We have recently consolidated and our business has actually picked up even after physically exiting one market. We decided to move the staff to our main office but they (LO’s) decided to quit and take the remaining staff with them and start up a net branch. That was over a month ago. The rumor going around is that they were fired and that we would be out of business within a year. (Wonder who started that?) However, we’ve replaced them and the reality is that our phones have been ringing off the hook since they left. That leaves me to wonder what they were doing when they were working for us.

As far as that Net Branch, I know where they’re supposed to be located but I haven’t seen the doors open yet and the realtors keep asking me “What happened to Joe? Where did he go?”

Well your comment still works for this article, too. Have you seen more small mortgage brokers exiting the business in your market area?

That doesn’t mean you have to agree to do everything at the drop of a hat either – many things can be planned.

But, there is nothing that makes me lose respect faster for an agent than not to be able to reach them on a weekend, without even a return phone call or email. If I have an interested buyer – I’d think they’d be quick-draw-macgraw on their dialing panel on their cell phone!

Just do your job well, and you’ll get referrals. No need to pay anyone to tell you that, ever. But don’t get me started on how much I hate sales seminars …..

We’re not talking about Joe Stumpf.