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Inna Ivchenko, Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA (Barcode Properties)

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Ambassador
1,452,719
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I have never worked as part of a team.  I'm a lone wolf and will be always!  I think that is also why I'll not ever become a broker; too much like herding cats.

Dec 07, 2015 10:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Debbie and I enjoy working on our own. 

Dec 07, 2015 10:28 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I am a team of three--me, myself, and I. I had a team some years back, but am at a stage where I just want to be left alone to run my own business without being concerned about other agents (or the liability). Be careful not to confuse the team concept with vendors--they support your business but they are not really team members. Inspectors, attorneys, surveryors, etc. are all hired by your clients and owe their allegiance to the people who pay them.

Dec 07, 2015 08:13 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Inna. Each of our loan officers work their own business, each has an assistant and all do a boatload of business. At the same time, we help each other a lot.

Dec 07, 2015 04:24 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I fly solo so I cann't blame anyone else for anything that goes wrong

Dec 07, 2015 03:13 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I'm an individual agent, but I can see a lot of value in working as a team, too. 

Dec 07, 2015 01:37 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I work as an idvidual but I have lots of agents in my offic that I can depend on when i need them.

Dec 07, 2015 01:25 PM
Rainmaker
655,940
Jeffrey Jones
AZ Home Seekers - San Tan Valley, AZ
AZ Home Seekers, azhomeseekers.com

we have a two person partnership/brokerage, works great for us.

Dec 07, 2015 12:47 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Inna,

I always worked with Ron and we had a blast.  Some people were drawn to me and others to him.  And sometimes to both of us.  We are so compatible, that we often have the same thought at the same time...A

Dec 07, 2015 12:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

My wife, Evelyn and I work as indivisuals, but also work as a team with Buyers. We fill in for each other when our schedules conflict.  Most of our clients have worked with both of us at one time or another.  We both usually meet with them on the first occasion abd tell them that we both will be working in their best interest.  For example: if they want to see a home, whover is available at the time may show it, so they don't have to wait for the buyers agent to be available.   It works out great.

Dec 07, 2015 12:00 PM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I have a team that works for me, I am a strong believer in delegating to people with strengths in various areas.

Dec 07, 2015 10:58 AM
Rainmaker
256,975
Melanie Cameron
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage - Wilmington, NC
The Cameron Team

I have a team with 3 buyer's agents. The buyer's agents pay a percentage to the team, as well as the company, but that money is put back into marketing and tools that help build their business, including an administrator and closing coordinator. So, they may not make as much money upfront, but they have more consistency when it comes to leads and potential clients.

Dec 08, 2015 04:24 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I have always worked on my own as an agent, although I could see the "back up" benefits of a team.

Dec 08, 2015 04:06 AM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

Individual here....it does get lonely at times, but its all good. I am a control freak, so it works!

Dec 08, 2015 03:02 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I've always been an individual agent when I was active....I created a team and had it for 10 years as I was winding down and deciding what my next step would be....now I just market for all of the people who were on my team....and they have their own team (Buliung Todaro (tammy todaro) Team) and Lorraine Kuney is an individual agent now....

Dec 08, 2015 12:53 AM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

I have done both. As a team leader, I felt I was doing my work and their' s to make sure their work was up to par to what I want our brokerage to represent.

Pros of team - higher volume

Con - time management

Dec 08, 2015 12:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Individual pro I just worry about what I am working on

Cons is the other team member pulling their weight.

Dec 07, 2015 11:48 PM
Rainmaker
7,835,402
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

While working as a sole agent, I had a group of associates to whom I referred buyer and seller prospects for a referral fee. It is nice to have days when a number of your clients are looking at properties at the same time.

Dec 07, 2015 11:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Inna Ivchenko Since I closed my company, I've been working by myself.

Dec 07, 2015 10:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,067
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I currently work as an individual agent but I have a transaction coordinator. On occassion, I may work with another agent with a particular client or project but feel most comfortable being on my own.   As you stated, we can create a team with various affiliates to assist us.  

