JJ,

If you have read the book, "Good to Great" and "Built to Last", the answer is you have to have the "right people on the bus in the right seat!"  A team becomes a wonderful engine when you have that...The wrong people in the wrong seat becomes a breakdown over and over again. A

I started off working with a small team--two other agents and me.  It was invaluable as far as learning the ropes those first few years. Eventually I realized it needed to be my name on the yard sign (it was always the team name) and I wanted to do my own branding and marketing.  So I left the team, on good terms, and it was a very good decision for my business.

Misery loves company?  :)  it is all about how you work best.  I am not a structured person.  I do not like a tight structure.  I work hard, get my work done, and do it right; but I would not fit into a tight control situation.  I work alone for that reason.  

Funny - Back when I was an agent and broker I would have loved working with a team, and tried to create a team atmosphere in my office. It worked to a small extent...

Now I'm a loner because no one else I know does what I do. I used to have another real estate copywriter to collaborate with now and then - but unfortunately she passed away. 

Regarding team building: a good hire avoids a bad fire. It's like getting married due your homework before getting engaged

I have been part of a team since the start of my RE career. We have our rainmaker, I concentrate on listings and our buyer's agent works primarily with buyers. Great dynamics and coverage - our clients profit from having complete service.

I have done both and keep coming back to by myself. However it is easy to get too much business going on then the backup of a team is a plus. Today, I have revised my business plan and I am getting close to overbooked and considering, not a team, but some informal arrangements with other agents in my office.

If you are a self starter, driven and motivated, you'll be far more successful working as an individual.  I've done it for 25+ years. 

I have to say for the first 15 years of my career, I worked by myself.  I WANTED to do everything myself.  But, there are only so many hours in the day, and after a while, leverage is a must to grow, or, if you want some free time!

Team - each member has assigned role. Individual - you wear all the hats.

TEAM - Acronym of Together Each Achieves More.

For a newbie, Team helps learn and grow. And for 'entrepreneurs' type, building a team is what counts.

A few of us just started working together as a team. Not in the traditional way but just for motivation, marketing, and challenging each other. We have each others back. We still do our own thing but it feels good to have those that inspire and push you. 

A team works well when all on the team work well. That is the challenge becuase some never pull their weight!

The benefits individually IMO is greater with a team than going it alone. The CODB is reduced dramatically and the immediate resources depending on the assets of the other team members should be extremely beneficial, especially if they have knowledge and experience in matters that you don't possess.

I started out on a team and saw that it's a great way to leverage different skill sets - one rainmaker can definitely keep several agents and a transaction coordinator/client care specialist/marketing person busy doing what they do best.    Then team members can take more time off, while the clients are still well cared for - as long as everyone's truly got the team's best interests at heart.

Good Question, I have done both.  I was highly successful in the great years of real eatate working on my own.  Working with Hobbs Herder, I dominated two communities and sold over 3mill every year.  It has not been the same after the collapse.  Now we have Team Albert with 3 team members.  2 full time and one is part time for now.  By May it will be a full 3.  There are benefits to the team approach.  Debra B Albert, Keller Williams Port St. Lucie

I've worked them both and the team concept is the better way to go. Gives you the opportunity to get more done in less time and gives you time to get away as well.

I have gone both ways and in my opinion, the Team concept is the way to go.  It is all about leveraging each Team members qualities and strengths with the other Team members and the additional coverage.  Getting the right mix is the key.  Makes life a lot easier than running all the bases by yourself. 

Like so many issues, we must recognize there are black hats and white hats. As mentioned before. some teams are predatory others share mutually aligned interests.

Some teams work because they have a well developed SOP manual and you live with those directives.

Others work well because each brings to the table what the other(S) lack. The composite is a awesome model of creativity, motivation and acknowledgment.

My observation is the best team is comprised of individuals possessing different genius. The four genius are: personality (who), timing (when), visionary (what) and analytic (why). Everybody has a portion of each but have a strong suit in one. 

Imagine if you will a team comprised of four visionaries? That ship is in search of a rock.

The benefit of this team; being part of something greater that it's parts.

The benefit of working by yourself: accountability becomes a vague concept.

We have a team of 10 agents in an office of 180 + agents.  Our team is there to support each other with not only ideas and sharing knowledge, but to support the others when they're on vacation or super busy.  It's a beautiful thing...

I'd rather do without all the mistakes and drama and babysitting that come with a team, and just hire out contractor help when I need it.

Dear JJ,

If you have more people on the team, hopefully this results in better service for your clients, because you can be ill, at another appointment, on vacation, any number of things without your clients feeling the difference.

It's  all about which is the right fit.

A team can provide an agent with buyer leads and marketing.  There is probably also a consistent supply of listings for which a team member can host open house and potentially pick up more business for them and the team.

While an agent may have a bit of an easier time of getting business, they have to hand over part of their compensation to the team leader in addition to the brokerage split.

If an agent decides to leave a team, the clients they've worked with generally stay with the team.  This means the departing agent will have to begin to build their own business.  The relationships the agent cultivated while on the team are no longer a source of business.

I imagine different teams work differently, but this is my understanding of the team experience.

I prefer to work on my own.  

I work with a team. Each of us contribute and and backup each other. I can not imagine to work in this profession by myself. Not yet?

A team is a much better way to accomplish the objectives of all.

I think, it is better to work with a team, but each member should contribute into process some less some more for a team to be successful.

Keeping everyone earning more by working in their top 20 percent activities.

Working as a team is a great thing . . . for the team leader.  If I worked on your team, what would my exit strategy look like?  Could I sell my book of business as a minion on someone else's team?  If it is a partnership like being a partner in a law firm, it makes sense.  But being the equivelent of their paralegal is good only if you are looking for a paycheck, not a career.

I longed to be on a team during my early years. I admired the different teams in the office, & was fascinated not only by how well they appeared to work together, but by the number of closings they had.

Nowadays I don't mind that I work solo. I kinda like marching to the beat of my own drum. I set my own schedule & take a day or 1/2 a day off when needed.

Though I'm naturally an introvert- I'm okay with putting myself out there, pounding the pavement (if that's what it takes), & going the extra mile to amp up my business if I need to.

2014 was pretty good for me business-wise & I expect continued growth moving forward; because of this I know I will need an assistant sooner rather than later. Especially for my online presence.

If I do end up structuring a team in the future- I intend to keep it rather small.

I have worked together with another colleague and we had much success.  One of the main reasons I worked with someone was because of safety concerns.  Door knocking alone can be a little scary.  Also it's a great way bounce ideas back and forth.  A huge benefit is being able to motivate each other and be held accountable for your productivity during the day.

This is a fascinating thread and it is interesting to see how everyone embraces the team approach.  I have been approached to team up with an agent but just din't see what was in it for me.  At this point, I should get some sort of assistant but the thought of training someone and keeping them busy just seems more work then reward.  

I have a business partner that I team with.  We use transaction coordination and marketing to fee us up to be with our clients.  It is invaluable to have a team mate to cover.  Our clients love the coverage.

It definitely takes the right mix of people, but it can be HUGE when the right people get together. I'm introverted, but great with administrative stuff. When I work with someone that is perhaps weak in administrative but strong in the face-to-face, we make up for each other's deficiencies, learn how to improve in our weak areas, and become more productive in all aspects.

We have done both.  We were a Team concept from 1999 until about 2009 and then we broke that mold and are on our own.  I love working on my own and not having to deal with the "petty personality issues" -- however, with business coming back I am rethinking how we will proceed in 2015.  May be looking at adding another agent and support staff.  Either one is good as long as the Team is on the "same page" -- Together Each Achieves More

Interested in following this thread. I work alone now, but when I move out of my current area, it may make more sense to join a team. Anyone have experience with this?

I prefer working as a team.  I have worked as an individual and I have experienced more and better success as a team.