A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LICENSED REALTORS® · NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
A new brokerage.
A considered move.
You can explore your options before deciding to leave. Start with a clear picture of the support, costs and transition work involved.
01 / DEFINE THE REASON FOR A MOVE
What needs
to work better?
Changing brokerages is a business decision. Start by identifying what you want to improve: access to leadership, marketing support, administration, technology, your commission arrangement or the way your business fits within the office.
Separate the things you need from the things that would be nice to have. That makes it easier to compare brokerages on the same terms and recognize whether a move would address the actual problem.
A confidential conversation with Steve Winters, Owner / Broker at Royal LePage Atlantic Homestead, can help you explore the local support and national resources available here. Tell him a safe time and method for returning your inquiry.
02 / COMPARE TERMS BEFORE TIMING
Understand the costs.
Understand the support.
A headline split is only part of the comparison. Review the full commission arrangement alongside the charges and services that affect your business.
Request the applicable terms in writing. Make sure you understand what is included, what is optional and which costs depend on production, transactions or service use. Compare those terms with the services you currently pay for separately.
Your comparison checklist
- Commission structure and any thresholds
- Recurring brokerage, franchise or technology charges
- Transaction and administration charges
- Marketing, transaction coordination and Agent Assist scope
- Lead assignment and any referral charges
- Notice, outstanding charges and account closure terms
These are items to check, not a statement that every brokerage or plan has each charge.
Explore Royal LePage Atlantic Homestead’s support for experienced Realtors ↗03 / REVIEW THE WORK ALREADY UNDERWAY
Plan around
your active files.
Before choosing a departure date, list your active listings, buyer relationships, pending transactions, deposits, deadlines and expected commissions. Review how each will be handled under the relevant agreements and brokerage procedures.
Do not assume a listing, representation agreement or transaction automatically follows you. Confirm any necessary brokerage agreement, client consent, documentation and responsibility for ongoing service before communicating a change.
Agree who will handle outstanding paperwork, notices, closing details and commission accounting. A written file-by-file plan is more useful than a general assurance that the move will be easy.
04 / CONTACTS, ACCOUNTS AND YOUR PUBLIC PRESENCE
Know what you own.
Know what can move.
Inventory your contact database, email address, website, domain, social accounts, photographs, marketing templates and subscriptions. Identify which are yours, which belong to the brokerage or another provider, and which need a new agreement.
Review permissions and privacy obligations before exporting or sharing records. A contact list may contain personal information and brokerage records; being able to download it does not, by itself, establish permission to take it.
Plan the changeover
- Authorized records and a secure transfer method
- Email access and forwarding arrangements
- Website, domain and account ownership
- CRM setup and training
- Signage and approved marketing updates
- Client communication at the agreed time
05 / CONFIRM THE REQUIRED STEPS
Check the process.
Then set the date.
A brokerage move involves more than changing a logo. Confirm the current licensing and brokerage-change requirements with the provincial regulator, and any membership or MLS updates with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of REALTORS®.
Coordinate the sequence with the brokerages involved. Confirm when the new arrangement becomes effective and when you may begin trading under it. Do not assume an administrative change has been completed simply because an application has been submitted.
Use the current official requirements for your circumstances. This guide is a planning aid rather than a complete transfer procedure or a determination of your contractual obligations.
06 / MAKE THE FIRST MONTH PRACTICAL
Arrive with
a working plan.
Before the move, agree on the setup you need and the people responsible for it. At Royal LePage Atlantic Homestead, that conversation can cover brokerage guidance, marketing, transaction support, rlpSPHERE training and how to connect clients with the Client Services & Concierge Division.
Use your first month to confirm account access, learn the file and support processes, organize approved contact records and put your next marketing activity into motion. Set a check-in to address anything that is not working as expected.
The schedule should follow your active commitments and the setup involved. There is no single transition timetable that fits every agent.
07 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Get clarity
before committing.
Will my listings and pending transactions move with me?
Not automatically. Review each file and the applicable agreements with the brokerages involved. Confirm required permissions, documentation, servicing responsibilities and commission arrangements before making promises to clients.
How long does a brokerage change take?
Timing depends on your agreements, active files, required administrative steps and account setup. Confirm those dependencies first, then agree on a realistic date and transition sequence.
Can I move my database into rlpSPHERE?
Start by confirming which records you are authorized to transfer, the export options available and the format needed. Discuss setup and privacy requirements before importing records into a new system.
What should I bring to my first conversation?
Bring your goals, current service and fee information, the systems you use and a broad picture of your active commitments. You can start without sharing client names, confidential files or proprietary brokerage information.
A DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH STEVE WINTERS · OWNER / BROKER
Bring your questions.
Take your time.
Talk about your business, the support you need and whether Royal LePage Atlantic Homestead is the right fit. Let Steve know a safe time and way to reach you.