High-value agents may contribute across multiple teams or projects instead of fitting one fixed role. Agencies need flexible structures to manage portfolio-style talent.
Your top agent consistently closes RM800k in annual commissions for your agency...
…but they also:
The modern reality is that your best people are Portfolio Professionals. They are not seeking a single job; they are building a diversified career. If your instinct is to restrict them, you will lose them.
The old premise is legally enforced by the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (BOVAEP): An agent (REN/PEA/EA) must be attached to only one property agency.
Therefore, you cannot legally allow an agent to perform sales, rental, or management services for another registered agency. This line is non-negotiable for legal compliance.
The solution is to embrace their external activities that do not involve agency services, turning their skills into a strategic asset for your firm.
The challenge is seeing the agent’s external identity not as a risk, but as a resource:
| The Old Leader Fears: | The Modern Leader Gains: |
|---|---|
| ❌ Divided Loyalty in sales work. | ✅ Zero Commission Leakage (All deals must close under your agency). |
| ❌ Leakage of Expertise to competitors. | ✅ Skill Import (They bring back high-demand skills like video production and digital funnel creation). |
| ❌ Distraction from core tasks. | ✅ Stronger Brand Reach (Their platform markets your agency, earning you visibility without additional marketing spend). |
You don't need to police their external career; you need a clear, legal framework that guarantees your agency is their exclusive platform for real estate transactions.
Your core tool is a documented External Work & Non-Conflict Policy that respects the law but empowers the agent.
Since the agent is legally attached only to you, make sure the relationship is too valuable for them to risk.
| Old Agency Leader (Restrictive) | Modern Portfolio-Ready Leader (Strategic) |
|---|---|
| Bans external branding/content. | Leverages external brand reach. |
| Try to control their time. | Judges strictly on legal compliance & KPI achievement. |
| Tries to "own" the agent. | Partners with them as a business entity. |
| Enforces loyalty. | Earns priority through high value. |
The Portfolio Professional is not a threat to your compliance; they are the new benchmark for top-tier talent who can bring innovation and reach to your agency.
The leaders who win are those who build clear legal guardrails and align incentives, ensuring the agent's ambitious personal brand is professionally tethered to and amplified by your agency.
The question is no longer:
“How do I stop my agents from doing more?”
But:
“How do I make this agency the one they never want to leave?”
Founder of ListingMine and author of Agent for Life. Building ERP for Malaysian real estate agencies since 2008 — and writing to reshape how agencies grow.
More about Marvin Foong →More articles in this topic
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