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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've done okay for 25 years without an assistant regardless of how many transactions I do. I find help in other ways... my husband does my books; my office has resources such as transaction coordinators when I need one; I outsource lots of things such as photography, floor plans, marketing brochures. I had an assistant briefly and it took me more time to keep track of her than to do certain things myself and outsource as needed.

May 11, 2018 04:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It depends on the agent.   There are many schools of thought on the subject but it really depends. 

May 10, 2018 10:30 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

If you don't pick the right sellers or buyers it could be with just 1. It also depends on how much free time that you want.

So my answer is like Mike Jacobs, it depends.

May 11, 2018 04:56 AM
Rainmaker
519,324
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

When the agent identifies what can be delegated and free themselves up for more profitable tasks.  

May 10, 2018 11:39 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

If I wasn't so frugal I'd use one for every transaction

May 11, 2018 05:12 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Depends how active the listings & buyers are. 

May 11, 2018 04:58 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

12 listings and 5 motivated buyers

May 11, 2018 04:46 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

With outsourcing and the use of tech I would say 100.

May 11, 2018 04:34 AM
Rainer
370,200
Jay McHugh
SendOutCards-Appreciation Marketing Expert - Acton, MA
YOUR SendOutCard Mentor

20 .... transactions .....

May 11, 2018 04:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Depends.

May 11, 2018 04:01 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Like the rest it all depends on the agent. For me 4-6 deals a month or higher,

May 11, 2018 02:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Depending on the agent it could vary anywhere between 2 and a 100.

May 11, 2018 01:52 AM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

The sooner you leverage the faster you will grow.

May 11, 2018 09:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Assistants don't work for me, never have and I've tried. It takes me longer showing them how I want things done than just doing it myself.

May 11, 2018 06:46 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

I think it depends on the agent...and when they get out of bed.

Few listing agents are really on top of things...most have no clue what is going on and they don't want to know...or they have their assistant handle everything including that what the assistant legally should not be doing.

Then you have buyer agents who take care of the client and fake buyers agent who think that "nothing" is their job.

I handle all my own deals and when I had an assistant, I still handled my own files and clients.

Eve

May 11, 2018 05:59 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

It will depend on that agent.

May 11, 2018 05:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,387
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

It truly depends on the agent! Some could use help with one and others can handle many!

May 11, 2018 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

It of course depends on systems in place and how good a time manager the agent but crossing over 50 transactions is difficult without help if you want to have a personal life, too.

May 11, 2018 06:39 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Depends on the transactions and how complicated they are

May 11, 2018 06:05 PM
Rainer
92,082
Jon K. Judd
Keller Williams Realty - Central Delaware - Dover, DE
GRI, e-PRO, SFR, Delaware Homes

I believe this would be different for every agent... 

  • how efficient they are or are not
  • how much time they wish to work per week
  • how much growth they want within their business
  • are they working mostly listings or buyers
May 11, 2018 01:59 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Over 7 would be tough to handle for me.

May 11, 2018 11:45 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

prior to my heading toward retirement from working actively, I was always a solo agent.... I would not let anyone touch my transactions or any paperwork, follow up or meetings.... I was able to handle 45 transactions at one time and they were all new construction.... every home was different and I paid attention to detail....always fully executed work authorizations with job descriptions and prices.... there was one year I did not take one day off.... I went into the office and on sites with a fever if I had one....

May 11, 2018 09:01 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,129
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It depends upon the type of the transaction.

Every highly productive agent need one or more assistants.

May 11, 2018 08:58 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Depends on who the agent it and their skill set. 

Some need help with only one transaction. 

May 11, 2018 07:55 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

      My formerly licensed wife does our PR and the back-office stuff.  I have used an assistant on a call-as-needed basis to check on yard signs and run errands, but not at present.

May 11, 2018 07:38 AM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

The question is "transactions", so in escrow. Rather than an "assistant", I would hire a transaction coordinator. In my market not being a big city, the volume is not large.  

May 11, 2018 07:38 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

I agree with Michael Jacobs .  We did not have an assistant, however some of our clients have assistants that they treasure and have been working with for many years.  So it does really depened, and it is not a numbers thing. A

May 11, 2018 07:11 AM
Rainmaker
716,049
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Depends on the size, type and breadth of your transactions. Years ago, I used to have a shared assistant. With the advent of going full digital and the use of products like with e-signatures, it eliminated her position.

May 11, 2018 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I naturally delegate and outsource without effort. I have never reached capacity under my systems

May 11, 2018 06:59 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

From my calculations, a full service solo agent, assisting buyers and sellers in all types of real estate (not commercial) has a bandwidth of 46 transactions annually.

Many agents market themselves as full service and clearly are not...so the create more bandwidth.

Other agents may work one type of real estate or complex or community and able to leverage their research and maximize efficiencies.

By the time the solo full service agent reaches 46 transactions, the wheels on their real estate wagon are very wobbly.  !6 transactions prior they needed to be looking for ways to create bandwidth.

1. Reduce deilverables.  Often this looks like don't show the home of the one who hired the listing agent to potential sellers. Or, don't be present for inspections, appraisals, 2nd looks.

2. Adjust business model to higher yield markets (raise the price point) requiring fewer transactions to maintain income.

3. Adjust business model to reduce direct time requirements.

4. Stop doing what the agent should not be doing.  Seriously. A lisense is not required to put up signs.

The agent at the 20 transaction a year level is the prime candidate to analyze their business, assess the outcome of their actions and scale their business to be one that does not overwhelm.

May 11, 2018 06:41 AM
Rainmaker
249,105
Denise Copeland
Home Sales Palm Beach - Jupiter, FL
Jupiter Abacoa Sales & Beach Front Luxury Homes

My mind started to crumble at the 5 simultanious transaction mark.

May 11, 2018 06:04 AM
Rainmaker
644,025
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

It depends, some agents need help with one.

May 11, 2018 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Parked & reading!  I quite often ask myself "Is it time?" and then the control freak part of me kicks in and I manage...  ;0

May 11, 2018 05:26 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Dan Tabit nailed this one!

May 11, 2018 05:05 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Can't beat Nina Hollander 's answer. We outsource nothing and do it all. 

May 13, 2018 08:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I did not reach that point... yet. But it also depends how busy you are with other staff. Sometimes you just need to delegate some tasks.

May 11, 2018 10:47 PM
Ambassador
5,229,945
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I forgot what the formula is but, I know that when I added an assistant, my business grew by leaps & bounds. I have had two of them for 10 years, 1 for 8 years and hired my last one 2 years ago. They are not always working full-time because 2 of them travel about 1/2 of the year but, they're here during the busy season.

All are licensed and have very defined jobs that allow me to be face-to-face with my clients - my favorite part of this business!

May 11, 2018 10:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

We have agents who close $5-6M a month and can handle most alone. Another not so busy agents handle the compliance.

May 11, 2018 05:49 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,605
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

well depends on if you want more business then you need one even if you only do 12 deals a year.

 

May 14, 2018 05:09 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,482
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

A few years ago, it got very close, but depends on the transactions and the clients.

May 14, 2018 06:24 AM
Rainer
87,920
Jeff Perlis Prime Properties
Prime Properties - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Experience Your Own Transformation!

I always have an assistant. 

May 11, 2018 11:52 PM