TL;DR: Many agents are quietly questioning if they’re in the right place. Common reasons include:
- High splits without real support
- Empty “we’ll give you leads” promises
- A culture that feels isolating or misaligned
- Training that hasn’t kept up with today’s market
- No clear path to grow their business or brand
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Keep reading, we’ll break down what’s really going on and how to tell if it’s time to make a change.
1. The 2025 Reality Check: It Is Not “Just You”
The market has shifted, consumer expectations have evolved, and the job has become more complex.
You are navigating tighter inventory, commission transparency, more scrutiny, rapid technology changes, and clients who research everything before calling you. Under that kind of pressure, any weakness in your brokerage model becomes painfully obvious.
In many markets, more agents are switching brokerages, and newer agents struggle to get steady traction.
| Reality Check Metric | Insights |
| Agents who changed brokerages in past year | 10% or 144,000 individuals |
| New agents closing 0 to 1 deal in year one | 49% of Agents |
| Average tenure with the same brokerage | 5 years |
This matters for one reason: if you feel unsupported, stuck, or confused where you are, that feeling is not random. It is a signal.
2. The Value Gap: “Why Am I Paying For This, Again?”
One of the most common breaking points is simple.
The value does not match the bill.
You pay your split. You pay your fees. You promote the brand. Then one day you stop and ask:
“What am I really getting in return?”
For too many agents, the honest answer is:
A logo, a login, and a reminder to pay on time.
If your brokerage cannot clearly explain the support, tools, and opportunities you receive in exchange for your split, frustration is not only natural. It is rational.
| What You Expect From Your Split | What Many Agents Actually Get |
| Clear mentorship and guidance | Occasional generic group meetings |
| Real marketing support | A logo file and a good luck message |
| Systems for leads and structured follow up | Spreadsheets, guesswork, and no accountability |
| Admin or transaction support | “Ask if something breaks” responses |
| Strategic coaching and growth planning | Random tips with no real framework |
3. The Lead Mirage: “We Give You Leads”
The word “leads” gets abused more than any other in recruiting.
You may have heard promises like:
“We have more leads than our agents can handle.”
Then you sign.
Suddenly, “more leads than you can handle” looks like:
- Unqualified inquiries with no context.
- Old lists every agent has already called.
- One or two random opportunities, followed by silence.
Income instability is one of the main reasons agents start looking elsewhere. They do not necessarily need thousands of leads. They need a system that is real, trackable, and fair.
Smart agents in 2025 are asking:
Who creates the leads? How are they distributed? Are there ISAs or follow up processes? Can you show me real numbers, not slogans?
If your brokerage cannot walk you through that with evidence, it is a marketing line, not a support system.
4. Culture And Leadership: The Feeling When You Walk In
Let us talk about your gut.
You know that feeling when you walk into the office and it is heavy. No eye contact. No collaboration. People hoarding information. Leadership nowhere to be found unless there is a problem.
I once sat with three agents from the same brokerage, in three separate conversations. Each of them said almost exactly this:
“If I disappeared tomorrow, I am not sure anyone here would notice.”
Agents leave when:
- Leadership is distant or inconsistent.
- Communication is poor.
- Wins are ignored.
- Feedback is dismissed.
- The culture feels like survival, not growth.
On the other hand, brokerages that keep people longer are very clear. They communicate. They coach. They celebrate. They listen.
Trust your reading in the room. It is usually accurate.
5. Training Stuck In The Past
If your training still sounds like it was written for 2010, you have a problem.
Today’s environment requires:
- Real guidance on commission transparency and buyer representation.
- Modern marketing and social media strategies.
- Roleplays, scripting, handling objections in real scenarios.
- Help using technology and systems properly.
If your “training” is an occasional webinar, a dusty manual, and a Facebook group announcement, that is not development. That is documentation.
I regularly see talented agents blossom after one change: they move into an environment where training is practical, current, and ongoing.
6. Tech And Marketing: Silent Deal Makers (Or Killers)
Technology is not about having the most apps. It is about whether your brokerage helps you:
- Keep track of your database.
- Follow up at the right time.
- Look professional online.
- Promote listings in a way that stands out.
Agents leave when:
- Systems are outdated or disconnected.
- There is no help setting them up.
- They feel overshadowed by agents in other brokerages with better branding, media, or online presence.
If you are trying to stitch everything together on your own while others have integrated tools, editors, templates, and support, the gap will keep growing.
7. Money Surprises, Reputation Risks, And Red Flags
Sometimes the decision to leave is not emotional. It is operational.
Agents walk away when they discover:
- Undisclosed fees.
- Mandatory marketing programs that do not perform.
- Complicated referral rules that cut into income.
- Reputation issues, public complaints, or legal concerns tied to the brokerage.
You work hard to build trust with clients. If you start wondering whether your brokerage name helps that trust or hurts it, that is a serious sign to step back and reassess.
A trustworthy brokerage is transparent. You know the costs. You know the policies. You know how they handle compliance and client protection.
8. The Emotional Truth: Guilt, Fear, And Relief
Here is the part we do not talk about enough.
Many agents stay in the wrong place for too long because of guilt and fear.
“I feel bad leaving.”
“I do not want to look disloyal.”
“I am scared to start over.”
I have watched agents go through this many times. Almost always, the story ends the same way. They move. They rebuild their systems. Three to six months later they say:
“I did not realize how heavy it felt until it lifted.”
You are allowed to want better leadership. Better support. Better alignment. You are allowed to choose an environment that matches how seriously you take your business.
That is not betrayal. That is stewardship of your career.
9. A 7 Question Self Audit
If you are unsure whether to stay or go, ask yourself:
- Do I clearly understand what I receive in return for my split and fees?
- Am I getting real, qualified opportunities, or just vague talk about leads?
- Is there consistent coaching or training that actually improves my results?
- Do I have systems and support for marketing, admin, and follow up?
- Do I trust leadership to guide us through industry changes?
- Is there a path for me to grow here in the next 3 to 5 years?
- Am I proud to put this brokerage next to my name?
If most answers are no, that is your data.
10. How To Choose Your Next Brokerage Wisely
If you start exploring, do it with intention.
Ask every potential brokerage:
- What does your onboarding look like in the first 30, 60, 90 days?
- What systems do you use, and who helps me set them up?
- How do you generate leads, and how are they distributed?
- Can I speak to agents who joined recently?
- What are all the fees and terms? Can I see them clearly in writing?
Pay attention not only to what they say, but how specific they are.
Vague promises are a red flag. Clear, documented processes are a green light.
Encourage your readers here to verify what they are told using independent reviews, public data, and real conversations with existing agents. That aligns with a trust-first, research-friendly mindset.
11. Where The Anna Alemi Real Estate Team Fits In
At the heart of this conversation is one belief.
Your brokerage should not just be a place where your license sits. It should be a place that helps you grow a stable, smart, and sustainable business.
A strong environment for agents:
- Offers real systems, not slogans.
- Provides coaching that fits today’s market.
- Protects your reputation and supports your clients.
- Celebrate your wins and backs you up when things get hard.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to at the Anna Alemi Real Estate Team in Ottawa.
We build around support, structure, and culture, so that when an agent walks in, they feel seen, backed, and part of something that actually moves their business forward.
If you are quietly exploring your options, use this guide as your checklist. Ask better questions. Protect your future. And if you ever want a transparent conversation about what a support-first, agent-focused home can look like, you know where to find us. Call us at 613-900-0009 or visit us at Suite 205 – 2283 Saint Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, K1G 5A2.