Get clear on why
Income, autonomy, admin load, brand, leadership, or the systems you're stuck with. Write the top two down — they decide which agency actually fixes the problem.
For agents · Career
Changing real estate agency in New Zealand: a practical guide.
Most agents don't leave over money alone — they leave over admin, autonomy and being one of two hundred names under someone else's brand. Here's how to check your position, compare offers properly, and move without losing momentum.
The move, step by step
Six stages from itch to first listing.
Read your agreement
Notice period, restraint of trade, database ownership, pipeline and unsettled-sale commission, and anything you'd have to repay. Take legal advice if the restraint is broad.
Model the numbers
Run last year's settled sales through both models — split, fees, software, marketing. Compare annual take-home, not the headline percentage.
Interview the agency, not the recruiter
Ask to see the CRM, a real vendor report, the marketing turnaround times and what support exists on a Friday at 5pm. Talk to two of their agents without a manager present.
Plan the handover
Time the move between campaigns. Sort licence transfer, brand assets, signage, CRM export and your appraisal pipeline before your last day.
Tell your database first
Your past clients are the asset. A short personal message before the public announcement protects the relationships you spent years building.
Comparing agencies
What to weigh besides the split.
- →Total cost of being there: desk fees, franchise fees, CRM, website, signage, marketing shortfalls.
- →The tech you get for free versus the seven subscriptions you'd otherwise stitch together.
- →Who does the admin — listing loading, compliance, trust accounting, vendor reports.
- →Brand: whose name is above the door, and what happens to it if you leave.
- →Lead flow: what's actually generated for you, versus what you generate yourself.
- →People: the peers you'll learn from and the support that answers after hours.
If you're weighing it up
Your own brand, 85% of every sale, and a back office that runs itself.
The Network is built for experienced New Zealand agents who want their name above the door without building a back office from scratch — residential, business, commercial and rural.
FAQ
Switching agency — common questions.
What should I check before leaving my current agency?+
Read your salesperson agreement first: notice period, restraint of trade, who owns the database and marketing material, how commission on pipeline listings and unsettled sales is paid after you leave, and any repayment clauses on advances, marketing or training.
Do my listings move with me?+
Usually not automatically. The agency agreement is between the vendor and the agency, not you. Vendors can choose to end an agreement and relist, subject to its terms and any cancellation provisions, so treat every listing as a conversation rather than an assumption.
Do I need to tell the REA when I change agency?+
Your licence is tied to the agency you work for, so the change has to be recorded with the Real Estate Authority. In practice the incoming agency handles the paperwork with you — confirm your licence status is transferred before you start listing.
When is the best time to move?+
Most agents move between campaigns rather than mid-campaign: after settlements land, before the next listing push. Give yourself a few weeks for licence transfer, brand assets, CRM migration and letting your database know.
How do I compare two agencies fairly?+
Run your last twelve months of sales through both models. Include the split, every fee, the tools you'd have to buy yourself, and the hours of admin you'd get back. Compare annual take-home dollars, not headline percentages.
General information only, not legal advice. Check your own agreement and the Real Estate Authority's guidance for licensing requirements.