Long & Foster Reviews

Pros

Quality of support, education, advertising and management.

Cons

It's a very competitive environment.

Pros

Health benefits were decent and time off was adequate. Lots a pointless birthday parties where you get food and cake. Most of my coworkers were nice.

Cons

This was not a real estate agent position. It was administrative. Don't expect to get promoted anywhere or ever get a raise. I applied for a job in another department down the hall that would have been a much better fit over my entry-level position. I had the blessing of both VPs in both departments, but HR wouldn't let me move because I hadn't been there 90 days. I lost the job to someone else because they needed it filled. I spent the next year and a half with no where to move (up) and no raise in sight. I became so very frustrated and left with much less respect for this well-known, regional real estate company.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't forget the little people that you stomp on every day to make your millions, Mr. Foster. Also, the HR department is the most unprofessional bunch of people I've ever encountered. They do not believe in anonymity. They'll tell your boss every word you said, the moment you leave their office. Nepotism is rampant and at least one of the VPs is utterly useless.

Pros

Long and Foster does Offer great training

Cons

Commission structure is not the best

Pros

The people were really great

Cons

Training was over an hour away in Roanoke

Advice to Senior Management

Don't have any

Pros

I can raise my commission split by producing more and I don't have to sell millions to do it. The people are friendly and helpful, both the other agents and the office staff. Any paperwork that I am not sure how to complete due to new forms, etc. the staff is more than patient in showing me how to do it. Technology in the office is constantly imporving and new equipment comes in periodically. I have full access to my office 24/7 and to other L&F offices during business hours. My broker is knowledgeable and realistic in his expectations, and if I make a mistake, I am not raked over the coals or made to feel incompetant, but guided in how to fix it and avoid the mistake the next time.

Cons

When copiers or other machines break down, it sometimes takes a long time to get them fixed. Color copiers are not free, and are more expensive to use than going to Staples or some other office store. There is an office fee at my office, and since I don't drink the coffee, I really don't feel that I get any benefit from it. Office expenses should be covered by my commission split.

Advice to Senior Management

When charging something to my agent account, it would be most helpful if an email was sent out 24-48 hours ahead of time stating that on such and such a date, this much will be charged to my account using the method I have chosen. Sometimes the amount is not what I expected or is taken just before a settlement and I have received overdraft charges because I guessed wrong about what day it would be. Sending an email after the fact is just not helpful. I can look at my account and see that the money is gone.

Pros

Very close, family like atmoshphere where everyone works together. Free education, marketing and self promotion is awesome. The company name alone speaks volumes.

Cons

Admin fee is wrong and I do not like to pay it sometimes. I wish that I had a better brokerage package.

Advice to Senior Management

I think that newer agents need more training in contracts. It is important for agents to know how to write purchase contracts based on the type of financing the client is doing.

Pros

Long and Foster provides Great Training and Support and mentoring.

Cons

Lots of competition in the real estate workplace.

Advice to Senior Management

Managment needs to visit the different sales office locations and speak directly to new and seasoned agents to see what can be done to help agents increase their market base.

Pros

Name recognition. Nice offices. Largest firm in the mid-atlantic states. Pretty good intranet for agents and employees. New computers in all of the offices.

Cons

Corporate, based out of Chantilly, Virginia is "Mecca". They have little concern for or knowledge of what occurs in the field. The company is separated into regions, with each region having a regional manager and a vp assigned to each region. I have never understood the purpose of the regional managers other than to tell the office Brokers that they need to recruit more agents. The company cares much more about being the biggest rather than having any sort of quality control and aiming to be the best. Basically, all you need is a pulse and a license and this company will hire you. Corporate has minimal knowledge of real estate technology and a warped sense of what it means to be "technologically savvy". Basically, it's a typical traditional real estate firm that is adverse to change and has no clue what the consumer really wants.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to be the best, rather than the largest firm. There are way to many offices - most agents work remotely now and don't need an office.

Pros

great support from all management, also supply quite a bit of free advertising as well as signs and newspaper ad.

Cons

i would have to say not to much to complain about, if get offered a decent commission and depends on how much you sell of course..

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the workers in mind, they are your bread and butter of your company. At this point tho it is a strength of long and foster.

Pros

Flexible, you manage your own schedule. There are a lot of offices that you can use around the area. Brand recognition to consumers is generally positive. Nice forms and computer resources; broad agnet network for out of area referrals; nice friendly atmosphere in general.

Cons

E&O fees are high. They take half of your rental commission regardless of volume, and right now rentals are the only reliable income stream, so it hurts.

Advice to Senior Management

For Coop rentals give agents 75%-85%. Reduce the admin fee, it is a tough sell right now, at least keep it under $300, so I can afford to pay it for clients sometimes.