
First and foremost, you’ll need to complete your education. Take a pre-licensing course to learn the lingo of the industry. Requirements for the course will vary based on your state, but they should cover the absolute basics that you’ll need when working in real estate.
Image Source: Pixabay
Some states will allow you to take the class online, while others require you to complete classes in a traditional classroom setting. Many of these courses will run between $200 to $300, according to Realtor.com.
Once your class is completed, you need to apply to take the final licensing exam to test your knowledge of federal laws and real estate principles. To begin working in real estate, you must pass this exam to earn your official real estate license. You have up to two years to pass the exam before being required to take your pre-licensing course again.
Experts recommend maintaining a secondary source of income throughout your first years as a real estate salesperson. Even if you find a job with the best real estate company to work for, it’s likely that your commissions and sales volume will be low during your first months on the job. Because salaries are typically based on the selling prices of the homes you list or sell, you may not make much if you aren’t selling many properties.
Focus on your marketing and building relationships with clients to get more referrals and leads. The more time you spend investing into your personal brand, the more likely you are to be successful when it comes to working in real estate.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top rated lists?
Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.
Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
Below, please find the detailed review of each agency on our list of top real estate companies to work for. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these real estate companies to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Review
Agents who are searching for recognition in the real estate agencies that employ them may want to consider Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate as a choice for the best real estate company to work for. Widely recognized for the home décor and living magazine that has a spot at the grocery store checkout line, the name brand has been around for close to a century.
Real estate agents with any of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate offices are known for their services during the buying or selling process, as well as after-sale service. This best real estate agency to work for also provides updates on market trends and decorating tips once the home is forever yours.
Image Source: Pixabay
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
For a few of the contributing factors that allowed us to consider Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate as one of the best real estate companies to work for, see the detailed sections below.
Technology
When you’re working in real estate, the technology available to help you manage your customers and leads is paramount. BHGRE® qualifies as one option for the best real estate agency to work for because of the many tools available to agents to help manage their sales:
- BHGRE® website to help clients search listings from home
- The Greenhouse for lead management, marketing tools, product training, presentations, and more
- PinPoint to give agents access to millions of customers for marketing
- Personalized gift subscription program for potential buyers
With all of these tools at your disposal, you can begin to generate leads and sales in no time at all. Those who have been in the industry for some time understand that the technology and tools available make a huge difference when working in real estate.
Training
Agents at these top real estate companies to work for are provided many opportunities for professional development. Regular training sessions are available for any real estate salesperson, regardless of their experience level. Seasoned professionals can receive additional certifications in areas such as staging or luxury marketing, as well as technology education.
If you are just considering how to become a real estate agent, BHGRE® is one of the best real estate companies to work for as a beginner. They provide simple programs (Seeds of Success and Kick-start Your Career) to help navigate your first sales when you become a real estate agent.
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Century 21 Review
When you consider all of the possibilities for the best real estate company to work for, Century 21 is bound to come up a few times. Many sources would indicate that it is one of the most widely recognized real estate agencies in the business. In fact, even J.D. Power and Associates has granted it several awards in top categories the past three years in a row, all based on the highest overall satisfaction in these categories:
- First-time home sellers
- First-time home buyers
- Repeat home sellers
- Repeat home buyers
Image Source: Century 21
With recognition from major third-party review sites such as these, it is easy to see why Century 21 has ranked as one of the best real estate companies to work for. Their overall customer satisfaction should produce a steady stream of incoming clients to help boost your commission.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
Below, you will find some of the top reasons why we considered Century 21 to be the best real estate company to work for.
Marketing
Because Century 21 is already such a well-known brand, it cuts back on the amount of marketing that your office really has to do. The franchise as a whole supports active marketing to keep their name in front of potential buyers and sellers. They cover areas such as broadcast, sponsorships, online listings, and social media.
However, you can also benefit from the tools offered by this best real estate company to work for. Working in real estate means that it’s important to put your specific information in front of clients, and their technology and tools assist toward that end. You’ll gain access to programs to help you form your own advertisements, manage your contacts, and free PR tools for your social media accounts.
