Be a Broker and Eat Your Own For Dinner (or Go Broke) - Real Estate Agent Coldwell Banker Employee Review

4.0
Apr 8, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Oldest name and reputation in biz. The most offices and office agents. Fairly recent generation tech and systems however playing much needed catch up with others as far as concept and usability, to which there is often a glaring disconnect.

Cons

2019-2020 re-branding was really a refresh like an 80's K-car. Affiliated agents are the 2nd biggest revenue stream, paying through the teeth for redundant and abhorrent per year/month/deal mandatory legal fees, office fees, broker splits, transaction fees and client fees. Its all the same disguised as a different fee. And they all are charged. Plus they roll out training on new and updated tech and tools and you find that agents will now pay for these services which were previously free under the old tech. And then even the new pay for tech and features is a gen or two behind the curve. Forget this. The most important thing is the Brokers actually cannibalize and compete with their own agents through every conceivable way possible. Any newer school agents making waves by default just doing what they do well, showing a lick of momentum and a following, real talent for selling in these modern days and higher use of the largely underutilized systems are undermined and sold out from under in very systematic fashion. They are very upfront about it and make no real attempt to hide this fact. Their power is wielded and known. And this gratuitous profiteering is further measurably compounded by the fact there is no limit to how many agents work in one office no matter the geography and available inventory for sale. Hence they will collect aforementioned fees from everyone, one after another, as long as those agents choose to be affiliated. There can be hundreds in an office. 20% have sales. The rest peril at their own Broker's behest. Hence agents are not independent contractors. They are paying customers. The newest is that agents are coerced to join teams, so that there are whole teams paying fees and by default sharing inventory to make it seem like it works. All this to support an extraordinarily TOP heavy executive to middle management structure that remains in its own way.

Explore other reviews about Coldwell Banker

5.0
Apr 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Recognition due to the name

Cons

Although we are independent contractors,the broker continues to micromanage and it’s unbelievable how much money they take from our commissions.

1
3.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I loved working with the agents. It was a good way to get into marketing especially if you have real estate experience.

Cons

There is no upwards mobility. This company invests heavily into diversity and if you are not part of a certain demographic, you will not get promoted. There were also frequent layoffs while I was there.

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