This May marks Inman’s sixth annual Agent Appreciation Month. Look for profiles of top producers, opinions on the current state of the industry and tangible takeaways you can implement in your career today. Plus, the prestigious Future Leaders of Real Estate return this month, too.
Getting your real estate license is a huge milestone. It’s exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. You are studying contracts and, hopefully, have a mentor showing you the process of how to work with clients, but you are also building a business, and that means you need systems in place that support you from Day 1.
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I have seen many new agents jump straight into prospecting or social media without taking the time to build the foundation. But getting organized early will save you months of frustration later and give you the confidence to show up as a true professional. Here’s where to start.
Create a digital filing system
One of the first things you should do is create a digital filing system that mirrors how you plan to work with clients. Use Google Drive to set up folders for buyer presentations, listing packets, marketing materials and transaction paperwork. Keep the folder names clear and simple so you can always find what you need. It might seem like a small step, but this organization will make your life so much easier as your business grows.
Build your CRM and database
Your CRM is the heart of your business. Choose a tool that you will actually use and update regularly. Many brokerages provide a CRM, but if you need your own, consider options like Follow Up Boss or Lofty, which are both user-friendly and built for real estate.
Instead of just adding everyone you know, use this time to prepare your CRM for prospecting. Create the custom tags, categories and notes sections that will help you stay organized when you start reaching out.
Build out your drip campaigns and client journeys in advance, so they are ready to go when you start adding leads. If you have a mentor, lean on them to learn best practices and get help setting up a client journey that truly aligns with how you want to work.
Study all the features your CRM offers and look for ways to create leverage. When you are ready to fill it up with leads, you will be able to move quickly and stay efficient because you have already laid the groundwork. Most importantly, stay flexible. Once you start working with clients, be aware of gaps in your systems or areas that could use tweaks for improvement. These small adjustments are what will create more efficiency and a smoother experience for everyone you work with.
Establish your brand basics
Even if you do not have a full brand built out yet, you can start with the basics. Pick a headshot that feels like you, write a short bio that highlights your background and how you want to show up as an agent, and decide on a few key colors and fonts to keep your marketing consistent.
Canva’s brand kit feature can help you set this up, so everything you create has the same look and feel. When you share content that looks cohesive, it makes you more memorable and helps build trust.
Create email layouts that feel personal
You do not need to start from scratch every time you communicate with clients. Having a few email layouts ready for common touchpoints like welcoming new clients, checking in during the buying or selling process, and following up after a transaction closes makes it easier to personalize your messages and keep your communication feeling warm and authentic. These emails help keep both you and your clients organized and ensure you never miss a step in the process.
If you have a mentor, lean on them to help you understand the client journey and identify what messages need to go out at each stage. Building these emails is a great way to learn the flow of a transaction and get clear on how to support your clients at every turn.
Show the behind-the-scenes of your journey
One of the best ways to build trust and credibility as a new agent is to show what you are working on behind the scenes. Share your early wins, the challenges you are tackling and how you are building your business. This transparency helps people see you as a real person and makes them more likely to want to work with you.
Use your Instagram stories or reels to show your day-to-day work: touring homes, learning from mentors, organizing your office or setting up your marketing materials. These small moments build a bigger story about who you are as an agent and how you’re showing up in your business.
Track your finances from Day 1
Real estate is a business, and the agents who know their numbers are the ones who build profitable businesses. Start tracking your income and expenses right away. Tools like Hurdlr are designed specifically for real estate agents and are affordable to use. Hurdlr can even tie specific expenses or income directly to particular transactions, giving you a clear picture of how each deal impacts your bottom line.
If you are unsure what to track, ask your broker, or talk to a real estate accountant. The sooner you make this a habit, the easier it will be to make smart decisions and avoid surprises at tax time.
Plan your content strategy
You do not need to post on social media every day, but you do need a plan. Start with a simple content calendar in Google Sheets or a tool like Later. Map out what you want to post each week, mixing in personal updates, local insights and your unique perspective on what is happening in the market.
Focus on showing up consistently and sharing content that feels true to who you are. Over time, this will build your audience and create a steady flow of opportunities.
Why it matters
Getting organized early is about setting up habits and systems that feel natural for you and that make your work easier and more focused. When you have a clear structure and can see how each piece of your business fits together, it frees up your energy to connect with people and create the kind of experience that makes clients want to work with you again and again.
The first few months can feel like a whirlwind, but taking the time to build that foundation will make everything else more manageable. Your future self and your clients will thank you for it.
