6 Steps to Take After You Pass Your Real Estate Exam

Not sure what to do now that you’ve passed your real estate exam? Here are some next steps to follow to get your real estate career up and running.

Step 1: Find a Sponsoring Broker Who is a Good Fit

In real estate, brokers are typically agents with multiple years of experience and a broker’s license. When you’re just getting started in your career, it helps to tap into the knowledge and network of someone who either currently works or has worked in the market in which you’re looking to practice real estate in. You can think of a broker as both your partner and your boss, as they’ll help you maneuver through the beginning of your journey as a real estate agent.

Not sure how to decide which brokerage is right for you? Key Realty School offers job placement at over 50 companies in Nevada. Learn more here.

Step 2: Get a Designation

Once you’ve passed your real estate exam and receive your license, it’s time to start selling houses! However, getting that first client can often be difficult. With real estate designations, you’re able to effectively increase your credibility (and add to your expertise) right out of the gate. Especially for newly-licensed agents, a designation can help you gain knowledge in a short amount of time that you would otherwise need years of experience to attain. Plus, having a real estate designation is a great way to highlight your capabilities as an agent when you don’t have a bevy of transactions under your belt.

Here are some reputable designations to get you started:

• Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation
• At Home With Diversity (AHWD) designation
• Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ designation

Step 3: Build Your Professional Profile

There’s never a better time than the present to start building your professional profile. Creating a website, social media presence, getting professional portraits taken, and attending local events to establish a rapport with residents of a specific market are all great steps to take. Small details like having business cards with you can show potential clients that you are prepared and organized, and provide them with an easy way to get back into contact with you.

If you aren’t inclined toward social media, there are people who can help! Consider employing the help of a social media marketing expert who can help you build your online presence. There are a lot of freelancers looking for work in the world of digital design, and websites like UpWork or Freelancer can help you connect with experienced designers and social media experts who can partner with you to take your digital presence to the next level.

Step 4: Set a Timeline for Yourself

In real estate, if you’re not selling property, you’re not making money. As you’re getting started in your career, it can be beneficial to set a timeline for the things you’d like to accomplish. Whether you choose to outline your ideal first five years, or would rather keep things shorter term by planning the first year of your professional career, creating a timeline can be a good way to keep yourself accountable and on track towards future success.

Step 5: Budget for Future Plans

As you see the trajectory of your career goals unfold, it’s a good idea to start budgeting accordingly. Based on the kind of real estate you’re looking to get involved in, consider what your projected annual revenue would be. After you’ve established an ideal salary, think about the work environment that would make you most comfortable. Are you planning to work from home? Do you envision a luxe office space in your future? Do you plan to eventually have a real estate assistant? These are all factors that influence how you should structure your budget.

Some professional budgeting apps that can help you through the process include QuickBooks and Wave.

Step 6: Seek Advice from Other Real Estate Professionals

Every real estate professional has their own journey through the industry, but it can help to get advice from people with more experience. Seeking out individuals with knowledge of the specific market or real estate niche in which you’re planning to work can help you catch idiosyncrasies of the market that you wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Everyone learns as they put education to practice, but it usually doesn’t hurt to get some advice from someone who has already ironed out their way of doing business. Find someone whose work you admire and ask them to lunch or coffee. Odds are, they will be flattered that you want to pick their brain and agree to give you any help they can with your new career.

Now that you have some tips for starting a real estate career be confident in your abilities to become successful. You’ve already completed the biggest step in passing your real estate exam, and are well on your way to a fruitful career in real estate.

Partner with Key Realty School Today

Ready to take your career to the next level? Partner with Key Realty School, one of the preferred real estate and business education providers in the Western United States. To learn more about how Key Realty can help you reach your real estate goals, contact us today.