I went to KW from RE/MAX for three years and was back at RE/MAX. Took too long to go back to RE/MAX. To me it was always too cultish! Going back to RE/MAX for me was like "going home." 

We were KW for a year and found the push by management was to load up agents with all sorts of training that OH, by the way, costs big bucks. Not only that, the split was horrid. Might be worthwhile for new agents, but not for seasoned war horses. We know how the game is played and know how to generate leads without cold calling and pissing people off by having 50+ hungry agents all calling expired listing on the same day.

I am going to say cultish. I tried 2 different ones and every time I heard them say the KW CULTure it made me cringe.

Fred Griffin - I love the best training I receive being a KW associate. And open book concept is another one.

Brokers do profit share with agents who brought in agent in their down-line, sounds like a pyramid scheme. However, I applaud brokers who do that. How many brokers really think of sharing their profit in other companies?

Cult, may be. I like KW model.

Hello Fred.  As KW agent don't know about "Cult".  A very different attitude towards Real Estate.  I am pleased to be here.  They offer training to take you to what ever level you care to achieve.  Their education is beyond compare.  Mr. Keller is definitely a driven individual.  Mark

PS...You might also try his book "The One Thing" which applys to all not just Real Estate.  

From what I have heard it is a great company, and like most things, when you have something great going you want to share it with everyone around you.

It is a real estate company with very committed members that want to better themselves by recruiting other agents so they can get the residuals off of them.

im not a fan of the down lines of a pyramid type set up but i judge the quality of the product not the system. having said that, the quality is a direct function of the people. and if bodies are recruited and not vetted properly....having said that, with a intensive training system as they have, the down line stand as good a chance of being better than the average agent. i think i spoke out  of both sides of my mouth here...

It's a business model that works well for a lot of agents.  I'm not attracted to it, but some good people are.  To each his own.

In this area, KW agents are having to repair reputations they acquired during the time they specialized in short sales and foreclosrues, carrying huge listing inventories that were minimally serviced.  They tended to be unresponsive to phone calls, and didn't appear to be that well trained.  While I know a few terrific KW agents, I've not had transactions with them.  And those I have had dealings with did not appear to be that well trained or supervised. 

Over time, they may win respect in the industry, but it will take some serious work.

Keller Williams is not a cult or "cultish." It is a real estate company.

Our annual convention is called Family Reunion. Berkshire Hathaway has Revolution; RE/MAX has R4; Coldwell Banker has Generation Blue.

There are no "pyramid-scheme downlines."

My bible is THE Bible. MREA was written by Gary Keller based on his experience and the insights of successful agents in several companies, not just KW. The Economic, Lead Generation, Budget, and Operational models in the book have been proven again and again.

Is Keller Williams a perfect fit for every agent? Of course not. Are there overlaps and similarities between KW and other brokerages? Absolutely. Do agents change affiliations? Sometimes.

All we can do is look at the opportunities before us and choose our best course of action based on current circumstances.

I know that KW is a well recognized name.  Being an independent contractor I tend to go where I can make the most money.  For me and I do mean for me KW is not in my future.  Happy where I am.  

I left and I know many other agents who did. Like any other company they have cons and pros.

Fred Griffin I've never worked for KR but will say Millionaire Real Estate Agent and The One are two of the best and timeless Real Estate books written.

I really don't know, as I've never worked for KW.  It's probably no more of a cult than any of the other big franchises.  Except for possibly the Scientology Real Estate Group.  

Cult; I think is a little harsh. Driven is not a bad thing.

KW blew into our market a few years ago, with a managing broker who was relentless in recruiting.  While he came across as a used car salesman to me and totally turned me off with his approach, quite a number of agents jumped ship and went with him.  All of the agents I know personally who left were back at their previous brokerages within a year.  For many people, though, it is exactly the culture they need, even though it is clearly not for everyone.

Most KW agents are familar with claiming to have drinken the koolaide ! KW is the best place to build a Team ( training-wise and the Economic Model ).

I know Agents who have joined K.W. and have left and I also know Agents who joined and are still there. I guess it depends upon the personality of the agent.

Life like real estate is about choices -- I think it's great there are options to pursue.  This is definitely not-one-size-fits-all.  

It's not my style but is a good fit for some.

