The value of continuing agent education with Century 21’s Jim D’Amico

In today’s episode, we have a fantastic chat with Jim D’Amico, the CEO and president of Century 21 North East. Jim is a 2020 RealTrends Gamechanger, touting an impressive transaction growth rate of 179% between 2014 and 2018.

Jim shares the one small change that he made early in his career that led to massive growth in his professional and personal life. He also discusses his specific approach to acquisitions, the inherent value of continuing education for agents, and much more.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• Acquisitions have played a key role in the company’s growth strategy, with a focus on cultural fit and opportunities that align with their goals.
• It’s important to say ahead of industry changes and adapting to market dynamics.
• Agent education is a top priority. Focus on providing training and resources to help agents navigate industry changes and better serve their clients.
• Personal setbacks often come with lessons, including the importance of humility and personal growth.
• The future holds organic growth, attracting top agents, and continuing to provide resources and support for their team.

Here’s a small preview of today’s interview. The transcript below has been lightly edited for length and clarity:

Tracey Velt: I’m hearing all kinds of things out there. I’ve heard one broker who’s insisting that what’s going to happen is the compensation is not going to be in the MLS. It’s really interesting across the board.  I guess it depends on how professional you are as an agent and how much you’re really attending those knowledge sessions.

Jim D’Amico: So many agents just don’t want to pay attention to the things that are happening in the industry, they “dabbling in real estate” or whatever. We’ve been really diligent about getting our agents to pay attention. You need to pay attention. You need to know what’s going on.

The reality is, is if there is no compensation and they don’t recognize that from the jump, then they may do work for free. That’s something that they need to understand. That’s something that I think you’re going to find that a lot moving forward in this industry.

The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch.