Deck is stacked against the agent. - Realtor Coldwell Banker Employee Review

1.0
Aug 4, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Independent contractor status. Name brand recoginition. New agent training was good.

Cons

All the cards are stacked in Coldwell Banker's favor. High "referral fees" for deals not even facilitated by Coldwell Banker simply because the other broker happened to work for a Coldwell Baker or associated firm. Relocation "Referral" fees are huge too. The agent does all the work and is capped on the commission they can receive. Coldwell Banker takes the rest. Coldwell Banker will NOT release you listings when you leave. It takes a long time to climb the commission ladder. Have a bad year and Coldwell Banker knocks reduces your commission split. Don't forget that the commission split is set AFTER the franchise fee...so Coldwell Banker takes 6% off the top before they start paying you. Most local brokers have their "favorite" agents and the good leads go to them. Coldwell Banker also pushes their own mortage, title and warranty companies. Agents get nothing for referrals to those programs...but Coldwell Banker makes huge money on them.

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.

2.0
Mar 30, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Coldwell Banker has a recognizable, legacy brand and there are many talented, dedicated employees who genuinely care about their work. Teams are often collaborative, and there are opportunities to work on large-scale, high-visibility initiatives. From the outside, the company presents itself well and has strong brand positioning in the market.

Cons

There is a significant disconnect between leadership messaging and the actual employee experience. The handling of recent layoffs was particularly disappointing—high-performing employees were let go with little transparency, and the communication around it felt impersonal and overly scripted. For a company that frequently speaks about valuing people, the actions did not reflect that. Morale has taken a hit as a result, and trust in leadership has been impacted. Workloads can be heavy, and expectations remain high even as teams are reduced, without meaningful acknowledgment or support. There is also a tendency to prioritize optics over substance, especially in communications, which can feel frustrating for those doing the work behind the scenes.

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