Education
Staying at the forefront of your field takes a lot of dedication and continuing education to keep skills sharp. Working in real estate with Century 21 provides you with plenty of opportunities to continue learning and growing in your respective field.
They offer video libraries, live online classes and classrooms, self-paced courses, and technology labs. Webinars are sixty minutes to help you hone your sales pitch without a large time commitment. Of course, they also offer management courses and continuing education accredited courses.
Coldwell Banker Review
Coldwell Banker is still considered to be a top contender for the best real estate company to work for by many experienced and beginner real estate agents. These real estate companies have been around since 1906, consistently earning a reputation as one of the best real estate companies to work for.
Currently found in 49 countries or territories with a combined 3,000 offices, you’ll find plenty of resources to become a real estate agent of high caliber at Coldwell Banker.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work For
If you’re interested in what makes working in real estate with Coldwell Banker an excellent experience, take a look at the detailed review below.
Technology
Like many of the top real estate companies to work for, Coldwell Banker provides excellent resources to help agents market. According to seasoned real estate salesperson Benjamin Beaver (ranked in the top ten agents in the United States), their technology provides seamless solutions to help market your name to potential buyers and sellers. He refers to the brand as one of the most “progressive” and open to the “embracing of new opportunities.”
In their real estate success stories, several agents agree that Coldwell Banker offers high-tech solutions to help you improve your marketing. Working in real estate will quickly teach you that marketing can mean the difference between finding clients and closing sales or losing out on a commission.
Employee Satisfaction
According to employee reviews posted on Glassdoor, Coldwell Banker certainly qualifies as one option for the best real estate company to work for. Many reviews cite that there are excellent opportunities for education and training. They also state this is one choice for the best real estate broker to work for because of its culture and atmosphere, as well as support from the company.
Overall, Coldwell Banker ranked with a four out of five-star review, which is fairly high. Even the CEO received high approval ratings from current and past employees (97%).
Employee satisfaction could be related to the numerous benefits available as an employee at this best real estate broker to work for:
- Education on sales, marketing, and real estate technologies
- Full-time support including marketing, brokers, and legal teams
- Lead generation system
- Collaboration among the various offices
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ERA Review
ERA, which stands for the Electronic Realty Association, was originally founded to make use of high-speed technology that was underutilized within the industry. At the time it was founded back in 1971, it was using the most up-to-date technology that the industry had to offer – a fax machine.
With its humble beginnings rooted in being at the top of their field for the best services available, they continue to bring innovation as a contender for the best real estate agency to work for. They strive primarily to use the internet to bring a better offering to potential buyers and sellers, as well as their real estate salesperson team.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
To gain a better understanding of why we consider ERA to be the best real estate company to work for, we have come up with some of the top considerations for our ranking.
Education
ERA Real Estate provides an excellent crash course for individuals who are interested in learning to become a real estate agent. Their education program provides tools and trainings for those with a new license or seasoned agents. You’ll gain access to core sales training courses including:
- Agent Community of Experts: A live virtual session to cover hot topics in the industry
- AccelERAtion: Reinforcing curriculum from the foundation courses to improve sales techniques
- Top Gun: Weekly in-depth classes to focus on marketing, technology, and specialty areas
- ERA Certification Courses: Additional certifications in many areas including eBuyers, foreclosures, and short sales
Resources
ERA has also been named as the best real estate company to work for, in part because of their additional and unique resources. Potential real estate agents can search through their website for tools to help them manage their time and sales more effectively.
They keep business-building resources handy with updated statistics about the real estate market. You can also use the quizzes available from this best real estate broker to work for that help you to analyze your sphere of influence and your time and money.
Short courses provide information on key topics in case you need a brief refresher. Take a look at their business planning section, buyer conversion lesson, or productive open house series to enhance your education on your own time.
