by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Start Packin’ Realty offers an opportunity for part-time real estate agents to help Realtors while making a little money for themselves.
“We are a valid opportunity for real estate agents who worked hard to get their license that are having difficulty in the real estate market, but yet they still have the opportunity to make some commission money legally,” said Bill Collins, broker/owner of Start Packin’ Realty, a real estate referral company.
The company was originally set up for real estate agents who did not want to pay the fees necessary to be called a Realtor.
“They took the classes and got their license, but didn’t want to do it full-time,” said Collins, a Navy retiree. “We offer them a viable opportunity to put their license somewhere in an active situation so they can still make a few dollars of commission.”
How does a referral company work?
Start Packin’ Realty agents find the customer, whether they are a buyer or seller, and introduce them to a real estate broker or his or her representative.
“As an agent of Start Packin’ Realty, if a friend, family member or someone they meet wants to buy or sell a property, they run it through the company legitimately and in turn receive a portion of the commission legally,” said Collins. “They can refer it to a broker they know or we can find them someone to refer it to through our network of brokers.”
When he meets an agent who would like to participate in the referral program, Collins needs an agreement with their broker before anything can happen.
“He or she has to agree to the program because all listings go through the broker,” said Collins. “We refer through email and the broker or his agent handles the transaction.”
After they have received acceptance of the program, Collins emails the referral to the broker.
“We handle everything through email,” he said. “We send the referral to the broker with all of the customer’s information, all the requirements and fees for the referral and what we expect them to do administratively, such as keep us informed of the progress.”
He said they send him back a note acknowledging the referral and, if they have an agent in mind to handle it, the agent’s name and contact information.
Why would a broker take the business, knowing they will pay part of the commission if the purchase or sale goes through?
“We have a customer for them that they have never had before,” said Collins. “Many brokers would rather give up money in commission in anticipation of maybe selling one of their listings. If they sell one of their listings, then they get whatever the contract calls for in the negotiations with their customer if it all works out.”
Collins said they don’t take customers out in cars, don’t find the listings, don’t handle the paperwork or have to deal with the legal liability of a contract, but they do get paid.
Start Packin’ Realty agents get 25 percent of the commission on the side referred. The office currently has seven referral agents.
Collins said he sends out a postcard often to inactive agents to see if they are interested in joining his company. The company was originally
started in 1999 in St. Augustine. Collins started with the company in 2003 and bought the company from its original owner in 2006 and started working from Jacksonville Beach. “I live in Jacksonville Beach but the office is physically still in St. Augustine,” said Collins. “No one ever goes there, but legally, we have to have a place that is commercially viable to hang our license to meet with the zoning laws, state requirements and the Florida Real Estate Commission rules.”