Career FAQ

What does it take to get a Real Estate License in Washington Real Estate Training State?

To become a Real Estate Sales Person, the State of Washington requires that you complete 90 hours of licensing education and pass the State exam. We offer an online course through our education partner Rockwell Institute that meets the 90 hour state requirements and boasts that over 90% of those that complete the course will pass the state exam on the first try. Sign up through Van Dorm and receive a discount. If certain production goals are achieved during your first year we will reimburse you for this expense in full!

What should I expect when I'm starting out?

Our mission is to get your business up and running as quickly as possible so you can start earning paychecks as quickly as possible. However this is a business you are building and a commission based business at that. It takes time to build and establish a customer and client base for your business. As such your first paycheck may not come for a few months and the consistency of your paychecks the first year will be in question. Therefore it is imperative that you have a 6 - 12 month cash reserve or another income source to help make ends meet while you plant your business. Building a business plan and executing it consistently in your daily routine over time is the key to your success.

How do I get business?

Think like a business person! Of course we provide opportunities for you through networking with over 90 Brokers within Van Dorm Realty, open houses, internet leads, sign calls and other advertising, but your real growth will come from thinking like a business person. That means setting goals and creating a step by step business plan that will guide you towards achieving your goals and building your business.

Choosing the right real estate company, one that can help you with your business plan, one that fits your personality and style, and one that has a high level of energy and support is your first step.

What is a typical day like?

Well, as a business person that will be up to you. However, if we had our say your day would look something like this; Dedicate the first two hours of the day to making check-in calls and writing personal notes; Meet with someone for lunch or coffee; Schedule 10 Pop-Bys for the week; Schedule or attend a weekly social or business networking event; Learn the housing inventory; Listen to educational/motivational cd's; Add at least one person to your database. Again, consistency in your daily routine over time will be the key to your success.

What kind of person does well in real estate?

To be honest, almost anyone can do well in real estate. It is not a matter of education or superior salesmanship, although both can help. It's about having an intense desire to succeed, a willingness to work hard, and a commitment to improve yourself every day. One of our best salespersons, and for that matter one of the best ever in Thurston County, was a former school bus driver!

How do I get started?

The first step is to contact us to sign up for our 90 our pre-licensing course or if you have already obtained the necessary education, to contact us for an interview. You can contact us at 360-943-3800 and ask for Jeff or Diane Pust.

What does it cost to get started?

We estimate the start-up expenses to be approximately $1,000-$1,500 depending on the time of year you start. This will cover your pre-license education, Washington State licensing exam and licensing fees, your membership into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and Realtors associations, business cards and other personalized marketing materials. We will further elaborate on what fees are due and when during the interview process.

What monthly or recurring expenses can I expect?

Like any business there are certain recurring costs and expenses. Every year you will have similar recurring fees as those above and other expenses that you may choose to incur. The other fees are strictly up to you and how you run your business. One thing you won't have is excessive fees payable to Van Dorm. We pride ourselves on providing you everything you could get anywhere else for just $55.00 per month. This includes unlimited open house ads, all listings in the Northwest Real Estate Guide, Realtor.com, Craigslist, and other online postings, signs, marketing materials, personal web site, long distance, individual fax number, voice mail, message transfer via text and email, phone transfers, color copy allowance, . . . even your monthly Washington State L&I expense and B&O/Excise taxes associated with your income. No desk or franchise fees here! We are in the business of selling homes not collecting fees from our agents. Do the math and you will find we save our agents thousands.

What type of training is available to me?

Our mission is to get you up and running as quickly as possible. That means providing you with training to grow your business as well as training that will allow you to provide quality service to your customers and clients. That is why we have a dedicated member of our management team just for training. We provide one on one training with you, weekly small group training sessions, and weekly office meetings.

How much money can I make?

This depends on you and your personal goals and desires. The sky is the limit for those that aim high. Most hard working agents that build a business the right way, with a business plan, goals, consistency, determination and an investment of time will most likely meet or exceed their first year expectations even in our current market conditions. Our goal is to help you set reasonable expectations and not blow smoke of instant riches.

What type of commission splits and/or desk fees does Van Dorm have?

Anywhere from 70% to 100% depending on your level of production and no desk fees - just a small monthly fee as outlined above. Plus our commission splits are guaranteed for life; your commission split can only go up, never roll back down. Our philosophy has always been to pay our brokers well, provide top support systems, keep monthly expenses low and brokers will stay. This has proven to be true.

To learn more about joining Van Dorm Realty, Inc., contact Jeff or Diane Pust at 360-943-3800.