Should I Start a Real Estate Team? the 5 Things to Think About BEFORE you hire

Once you achieve a certain amount of success, you can't help but wonder: Should I start a real estate team… or should I not?
This episode breaks down the real questions every agent needs to ask before hiring their first team member. Most agents jump into “building a team” because it sounds glamorous, but the truth is simple: an ego-based decision will make you crash and burn. A strategic, clarity-based decision can explode your business.

We dive into the core pillars you need to understand before you ever bring on an assistant, buyer’s agent, transaction coordinator, or admin support. This episode will walk you through clarity, hiring, compensation, leadership, communication, team expectations, and role structure—the things agents don’t even know they need to know.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Get Clear on Your Why
Before you start a real estate team, you must understand your motivation.
Are you hiring from ego… or from intention?
Do you actually want to lead?
Will you keep producing at a high level or are you stepping back?
What real value do you bring that would make someone want to work with you?

Then you. need to ask yourself about the role of the people you hire.
If you don’t know how a job works, you can’t teach someone how to do it. Hiring Assistants, Showing agents, Buyer’s agents, Listing partners, Admin & coordination roles all require a job description and the details that you won't even think of until you are in the moment.
And we answer the questions every leader forgets to ask:
Who do they go to for what?
Are they expected to work weekends?
What does availability look like?
How fast should they respond?

2. Hire Smart—Not Out of Panic
Desperation hires are expensive. Smart hires are strategic.
It may be obvious to go the formal route, but sometimes we're scared so we take what we can get. We also are scared to communicate our expectations and standards but that is how you teach someone. If they aren't a fan then they can leave. The person you hire is a reflection of you and your company and I know you built something you are proud of so why would you let it be ruined?

3. Don't hire a brand new agent
New agents are time-consuming and rarely profitable.
You made the commitment to help them but when it comes time to help and you have other plans, being a leader doesn't look so good. New real estate agents need constant attention, follow up and accountability. You are still running your business which already makes you feel short on time now you just committed yourself to building someone else's business and brand.

Hire someone who has experience and has the ability to contribute to your team in a positive way instead of take all of your time.

4. Prepare for Hard Conversations
If conflict avoidance is your personality type, team leadership will feel like torture.
The longer you wait to have the hard conversation, the more the resentment builds which means you are goin to want to explode. The conversation went from here's how I'd like to correct 1 thing you did wrong to here's everything you've been doing wrong. Clean the mess up along the way.

6. Compensation Structures That Actually Make Sense
How are you paying them?
Salary? Split? Hybrid?
Are you building a business model… or a financial liability?
You can offer what you feel comfortable with or you give them options.

Starting a team to look more legitimate is the wrong reason. While starting a real estate team seems like the next step once you achieve some success, it's a huge responsibility and not quite the payout you were hoping to see.

I hope your experience is better than mine and would love to hear what's working out there!

Lauren House
Scottsdale AZ
480-262-7554
[email protected]

#arizonarealestate #arizona #realtor #realtorlife #realtortips #arizonarealestateagent #scottsdale #scottsdalerealtor #realestateteam #realestateagenttips #realestate #true #leadership