Real estate agents leave their jobs fast, sometimes after just a few months. Why? Poor support, unclear goals, or better offers elsewhere. If you're tired of the constant turnover, you’re not alone.
The good news is there’s a better way to retain real estate agents and build a team that stays for the long run. In this blog, you’ll learn simple but powerful real estate recruiting strategies that improve loyalty, reduce agent turnover, and boost your business.
Want to see these strategies in action? Watch this quick video to learn how top real estate teams keep their best agents engaged and loyal.
Why Real Estate Agents Quit (and How to Stop It)
Real estate jobs move quickly. Some teams, like those in Idaho, have a turnover rate of over 100%. That means more agents are leaving than staying. Ouch.
To fix this, start with feedback. Use a tool like an NPS survey (Net Promoter Score). It’s a quick way to learn how your team feels. Try doing it every 6 months instead of once a year. You’ll catch problems early and reduce agent turnover before it hurts your team.
Regular feedback helps you stay ahead of issues and retain your agents.
How to Hire the Right Real Estate Agent
Don’t rely on resumes alone. Test new agents with real-world tasks.
Let them shadow a top-performing agent. This gives them real exposure and helps you see if they’re the right fit for your team.
As one team leader shared:
“We always pitch it as a benefit for them as well as us.”
They get to learn. You get to observe. Real-world job previews help you make smarter hires.
Real Estate Hiring Tips for Support and Admin Roles
Support team members are just as important. Use a simple hiring system:
- Ask for a short video where they say why they want the job.
- Give them a paid test task that takes 8 hours.
- Offer a 30-day paid trial for the best one.
This helps you find people who are motivated, responsible, and ready to help the team grow. A multi-step hiring process helps filter for quality.
How Feedback Improves Real Estate Agent Retention
If you want to keep your agents, make sure they feel heard. That starts with regular check-ins.
Start small. Ask simple questions in one-on-one meetings:
- “What’s going well?”
- “What’s one thing we could do better?”
Over time, grow into monthly team feedback sessions. Yes, it may feel weird at first, but it helps.
One manager said:
“A monthly feedback session can be awkward, but it leads to breakthroughs.”
Feedback builds trust. Trust builds strong teams.
Create a Real Estate Team Culture That Keeps Agents Happy
People don’t quit jobs—they quit bad teams. So make your team a place where people want to stay.
Teach your team to talk things out directly, not behind each other’s backs. Show them how to give and take feedback in a kind, honest way.
Create a space where:
- People feel safe speaking up
- Problems are solved together
- Everyone feels respected
This is how strong real estate team culture is built.
Real Example: Fixing Feedback Gone Wrong
One real estate company used to give feedback on the fly, mostly through random Slack messages. It caused stress and confusion.
So they changed things up:
- Feedback only during weekly one-on-ones
- Notes were written down and tracked
- No surprises, just clear plans
This small change led to better focus, fewer mistakes, and a happier team.
Should You Offer Base Pay + Commission to Real Estate Agents?
Pay matters—but it’s not everything.
Many real estate teams offer a small base salary plus commission. This gives agents security and rewards them when they close deals.
Some teams say this works well. Others say high performers prefer full commission, where they can earn more. The key is to match the pay with your goals—and be open with your team about what works best for them.
Retaining Your Team = Growing Your Business
Here’s the truth: If you want to grow your real estate business, you need to keep your best people. That’s what real estate employee retention is all about.
- Use smart hiring tests
- Ask for feedback often
- Communicate with care
- Reward performance
- Build a culture people love
When you take care of your team, they’ll take care of your clients. And that’s how you grow together.
Final Takeaway
Keeping your agents isn’t about flashy perks or big promises. It’s about showing them they matter—every single day.
When you focus on smart hiring, open feedback, and building real trust, your team becomes stronger. People stay longer. They work better. And your whole business grows.
So if you’re wondering how to retain real estate agents, start with the basics:
- Listen to them
- Train and support them
- Build a place they’re proud to be part of
Because when you invest in people, they invest in you right back.