I've heard good and bad about KW. Never worked with them. Just didn't seem to be for me. 

I have friends who are with KW and speak highly of the company & training they have received. It isn't for everyone, but if there is value to the individual in what they offer, why not?

I have heard from others it's like the Scientology brokerage of real estate. LOL O.K. nobody take that too seriously! In fairness, it does fulfill a need for some and with that type of training it has propelled many KW agents into the real estate stratosphere.

I focus on building my business and their commission split and support of team concepts works for me. Every broker has pros and cons I would say it just a matter of what you fit into.

I don't want to say cult so I'll say Gary Cheerleaders. His books are good & if you want, call a KW agent & they will send you one free. Good common sense real estate practices.

I like the part where everyone is so focused & family orientated which might be too much for some (me actually).

They recruit the war horses to train the newbies there.

Fred,

The book is very good and is not a bible.  It chronicles successful agents, and their paths.  To my recollection, one of them was not with KW and the other onestarted here own firm since. I have heard that adjective attributed to the organization, and a friend of ours who was paid huge $$$to start up a luxury division.  She left after 3 months.  

We all have emotional needs that are filled by the organizations we belong to, and this structure does for many out there.  A

This book came out just before I became an agent. I started reading it during agent training with Prudential. Some of it made sense and some of it didn't.

What Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint said!

I have my own indie office and have never worked for KW, or been attracted to the culture. I have friends who are, great people and successful agents. Our largest area office was, for a time, KW. Then, a weird thing happened. It disintegrated. The office's heaviest hitters splintered off, took their teams and opened their own shops. ALL INDIE and small. Thought that told a tale.

I prefer the RE/MAX style of operations.

I have read the book. I loved it.

 Good morning Fred. I have read the millionaire real estate agent is well. It is a great culture for those who buy into it. They do quite a bit for their new agents to make them successful.

Good morning Fred. If it id a cult it is on that many people would like to participate with, as you can make money with this one.

One of the best training agencies.  I go to their team meetings at least once a month and learn a ton.  great culture, too.

great book...I've read many sections and helps for any biz.

In my area, one of the offices is now 2nd largest in whole county.  They are great at building teams.  - Debbie

Cult for sure.  

As I was shoveling a mountain of snow today, I was thinking about KW. An agent I know pretty well just joined KW. It appears there's going to be a new real estate in office in Delta that goes by the name of Keller Williams. Today I wondering to myself how long this fade would last. 

I don't have any direct experience with them.  From what I'm reading below, especially the "KW CULTure" (great pun there), I'm going to go with cult.

I am not a fan.  I would learn toward "cult".  The training is pathetic. I've read about what takes place at KW events. I find it all very degrading.  Nothing I would ever involve myself in.

I interviewed with Keller Williams once and was not sold on their business model at all!

I've been with RE/MAX for 20 years....never considered Keller.... much too cultish.... 

Never been a KW agent, and have one agent that has called and ready to jump ship.

This is already a long thread, and I am sure it will get even longer. Its going to be interesting reading when I have more time. 

Love it or hate it, there are plenty in both camps. 

Here i notice the recruit a great deal of the new agents, their office could be 300 times larger than mine easy. When speaking to agents looking to join an agency, all speak about their sheer amount of training that others can not match. However training does not result in listings or sales. It takes real life teaching, an abitity to communicate and an ability to iisten. It takes a gift to put a value on homes, patience to search and abilty to negitiate. Book smarts do not always result in listings and sales. I have worked with some really good agents from KW and some not so good ones.  With so many agents, not all make it or have a real vision of what it takes to succeed in real estate had they chosen a hands on company instead.

Some years ago, I saw that if nothing changed my body would continue to form in the shape of a pyrimid. So, I took action and strarted running. Now I tell everyone with ears, "Get off you butt and start running!" 

Will that work for EVERYONE? Of course not.

Do some divert their path if they see me ahead? Perhaps.

It is a simple as that. If it works for you, the need to share (and profit from it KW) is passionate and urgent.

Some will wear the uniform, others not so much.

As a small business owner and experineced agent you should know the one and only question you need to ask a broker allowing you to ignore all the BS.

What is the average annual transactions per licensed agent in the office?

THAT number is the only validation of the systems and hoopla available to you.

As you have noted it seems some have drank the Kool-Aid.