My Experience Working as a Redfin Associate Agent for 2 Years

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My Experience Working as a Redfin Associate Agent for 2 Years

I worked as a Redfin Associate Agent from March 2019 to March 2021. Many people have reached out to me to ask about my experience as an Associate Agent. 

In this article, I answer the top questions I have received about being a Redfin Associate Agent. These experiences are 100% my own and may look different for others depending on the location and what is happening in the real estate market. 

This article is in no way affiliated with Redfin. 

Check out the Redfin Associate Agent Position here

My Experience as a Redfin Associate Agent

Overall, my experience as a Redfin Associate Agent has been great. I worked with a lot of really great people, had a lot of fun touring houses, and made decent money while I did it.

Why I Became a Redfin Associate Agent

I previously worked as a leasing agent for a property management firm where I first got my real estate license. When I left that job to work somewhere else (not in real estate) I wanted to keep my real estate license active. 

I heard about the Redfin Associate Agent position and how you could hang your license with them, show houses, and earn some money. This sounded like a great opportunity to keep my license active while working a different full time job, and be able to earn a bit of money. 

I worked as an Associate Agent as a side hustle for a while and then eventually quit my 9-5 job to spend more time working on the business I was building as well as work as an Associate Agent more. It was a really great set up for 2 years. 

Redfin Associate Agent Job Review

Overall I really enjoyed being a Redfin Associate Agent for those 2 years. It was a great experience. It worked out perfect for my current life situation. It was extremely flexible, and didn’t require a lot of responsibility on my part. I could “take time off” whenever I wanted without any approvals. I could work as much or as little as I’d like. Everyone that I did know at Redfin was great, and so were the clients who I worked with.

Not only that, but I really like what Redfin stands for and how they are trying to make real estate more accessible, and affordable for more people. I’m a little bummed to no longer be working as a Redfin Associate Agent, but it was time to move on.

Why I Left the Redfin Associate Agent Position

First off, I left Redfin with absolutely no hard feelings at all. I was simply ready for more of a challenge. There is not a lot of responsibility or creative thinking need in the Redfin Associate Agent position – which I very much enjoyed for the 2 years I was with them. 

I wanted a little bit more freedom and control over what I did with my real estate license, and that wasn’t entirely possible at Redfin. But I’m super thankful for what the position was while I worked there!  

Pros and Cons Of Being a Redfin Associate Agent

Pros of Being a Redfin Associate Agent

• The job is extremely flexible 
• You get to determine where and when you work
• Redfin Tour Coordinators schedule tours for you (this may vary per state)
• Makes for a really good side hustle job for those with a real estate license 
• No responsibility after showing houses 

Cons of Being a Redfin Associate Agent

• They don’t allow you to do your transactions
• You can’t earn referral fees unless the referral is inside of Redfin
• Not a lot of team interaction
• No benefits  
• Not a lot of room for creativity or critical thinking

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Common Questions About Being A Redfin Associate Agent

Some of this information is market specific and may differ state by state. Check with your local Contractor Relations Admin (CRA) for details specific to your market.

Do You Need a Real Estate License to Become a Redfin Associate Agent

Yes, an active real estate license is needed to be a Redfin Associate Agent. You will need to pay for your licenses as well as your continuing education. 

What Does Redfin Provide For You as an Associate Agent? 

Redfin provides your own Redfin email address, E&O insurance for you, as well as your own business cards. This may vary for different states so check with your local CRA.

You do not need to pay brokerage fees to be a Redfin Associate Agent. 

What Do I Need to Pay for as a Redfin Associate Agent? 

You will need to pay for your own real estate license, your continuing education, MLS fees, REALTOR dues, as well as gas for your car. 

Since it is a contract position, you will also need to pay taxes yourself. 

How Flexible is the Redfin Associate Agent Position? 

In my experience, it was extremely flexible. I was able to determine my own hours, as well as the territory that I covered for showings. 

If I wanted to “take time off” I didn’t have to get it approved by anyone, I simply turned off my availability. 

Are There Minimum Hours or Tours Needed to be a Redfin Associate Agent? 

I did not need to meet any minimum working hours or tours in order to be an Associate Agent. 

I’m sure if you stopped working for several months someone would reach out to ask why. 

How Many Hours Will I Work as a Redfin Associate Agent

This will depend on your market and how busy it is, as well as how many Associate Agents work in your territory. Redfin also does not keep track of hours worked. 

Some tours took me less than 10 minutes. However, if I had many different houses I was showing to one customer, I could be out for several hours. 

Your open availability will also help determine how many hours you work. 

Who Do I Report To as a Redfin Associate Agent?

You will have a Contractor Relations Admin (CRA) that acts sort of like a manager for all Associate Agents in your market.

Contact your CRA whenever you have questions and concerns.

What Is Required of an Associate Agent During a Home Tour? 

Redfin likes when you show up a little bit early to open the door and turn the lights on. You can answer questions about the house that are provided on the MLS listing, however, Redfin doesn’t want you to talk about the price or quality of the home. 

During my tours, I did like to educate clients about things to be aware of. So I would point out obvious things within the house, but never mention my opinion in regards to the value. 

How Do Redfin Associate Agents Get Paid?

