You hear buzz about a company that offers 100-per-cent commission and all the agent has to pay is a monthly fee and a deal fee. What’s the catch? That’s the first question agents ask when they talk to Jan Wrobel, president of Your Choice Realty Corp., and they’re pleasantly surprised to find there isn’t one, he says. “Your Choice Realty really doesn’t have any hidden charges or nuisance fees. There’s no nickel and diming.”
Five Ontario offices – in Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto, Barrie and Muskoka – are equipped with the same amenities any national franchise would offer, from free WiFi and parking to courtesy computers in every office, client conference rooms and an in house appointment booking desk, mortgage broker and lawyer, Wrobel says.
Wrobel, who has been in the real estate industry since he was 18, both in Canada and the U.S., is currently majority shareholder of YCR. He says he does not actively sell because he doesn’t believe in competing with his agents.
He comes from a family of real estate professionals. “My father was (in the) top five per cent in Victoria for 20 years. I grew up installing signs and going to open houses with him on weekends. I have worked in both the mortgage industry and real estate industry in various capacities, plus I am a landlord for several properties in the U.S. and Canada, and typically buy and sell three to six properties, both residential and commercial, annually,” he says.
The YCR website (www.joinyourchoicerealty.ca) includes information about the program and advantages, commission plans, its 24/7 free legal advice, in-house mortgage broker, training, professional offices and license transfer details.
When agents meet with Wrobel, he says they know what to expect, although there are surprises. “We offer agent training, advance agent training, continuing education and we have four branch managers available day and night. (Agents) are surprised about that.”
The most common scenario has agents studying the site, and then visiting the office to talk to Wrobel, with 75 per cent of them ready to join Your Choice on the spot, he says. The other 25 per cent want to think about it, but about two-thirds of them also end up joining. About 25 per cent of his new recruits are referrals, he says.
The brokerage recently celebrated a milestone, growing to 100 agents in less than 200 days. “We have designed the company for real estate agents, which means we offer every possible amenity and convenience that agents care about and all are included at no additional cost,” he says.
Agents are also not required to sign a long-term contract, which means the company has to provide good service on an ongoing basis, he says.
The company started in September 2010 and the goal is to have 500 agents by January 2013.
