Blog

The Los Angeles area experienced a disaster in January of such a magnitude that is still hard to fathom. While I live an hour away from the fires, I heard the pain of the devastation through the voices my many friends who were affected. The thin layer of ash was a constant reminder from the north. I have asked my friend, Fran Flanagan, to recount her experience the day of the fires and how they are still dealing with the aftermath.

Every segment of our industry faces a unique challenge within its business lines right now. While it’s not up to us to solve one another’s problems, it is in our best interest to support each other and find solutions. A lot of the root of the challenges comes down to money. However, the end result needs to be about continuing to improve the transferee experience, no matter the cost.

I have heard from many relocation and business development department leaders that it is getting harder to recruit agents to the team due to increased referral fees, demands on performance, and expenses related to training, background checks, and certifications. It’s definitely not for everyone, particularly as fewer referrals are spread around. It takes time and resources to create and manage a successful team. Here are 17 tips to help you build a rock star team.

The relocation and real estate industry is all about networking and networks. Whether sending referrals to one another or sharing best practices, we don’t stand alone. Everything we do depends on our ability to trust our various partners in the industry to deliver what we can’t based on location, access, or skill set.

What should we be doing to set ourselves up for success in 2025? While we are already more than halfway through February, it isn’t too late to get a strategic plan in place to capitalize on what we hope will be a busy summer selling season. It means looking at getting rid of the old monikers that have defined our industry. It’s time to let go and rebrand our departments to be a full-service business development machine.