Dec 07, 2015 10:41 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I have had a Team for 10+ years . It allows seamless representation of our clients. It's a great place for newbie agents  to be mentored . It allows us to synergismistically have tools/services that a lone agent can't afford .

Dec 07, 2015 10:41 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Stir zone ahead.

I am not certain that a common definition of TEAM has been established.

Some call a team those who are relied upon to carry the ball across the finish line regarding, staging, repairing, photographer, financing, closing and of course negotiating. I advise sellers their is a team behind me and it will take a team effort to get the outcome they expect.

Others call a team, a group of associates from which there is mutually derived economic benefit such as referrals or co-listing.

Then there is the team that is actually a grouping of agents working within the principles of a common mentor.

Then there is the team where the leader is a defacto broker who is credited with all transactions completed by the group. This practice of deception should be banished.

I do not exist in isolation, but not with a team either.

 

Dec 07, 2015 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,472
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I work by myself, and most times it is fine.  During the busy time of year I could use some assistance, but have a few REALTOR friends that take some referrals when I cannot take on new clients.   Also, going on vacation can pose problems, but unless I have a closing it has worked well so far.

Dec 07, 2015 10:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,209,215
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

My wife and I have been a team for our entire 7 year career.  She is the primary listing agent, and I work with a lot of our buyers.  We go to listing appointments together to do our presentation, and then she takes over.  I am in charge of a lot of our marketing.  It's a win/win and I'm amazed at how many clients prefer having two of us v. just one agent.  

Dec 07, 2015 09:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,381
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I prefer solo but see the merits of a team for many! Even solo, there are many agents that assist from time to time.

Dec 07, 2015 08:54 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I work as an individual agent.

Dec 07, 2015 08:43 PM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

 Now it is a solo act. I do like the team deal though and there are pros and cons to both.

Dec 07, 2015 07:15 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Inna. We work as a team. We do our best to give each other support and by working as a team we can plug into more brainpower.

Dec 07, 2015 05:11 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I like having a back up agent so when I have schedule conflicts or take a vacation things are still handled to my standards.

Dec 07, 2015 05:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

I have 2 agents attached to me loosely. We help each other out. 

I just don't see the benefit of being part a huge group.  5 PM meeting, 8 AM meeting, consesus.... Split the huge advertising cost.... Hey, that is my client you stole away...

Dec 07, 2015 03:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I work alone but I can see the advantages of a team

Dec 07, 2015 03:16 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,601
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I have a buyer agent and an admin - I am looking forward to growing my team this year - and to do that I have to generate more business! a good goal. 

Dec 07, 2015 10:32 AM
Ambassador
5,229,945
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

It is just me but, I do have a team - an assistant who only works with me on my listings, an admin assistant who does a whole host of work for me and an assistant who only works my web leads.  I also have a showing agent who works part time if I have a jam-packed day and need help.  I would say he works with buyers about 5 months out of the year at best. Pros - I am able to Close $20M with help but, not have selling agents who I also have to feed business to.  

Cons - We've been together a very long time and everything runs like a top to free me up to be with clients, which leaves me with ZERO cons!  LOL

Dec 26, 2016 06:04 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,667
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I worked as a team a few years back but it did not work out, seems we had a different of opinions

Dec 10, 2015 09:06 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Inna - I work as an individual agent, but still have a team (title and escrow, home inspector, lender, etc.) that helps with everything, and my broker is always there as well.

The pros are that I make all my own decisions, and the con is that I make all my own decisions. I am only responsible for myself, but do not have a team to help with anything. I am the master of my own destiny.

I used to work with a team when I was in lending, and it was difficult to get us all to agree on our process, how to market, how to generate more business, prospects, etc.

Dec 09, 2015 03:14 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Inna Ivchenko working as an individual agent - and I can say, as a solo agent we can grow only a bit.

A team always helps you to grow - and sky is the limit. Of course there are some guidelines we must stick to - strictly.

Dec 08, 2015 02:50 PM