Questions to Ask a Brokerage Before You Sign in Texas

How to use this list

Pick the questions that matter to you. You do not need all of them. Ask the same questions at every brokerage so you can compare the answers side by side.

Ask by email when you can. A written answer is easy to keep and hard to change later. This list is a method, not a ranking. For the bigger picture, read how to choose a brokerage in Texas.

Money questions

TREC lists fees you pay TREC. It does not set what a brokerage charges you, and we found no sponsorship fee on the TREC fee schedule. So costs come from each brokerage. Ask for a one-page fee list.

• What do I pay before my first closing? Include sign-up, desk, monthly, technology and E&O insurance fees.
• What do I pay on each closed deal? Include splits, caps, transaction fees and royalties.
• What do I pay if I have no closings in a month?
• What happens to fees if I make my license inactive? See how to make a Texas license inactive.
• Are there fees to leave?
• How and when am I paid? Under TREC rules, commissions go through your sponsoring broker.
• Which costs are required and which are optional?

Training and support questions

A new agent needs help most in the first months. Ask who gives it.

• Who answers my contract and compliance questions, and how fast?
• What does a new agent do in the first 30 days?
• Is training live, recorded or both? Is anyone reviewing my work?
• Will I have a mentor? Is that person paid, and does it cost me anything?
• How many agents does the broker support, and who handles that load?
• Do you require me to attend meetings or follow a schedule?

Leads and business questions

See do brokerages give you leads for how lead setups work. Then ask these.

• Does the brokerage give agents any leads? If so, what do they cost me in splits, fees or time?
• How are leads handed out when many agents want them?
• Do I keep my own leads, contacts and marketing accounts if I leave?
• What tools are included, such as a CRM, website and transaction software? What do I pay for extras?
• Is any income or lead number promised? If so, ask for the source and the year. Treat a promise of a set number as a warning sign.

Rules and compliance questions

TREC pages say the sponsoring broker must keep current written policies on advertising and remains responsible for the authorized acts of sponsored agents. A broker does not have to watch you every day, but the duties are real. Ask how the brokerage meets them.

• Do you have written advertising policies? How do I get my ads approved?
• How do you handle the IABS notice? TREC says it is due at the first substantive communication about specific property. See the IABS form guide.
• Who keeps transaction records, and where?
• Who is my sponsoring broker of record, and who runs the office day to day?
• What happens if a client files a complaint?

Contract questions

Ask to take the independent contractor agreement home. Read it before you pay anything.

• Can I see the full agreement now?
• How can the brokerage change fees or terms, and with how much notice?
• What happens to my listings and pending deals if I leave? See how to change your sponsoring broker.
• Who pays referral commissions after I leave?
• Is there a non-compete or notice period?

Culture and fit questions

Talk to at least two agents who joined in the past year. Ask them directly.

• What do you wish you had known before joining?
• How long did it take to get your first deal, and what helped?
• How do agents here treat each other? Do they share or compete?
• Would you join again?

How to score the answers

Use a simple three-color score for each brokerage.

A short email you can copy

You can send the same note to every brokerage. Keep it plain.

Hi, I am a newly licensed Texas agent comparing brokerages. Could you send me, in writing, your fee list, how agents are paid, what training a new agent gets, and a copy of the independent contractor agreement? I would also like to talk with one or two agents who joined this year. Thank you.

How a brokerage replies tells you something too. A fast, clear reply is a good sign. A reply that dodges the fee list is a yellow flag at least.

What to do after you have the answers

Put the answers in a simple table with one column per brokerage and one row per topic. Mark each cell green, yellow or red. Then look at the rows that matter most to you. A new agent who needs training should weigh support heavily. An agent with a strong network may care more about fees and exit terms.

Wait a day before you decide. Reread the agreement. If anything is still unclear, ask again. You are choosing the company that will sponsor your license, so a few extra days is a small cost.

Pair this with the red flags list

This list helps you ask. Our red flags guide helps you judge what you hear. Reading how to read brokerage reviews can help with the research step.

Where this fits

If you are licensed in DFW and want to see how one brokerage answers these questions, you can start a conversation with The Bauer Group on our site. Ask us the same list. Compare the answers with every other brokerage on your list.

Rules can change

Education only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm licensing rules with TREC.