Trevor Kemp is a Redfin principal agent on Long Island, New York. He joined Redfin in June 2024 after more than a decade at East End Luxury Real Estate. We caught up with Trevor to hear more about his experience at Redfin so far. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
Tell us about your career before Redfin.
I started my career in real estate in 2005 with Coldwell Banker. Along the way I met a friend who was a broker for an REO company, and when it started to become clear there would be a market crash, I decided to switch into that side of the real estate business. I did that for 10 years or so. I decided to stop making REO my main focus and flex my skills at a bigger brokerage where I could work with a broader range of clients.
Why did you decide to join Redfin?
I worked with Redfin as a partner agent for a little over a year. I always liked Redfin, but I didn’t like the previous pay plan. Then I found out about Redfin Next. At first I wasn’t sure about the splits, but I ran the numbers and saw that everything works out overall. You get to bring your own book of clients, and you earn more as you build your business. At my last brokerage I made slightly higher splits, but now I get a lot more for that money, like leads and team support. Overall, Redfin was just a better fit. Once I got here and I took the training, I thought “This is where I should have been since 2005.”
What makes Redfin different from other brokerages?
I really appreciate the people and the diversity of the company. Every brokerage is about making money, but at Redfin it’s about everyone making and saving money–both customers and agents. That’s the model I’ve been trying to emulate for so long. I think the technology is great too, especially Agent Tools. Redfin’s algorithms help you focus on the right clients at the right times, so you can spend more of your time with those who are making moves now. You can still nurture and keep those customers who may buy in 2-3 years without distracting your attention from people who are actively looking.
I’ve also been impressed with the customer introductions I get from Redfin.com. I knew from my time as a Partner Agent that the leads were good quality, but as an employee agent I’ve really been able to see how those leads can grow my business. Redfin gets you out there meeting people you wouldn’t normally meet here on Long Island. Here, most agents’ business comes from referral or word of mouth, or occasionally they’ll see you on social media. The leads I get from Redfin are people hitting the “show me now” button. Those are people you never would have met if not through Redfin. It’s like a tree, it just spreads and grows: The more people you meet and talk to the more business you can do.
What would you tell other agents who are thinking about joining Redfin?
I think a lot of people are uneducated about what Redfin can do for agents. The last month or so business has been good, and I’ve gotten the chance to meet a lot of people from around the company. The help here is tremendous–you can email anyone in this company and they’ll help you, whether it’s the IT team, the PR team, or your deal support staff. It does take things off your plate so you can invest time back in growing your business. As a traditional agent I paid for all kinds of services to try to help streamline my life as an agent, and they still didn’t work as well as what you get at Redfin.
Why should a buyer or seller choose to work with a Redfin agent?
We give you more for less. There’s this notion that if you pay less, you’ll get discounted service, but your Redfin agent is there with you every step of the way. We do everything – professional photos, all the listing prep, touring with you, keeping you updated on the local market, negotiating on your behalf. And if we’re not available for any reason, someone from our support team is there for you. We charge a lower fee for sellers, and give back money to buyers through Sign & Save. Every little bit of extra money counts when you’re buying a home, and what other brokerage is going to give you something back?
Why should customers work with you specifically?
I think my background in REO is an asset to my customers because it helped me hone my communication and negotiation skills. I will always tell it like it is–that’s a value I’ve seen reflected all around Redfin as well. I got into real estate because I like the challenge and the competition, which means I’ll always fight for your best interests.
Want to take your real estate business to the next level? With Redfin Next, you’ll earn a big traditional split on your own deals, coupled with Redfin.com customers, benefits, and support. Learn more at redfin.com/next.
