Broker to Broker: Management Lessons From America's Most Successful Real Estate Companies

Introduction: Bringing Management Best Practices to You.

SECTION I: MANAGING OPERATIONS.

CHAPTER 1: Finances.

Boosting Your Bottom Line.

Taking Control of Your Accounting.

Preparing for a Financial Turn for the Worse.

Calculating Associate Compensation—The New Rules.

CHAPTER 2: Operations.

Running Multi-Office Loan and Title Companies.

Growing without Adding Staff.

Disaster-Proofing Your Brokerage.

Dealing with a New Competitor.

Go Commercial—and Help Your Residential Business.

CHAPTER 3: Marketing.

Increasing Foot Traffic through Your Door.

Winning the Publicity Game.

Handling Negative PR.

Getting the Most Bang for Your Ad Buck.

CHAPTER 4: Planning.

Growing Your Business.

Scenario Planning: Take Your Future in Hand.

Business Models: New Approaches to Profitability.

Business Models: Full-Service vs. Limited-Service.

CHAPTER 5: Technology.

Helping Associates Work Better, Faster, Smarter.

Spinning Returns from Your Investment.

Supporting Your Systems without Spending a Lot.

Unplugging Your Associates.

CHAPTER 6: Ideas for You (A Look at What Your CompetitionIs Doing).

Starting Up in a Big Rival’s Backyard.

Providing Liquidity to Net Customers.

Adding Home Styling to Your Services.

Catering to City Dwellers on a Country Purchase.

Making Downtown Revitalization a Niche.

Tapping Technology for That Whizbang Effect.

Attracting Clients through a Blend of Business and Art.

Learning from the “Fixer-Upper” Franchise.

Building a Big Following in a Small Town.

Serving the Hispanic Investor.

What the Timeshare Niche Is All About.

Working with Others to Leverage Buying Power.

Making Your Storefront Interactive.

The Next Level for Apartment Locator Services.

SECTION II: MANAGING PEOPLE.

CHAPTER 6: Recruiting and Retention.

Shrink Your Washout Rate.

Attracting and Keeping the Best.

Why Associates Work Where They Do.

Behavioral Testing: Hire Recruits That Fit In.

Inclusionary Recruiting: Brightest under the Rainbow.

Four Steps to Rookie Success.

CHAPTER 8: Health and Safety.

Work-Life Balance: Got Health?

Keeping Associates Attuned to Safety.

Know Sexual Harassment When You See It.

Helping Associates Cope with Personal Crises.

Achieving Work-Life Balance.

CHAPTER 9: Office Environment and Associate Motivation.

Office Design That Keeps Associates on Top.

Adapting to Life with Gen X.

What Career Means to Generation X.

Now Comes Generation Y.

Keeping Rivalries in Check.

Training Associates to Succeed.

Managers That Sell: When to Stay in the Game.

CHAPTER 10: Ideas for You (A Look at What Your Competition Is Doing).

Offering Annuities to Spur Recruitment.

Complementing Traditional Associates with Salaried Division.

Paying Salaries, Charging Fees.

Freeing New Associates from Pressure of Selling Fast.

Letting Associates Take a Company Equity Stake.

Motivating Associates through Personalization.

Training Associates to a T.

SECTION III: MANAGING RISK.

CHAPTER 11: Legal.

Living with Litigation.

Addressing Top Legal Concerns.

Test Your Antitrust Knowledge.

Heading Off Privacy Complaints.

Understanding Internet Copyright Law.

Know How to Give Legal Testimony.

Fair Treatment in Dual Agency.

Using the REALTOR® Trademark Correctly.

Avoiding a Breach: Fiduciary Duties Clarified.

Commission Rules for Departing Associates.

Employment Law: Who’s Exempt?

CHAPTER 12: Risk Management.

Avoiding Pitfalls.

Proper Documentation Keeps You out of Legal Trouble.

Improving Customer Service.

Lowering E&O Premiums through Customer Service.

The Right Amount of E&O Insurance.

Making Dispute Resolution Work.

How to Handle Multiple Offers.

Upholding the Standard of Care.

What to Know about Synthetic Stucco.

What to Know about Stigmatized Properties.

What to Know about Mold Liability Risks.

Protecting Your Name against Identity Thieves.

Knowing Loan Fraud.

Understanding Buyer Rep Lead-Paint Disclosure Duty.

Liability for What You Don’t See.

About the Contributors.

About the National Association of REALTORS.

About the REALTORCode of Ethics.

Company Index.

Subject Index.