Pros
They provide the little things (Open House signs, lockboxes, printers, conference rooms, etc.) that new agents need to list homes and very few things to market themselves as agents.
Cons
#ALLEN TATE-WINNERS EDGE TRAINING: It is touted by the company as being groundbreaking, but I would describe it as a 2 week short summary review of your pre-licensing class. It was not helpful, and actually a huge waste of time. #ALLEN TATE-SALESFORCE: Allen Tate requires it's new agents to use the Salesforce software to micro-manage their activities. If new agents don't utilize it, by spending countless hours acting as a date entry clerk, and they don't report their points to their BIC by the end of each month, they will be charged $250 just for their access to it, and their commission split will drop from 62% to 54%. If they do use it, it will take a minimum of 4 hours each week to properly input the information that is required with little to no return in value for the agent and their time spent doing it. Let me repeat, new agents are REQUIRED to use it. No options here. Also, the data you enter into this software is the property of Allen Tate. You can't take it with you; unless, you secretly store it as you enter it. #ALLEN TATE-FEES: New agents are charged $75 each month for office fees. This may seem like small change and appear to be beneficial for new agents at first; because, Allen Tate provides the little things that a new agent may not be aware they need to start their business. However; these fees build up fast, and new agents can purchase these items on their own with about $400, or about 5 months worth of fees. Allen Tate will not let more than 3 months worth of fees accrue without payment. So at a minimum, new agents will be paying $225 to Allen Tate every quarter for things they can purchase on their own, keep for themselves, and utilize throughout their real estate career no matter what agency they work for. #ALLEN TATE-OFFICE DUTY: Independent new agents are required to perform office time and act as the front desk person for the office they are associated with. These duties can range from 3-5 hours each time an agent is assigned to them, and they normally are assigned to them at least twice per week. Sometimes, if other agents are taking vacations and coverage of the desk is needed, the assignments will certainly be many many more than usual. Allen Tate touts this time as an opportunity for independent agents to gain walk-in, or call-in customers. In my year and a half with the company I gained ZERO customers from performing these duties. I could count on one hand how many phone calls I received inquiring about properties while working the front desk. No one goes to or calls the offices anymore; especially, when they can pull up any and all info they need on their phones. #ALLEN TATE-SALES MEETINGS: The Steele Creek office required ALL of it's agents to attend a weekly Sales Meeting every Tuesday from 9am to 10:30am, but it usually lasted longer. Also, the meetings consisted of hardly anything a new agent could use towards growing their own business. It normally consisted of vendors who were selling their services/products to agents of Allen Tate. Vendors like a knife company that sold engraved cullinary knife sets for $500 and above. The new agents could give them to their buying/selling clients, but what new agents have $500 upfront and out of their own pocket for a knife set to give to their potential clients? #ALLEN TATE-OVERALL RECAP: I would NEVER suggest Allen Tate to ANYONE looking to start their real estate career. The fees and charges are outrageous, the splits are terrible, the training is average, the platforms and tools REQUIRED to be used by new agents are pitiful and produce hardly no new business, and the required amount of time a new agent is required to dedicate to Allen Tate each week through meetings, office duty, and data entry can easily reach 20 hours each week. These 20 hours are not used to advance your career and rarely produce any paying clients. All these REQUIRED hours of you are free of charge by you and from you. Don't go volunteering your time to Allen Tate. Find another agency and dedicate your time to making money for yourself and your family.