Windermere Real Estate Reviews

Pros

up to you how hard you want to work. Comapny name has meaning in the city.

Cons

high split and office fees. horrible website and technology

Advice to Senior Management

fix your website and get in front of the tech curve

Pros

Working for the regional leader in residential real estate.

Cons

Very paternalisticin the operations of the company.

Pros

Management is supportive and encourages all employees to succeed. Of all Realty companies in Walla Walla, Windermere is the most competent and fair with the compensation to the employees.

Cons

It is difficult to make it in any real estate company when first starting out. In this down economy several people had to quit in order to make money to live. This is not a job for those who do not have significant savings or another source of income.

Pros

Good locationa nd advertsing to bring in clients.

Cons

Everyone is out for themselves in the real estate world, it appears.

Advice to Senior Management

Say hello to the lower level employees once in a while.

Pros

Close to home
Can make lots of money
Great training and competent friendly agent

Cons

0 Benefits
You can make no money
Don't expect leads to just land on your desk

Advice to Senior Management

Outsource web authoring (within USA)
Don't shrug or laugh off Redfin - take lessons from them before they bury you - they are stronger than you give them credit for.

Pros

Windermere is a fantastic brand, or has been over the years, with market dominance in the region, state, and on Bainbridge Island. The very best reason to work there is that the agents are the top people in the industry, and wonderful people.

Cons

The broker/owner is unable to provide the leadership, support staff and fairness in compensation/split.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your top agents. Take the long view instead of chasing the dollar today. For the agents to succeed, the corporate culture needs to be positive and upbeat with adequate support.

Pros

Everyone treats each other with a good deal of respect and professionalism. Most are hard-workers and are willing to help each other become better agents. Great training, although it may depend on which office you're at. Simple the best company out there for agents.

Cons

Expensive. But some might say worth it.

Advice to Senior Management

Adjust commission split to reflect current economic conditions.

Pros

This is a good place for someone starting out or someone who is completely incompetent with technology. The canned programs are pretty easy for just about anyone.

Cons

Office fees are way too expensive. They will try and make you feel like "one of the family" and create a sense of community to justify the the fees, but in the end the services are simple and not justified by the cost (up to $29,000 per year). What they offer was ahead of the curve in 2000, but this industry has changed very rapidly and they had fallen behind in cost to benefit by 2010.

Advice to Senior Management

Wake up and let go of the old model. Things have changed and the way agents work and survive have changed radically.

Pros

Most of the agents are very nice, and the office is a nice place to work. Management is flexible in terns of time off.

Cons

The real estate market isn't the best right now, so raises etc. were low if any. Working on the weekends isn't the best.

Advice to Senior Management

Management was pretty good, only so much they can do if people just aren't buying as many houses. Maybe a fish tank in the lobby.

Pros

Great public image. Good growth opportunity,great support as well. Windermere has great marketing resources as well. Windermere is one of the most respected companies in the Seattle area. It has a great corporate image and good support for its agents. I have had great support even though I can no longer make a living at it. I will return to real estate sale as soon as the economy recovers. I do not think that will happen until 2010 at the earliest. In the mean time we will all just have to find other ways to make a living. Good luck to all, but if you thinking of getting into real estate, Windermere is the best company to go with.

Cons

Real estate market is very weak.

Advice to Senior Management

Thank you for your support. Hopefully the market will come back soon.