Real estate sales is typically a cutthroat business. But that’s not the vibe at Exit Realty Achieve, whose unique business model fosters collaboration and attracts agents who support each other’s success. For the second consecutive year, the residential real estate brokerage rode its positive culture, effective company leadership, and commitment to technology and training to a first-place finish among mid-sized companies in the Top Long Island Workplaces.
“It isn’t like any other real estate company out there,” says one agent, who joined Exit Realty as a seasoned industry veteran. “We’re a family. We all look after one another. I can ask for help from any other agent in the office and, without hesitation, they’re there. No backstabbing, no stealing. I’m so grateful for my decision to be part of this amazing company.”
Exit Realty Achieve is the Long Island franchise of Exit Realty Corp. International. It has about 150 agents and four full-time administrative staff members, all of whom are based in the company’s Smithtown headquarters. Founded in 2010, the company has been led by Broker/Owner Jeffrey Mistretta since January 2021.
The collaborative environment is a byproduct of the company’s unique business model, which financially incentivizes agents to help their colleagues succeed. Agents are encouraged to refer other licensed agents to join the company. When an agent brings another agent aboard, the first agent is rewarded with the equivalent of 10% of the new agent’s gross commission income (GCI) annually, as long as they are both with the company (which can include any Exit Realty office throughout North America). When the referring agent retires, this converts down to 7%, and when the referring agent dies, his beneficiaries receive 5% of the new agent’s GCI, for as long as the new agent works for Exit Realty.
This model “allows us to build our company with good people – who are true professionals, with good ethics – since they are people who our agents want to invite to join the company,” Mistretta says.
“We work really hard to create a culture of growth, which starts with trust, safety and security,” Mistretta says. “A lot of sales offices are very dog eat dog. When you’re in an environment where you can’t lean over to your neighbor or come to your broker for help, you shrink – you’re on your own, and you’re isolated. But when you feel you can trust the individuals around you, you collaborate. We’ve been known for our collaboration since we opened our doors in 2010.”
Mistretta credits his agents with keeping the cooperative momentum going.
“Our agents say they love the culture here, but they all add to it,” he says. “They bring a lot to the table. It’s a beautiful thing to watch them contribute to each other’s success and want to see each other succeed.”
Exit Realty agents return the compliment, extolling Mistretta’s leadership and the support they receive from the company, including technology, training and a helpful administrative team.
“I am provided everything I need to be successful,” says one agent. “I have a broker who listens and responds to all my needs and we have the tools and training to always be moving forward.”
Another agent says, “I am supported and encouraged in my business to be the best I can be. I always know my broker, admin team, and fellow agents have my back as I have theirs. They instill a culture that helps everyone grow in knowledge and expertise, keeping us current in everything necessary to support our seller and buyer clients.”
Tools recently introduced by the company include the Workman Success Systems training program. “We contracted with a national real estate trainer, who helps agents learn, at their own pace, high-level skills like negotiation, closing and marketing techniques,” Mistretta says.
Exit Realty also recently rolled out an AI tool that provides agents with information on who in their network may be in the market to buy or sell and what to say when making a follow-up call to that person.
“For people uploaded into the agent’s database, AI looks at what those individuals are doing on social media and online,” Mistretta says. For instance, the tool might ping an agent to notify them that a contact who is living in a 1,200-square-foot property just had a second child and may be in need of more space.
Exit Realty holds well-attended weekly meetings in its Smithtown office, allowing agents to exchange information about market conditions, and the company hosts team-building outings throughout the year. One of the most popular annual events is a day of ziplining and rope climbing at the Adventure Park at Long Island in Wheatley Heights.
“We have many agents up in the trees, about 40 feet off the ground, all encouraging each other,” Mistretta says. “Some agents overcome a fear of heights to climb the ropes. It helps them feel empowered to bring their life and business to the next level.”