Associate Agents are paid per event completed. Whether it is a home tour, open house, inspection attended, lockbox retrieval, or something else.

How Predictable is the Pay as a Redfin Associate Agent? 

It’s not super predictable. Even if you keep your schedule open, it isn’t a guarantee you’ll be scheduled for tours. Typically, my schedule filled up over the spring and summer months, however, over the fall and winter I earned less because there was less activity in the market then. 

How Much Can You Earn As a Redfin Associate Agent?

This will really depend on how available you are, what the market is like in your area, and how many Associate Agents cover your territory too. 

You can earn more money if you make yourself available on the evenings and weekends – Redfin pays more for home tours during those times. 

You can also earn more money if you are willing to cover more territory. 

Typically, I earned more during the spring and summer months because that is when the market is more active. 

Redfin Associate Agent Pay Scale

The pay scale is different per location and is always being updated. They also pay more for weekend & evening tours than they do for tours completed during normal business hours.

Redfin does post some general numbers on the job listing page on their website that you can also check out here.

Did You Ever Feel Unsafe Meeting Strangers Alone at a House? 

Never. But I also had experience with this in my previous job as a leasing agent for a property management firm. Except, I think Redfin does a really good job helping agents feel safe. 

Whenever a new client requests to view a house, they must also submit a picture of their photo ID to prove their identity. This helps to keep away sketchy people. 

My local CRA at Redfin also always reiterated how she never wanted anyone to ever feel unsafe or to put themselves in danger. She gave us permission to refuse doing anything where we felt unsafe. In fact, she once drove out to meet another Associate Agent at a property because that agent felt uncomfortable. Redfin does actually care about your safety. 

Safety Tips

• Utilize the ‘Share your location’ feature on your with 1-3 trusted loved ones
• Get a Google Voice phone number so you don’t give out your personal number to customers
• Share the phone number of your local CRA with a loved one for emergencies
• Contact your local CRA if you ever feel unsafe

Do I Need to Understand The Real Estate Market to be an Associate Agent with Redfin? 

No, not really. In fact, Redfin doesn’t really want you to share your opinion of home prices, or the market and simply leave that up to the Lead Agents. It made the job easier for myself.

If you are looking to understand the real estate market better, this position will definitely help you out with that. You’ll be able to gain plenty of experience by touring hundreds of houses a year.

Do I Need to Hang My License With Redfin to be an Associate Agent With Them? 

Yes, you will need to have your license hung with Redfin to be an Associate Agent. This also means that you cannot do real estate transactions or work outside of Redfin. For example, you cannot be a Redfin Associate Agent and a Showami Showing Agent. 

Is Being A Redfin Associate Agent a Good Way to Get Into Real Estate Investing? 

My honest answer is no. I am an investor myself, and have not used my position for my investing. As an Associate Agent you are not allowed to do your own transactions. You are also not allowed to get referral fees from outside of Redfin. 

However, if you are investing in an area that Redfin does cover, they do offer decent discounts for using a Redfin Agent as a Redfin Associate Agent. 

Am I Allowed to Conduct My Own Transactions as A Redfin Associate Agent? 

No. Though they do have some decent discounts if you buy/sell with a Redfin Lead Agent as an Associate Agent. 

Can I Earn Referral Fees as a Redfin Associate Agent? 

You can earn referral fees if you refer someone to a Redfin Lead Agent. You cannot earn referral fees outside of Refin though. 

Is it Worth Pursuing a Real Estate License Just for the Associate Agent Position? 

Probably not. If you’re not planning to do more with your real estate license past the Associate Agent position I don’t think that it would be worth the time and money to get your license. 

Once you get your real estate license, the time and money needed for it do not stop there. You will need to take continuing education courses that you’ll need to pay for yourself over the years in order to keep your license active. 

If you’re only looking for a side hustle, there are a lot of other side gigs out there that don’t require as much upfront time and money. 

What is the Onboarding Process Like for a Redfin Associate Agent?

I know that the onboarding process has changed a few times, however, when I was onboarded as an Associate Agent I did do some

Does Redfin Give You Training?

I don’t believe that Redfin does a lot of training for Associate Agents. Since the position is a contract job, they cannot tell you exactly how to do the job. When I first started with Redfin in 2019, I did go on a few different tours with Lead Agents to understand how the tour process worked, but that was about it. 

Who is the Redfin Associate Agent Good For? 

The Associate Agent position can be good for many different people, but from my experience, I think it is best for those who already have a real estate license and want to keep it active without needing to pay brokerage fees and earn a bit of money. 

It is also a great option for those who want to eventually work as a full time real estate agent either within Redfin or outside of it. As an associate agent, you will get a lot of experience touring houses. In one year alone, I toured over 500 houses. It has helped me understand my local market a lot better. 

What Other Ways Can I Work With Redfin?

If being a Redfin Associate Agent isn’t for you, you can also use your license as a Redfin Lead Agent. They also have what is called Partner Agents which is basically their referral program where Redfin will send you leads that they cannot take on at the moment. Below is a general overview of the positions.

Questions About The Redfin Associate Agent Position?

Please share any questions in the comments below rather than directly emailing me. That way everyone can learn from the responses. Thank you!

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