Keller Williams Review
Keller Williams has built an entire company around making it one of the best real estate companies to work for. With a deeply rooted belief that investing into their sales agents would promote the company on its own, Keller Williams has done just that to become a household name among real estate agencies.
More than 139,000 sales agents now work for Keller Williams real estate companies globally. Their market continues to expand, in part because potential real estate agents continue to come to this choice for the best real estate agency to work for.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
Besides having a unique business model that is centered on the education and satisfaction of the real estate salesperson, Keller Williams has received recognition from Entrepreneur magazine as one of the top real estate agencies to work for. They are labeled as the best real estate agency with an increasing number of both agents and closed sales in recent years.
For some of the top reasons why Keller Williams qualified as the best real estate company to work for in our ranking, see the detailed sections below.
Resources
Keller Williams has two aspects of their business that make working in real estate under this brand ideal: their technology and their education. With these two resources available, they give their agents the freedom to improve themselves as they represent one of the best real estate companies in the industry.
Their technology provides plenty of resources for helping agents to generate leads through their websites, apps, and other programs within their network. You can also syndicate global listings through their websites, and agents receive all leads from their listings.
Educational resources are also available through the Keller Williams University and their Mega Achievement Productivity Systems Coaching. Both give you access to skill-building seminars, classes, and workshops to help you hone your skills to produce greater close ratios.
Wealth
One of the other aspects that makes this the best real estate company to work for is their attention to helping employees take ownership of sales. As the real estate company continues to grow, sales agents are encouraged to help the company.
With profit share and growth share available, a real estate salesperson can personally benefit from the overall betterment of the company. The wealth-building platform is unique to the Keller Williams brand.
RE/MAX Review
RE/MAX has some of the most widely-recognized advertising and high levels of brand name recognition among consumers. According to one study completed for these real estate companies, RE/MAX ranked as the top real estate agency in terms of brand name awareness.
Among real estate companies in the USA, this best real estate agency to work for boasts some impressive statistics. Consider some of these numbers relating to potential careers in real estate:
- Average commissions of $115,446
- Average of 17.3 transactions per large brokerage annually
- Number one in home sales for real estate companies in the USA
- 104,000 agents worldwide
Image Source: RE/MAX
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
For more of the reasons we consider RE/MAX to be the top real estate company to work for, you can view the detailed breakdown in the following sections.
Education
Like many of the other contenders for the top real estate company to work for, RE/MAX wants their sales team to be at the forefront of the industry. That’s why they offer incredible education opportunities, including a weeklong convention.
The pinnacle of the educational resources available through this best real estate company to work for is their RE/MAX R4® convention each year. It provides their employees and personnel with the opportunity to learn and network with one another. Additionally, it is a great time of relaxation and entertainment before heading back to the office refreshed and ready to close more sales than ever before.
Technology
With recent adjustments made to their online presence in 2016, the RE/MAX website now makes it easier than ever for agents. With more robust home-searching functions, including finding agents, they discovered that the site now leads to more consumer-agent connections than it did in the past.
Their advertisement strategy also assists in labeling them as one of the best real estate companies to work for. They continuously run advertisements to put their name in front of potential buyers and sellers. The idea behind the strategy from this best real estate agency to work for is that it increases awareness of their brand so it is the first to come to mind when a consumer is ready to buy or sell their home.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Real Estate Companies to Work for
When it comes to finding the best real estate company to work for, you may find that some aspects are more important to you than others. For example, some real estate agencies focus on education (particularly for those who are interested in the process of becoming a real estate agent). Others primarily lend themselves toward more experienced sales professionals who are ready to take the industry by storm.
The best real estate company to work for is often determined by your personal preferences and desires. Consider the culture of each company, and remember that individual offices will differ in the way they feel and function.
Management among the various offices and franchise locations can play a huge role in determining key pieces. Commission splits, desk fees, and the cost to advertise are all contributing factors to the best real estate agency to work for as well. However, they can vary based on your location, experience, and qualifications.
With all of the knowledge available regarding the best real estate companies to work for in today’s industry, which one will you apply at first?
AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:
Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
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