Thinking about starting your own real estate team? It sounds like a great idea—more support, more efficiency, and a chance to scale your business. But after 29+ years in the business, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of running a real estate team. I started as a solo agent and eventually built The Wyatt Poindexter Group before returning back to solo production when I launched The Agency Oklahoma.
Here’s my personal experience, lessons learned, and what you should know before making the leap.
The Good: Why Starting a Real Estate Team Sounds Like a Great Idea
For 21 years, I handled everything on my own—marketing, paperwork, transaction coordination, showings, listings, you name it. I was stretched thin, and at one point, I had 50 active listings and was working with 12 buyers at once. I couldn’t keep up.
I remember taking a Spring Break ski trip with my family, and instead of enjoying it, I spent my time working from the ski lift—setting up showings and negotiating offers mid-air. That was when I knew something had to change.
So, when another Realtor suggested I start a team, it seemed like the perfect solution. Here’s what was great about it:
✅ More Free Time – Delegating showings and admin work freed up my schedule.
✅ Scalability – A team could handle more clients at once.
✅ More Leads, More Closings – With the right people, a team could increase production.
✅ Specialized Roles – Having buyer’s agents and transaction coordinators meant everyone could focus on what they did best.
But here’s where things got complicated…
The Bad: The Reality of Managing a Team
What I didn’t do in the beginning was vet my agents and operations roles. I trusted too easily and didn’t set the right expectations upfront. I made the mistake of assuming people shared my work ethic and values, but the reality was very different. Here’s what I learned the hard way:
❌ Some Team Members Will Try to Steal Your Business – I had agents secretly telling clients that I no longer sold real estate, that I was just the “team owner,” or that I didn’t work in certain areas—all to steal business behind my back.
❌ Other Competitive Realtors Spreading Misinformation – I also dealt with outside agents telling potential clients that if you hire Wyatt, you only get his team and not actually him—which was completely false. This misleading tactic was an effort to discredit me and take business away, despite the fact that I was always actively involved in my listings and transactions. It was frustrating to see how competitors used misinformation to create doubt in potential clients’ minds.
❌ Some Just Want a Shortcut to Success – One agent used my name to build his reputation, then left to start his own business once he had enough clients.
❌ Lack of Accountability – Not all agents had the same work ethic. Some wouldn’t follow up with leads, showed up late, or weren’t taking their role seriously.
❌ Loyalty Isn’t Guaranteed – Around year three, I noticed a pattern: team members started to feel entitled, asking for higher commissions without realizing I was the one generating the leads. They truly believed they were irreplaceable, which is a dangerous mindset. But here’s the truth—ANYONE can be replaced.
❌ Drama & Internal Conflict – When you have multiple personalities on a team, there will be conflict. I spent too much time solving team drama instead of focusing on my clients and business.
I have always had a tendency to be nice to people and to help others. This is something my parents instilled in me, and it has served me well in life and business. However, I’ve also learned that being too nice can be a downfall in real estate. Not everyone deserves kindness when they aren’t meeting expectations. I’m learning to be more bold and direct when necessary—because at the end of the day, this is business, and accountability matters.
Most agents who start a team like to use it as their personal platform to show off their production numbers. Yes, I was once guilty of this. Many agents create a team so they can combine every agent’s production and make their personal numbers look bigger. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it’s not a true representation of the agent’s actual production. It’s important to understand the reality behind the numbers when looking at top-producing teams.
I have also personally dealt with a con artist on my team that I didn’t realize was one until after they left, and everyone started telling me the truth. It was shocking to see the level of deception and dishonesty that had taken place right under my nose. Lesson learned—always do background checks and due diligence before bringing people into your business.
The Ugly: The Worst of It
I had some unbelievable experiences that made me question everything about having a team:
🚩 One agent asked my seller if he could bring his girlfriend back to swim in their vacant home. What?!
🚩 Another agent tried upselling buyers on a different home while showing mine—while the sellers watched on their security cameras! They fired me immediately for my team member’s actions.
🚩 One agent bought the same car as me, introduced himself to a client as “me,” and tried to impersonate me. Yes, really.
🚩 Worst of all, I lost so much business due to team members and their greed. Some team members poached my listings, spread false information about my business, and used my name to benefit themselves, only to leave when they had built their own brand. The amount of lost deals and damage to my reputation was overwhelming. Lesson learned!
I learned the hard way that not everyone can be trusted and that if you don’t set strict guidelines and expectations, your business—and reputation—can suffer.
Final Thoughts: Should You Start a Real Estate Team?
✅ DO start a team if…
✔ You have a strong vetting process and set clear expectations.
✔ You are a natural leader who enjoys managing others and hiring people for operations that will have your back.
✔ You have systems in place to handle lead generation, marketing, and accountability.
✔ You are prepared to pay for mistakes (and there will be some!).
❌ DON’T start a team if…
✖ You struggle with delegation.
✖ You assume everyone will be as loyal as you are.
✖ You don’t want to deal with drama, turnover, or entitlement.
✖ You enjoy being in control of your personal brand and client relationships.
Starting a team can be rewarding, but it’s not for everyone. If you decide to build a team, do it the right way—screen every agent, set boundaries, and protect your business. If not, you may find that being a solo agent is the best decision you ever make.
Thinking About Luxury Real Estate? Work with The Agency Oklahoma
Whether you’re buying, selling, or just need advice on growing your business, I’d love to help.
📲 Wyatt Poindexter | The Agency Oklahoma
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.WyattPoindexter.com
📞 405-417-5466
