Congratulations! You’ve made it over the first significant hurdle standing between you and your dream of becoming a professional real estate agent.
But perhaps you’ve spent so much time focusing on passing your exam that you didn’t figure out the next steps to take. That’s understandable! Fortunately, we’ve prepared a quick guide to walk you through some essential things to consider after achieving a passing score.
Activating Your License
After passing the exam, you must submit an application to your state’s real estate regulatory organization. You’ll have to prepare all the necessary documents and pay an application fee.
Once your application is approved, the state will mail your real estate license certificate. It will also list your name as a licensee on its website. Remember, you can’t legally work until the relevant authorities approve your license.
Finding a Brokerage
Real estate agents work under licensed brokers who oversee transactions and ensure that you follow the required legal and ethical standards. Brokers have years of experience and can help you gain a foothold in your local real estate market.
In exchange for their guidance, you’ll have to pay the broker either a flat monthly fee or agree on a commission percentage for each sale. Don’t simply focus on the fee structure when finding a broker to work with. Instead, look for a broker who has a solid reputation in their local community and is willing to invest a lot of resources in helping you succeed.
Join A Professional Organization
There are hundreds of real estate organizations around the country. The main advantage of joining a professional organization is connecting with other real estate agents who have experience in your niche. Look for an organization that specializes in the area of real estate that interests you. Here are some examples:
- Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
- National Association of Realtors (NAR)
- National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF)
- U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Don’t underestimate the power of networking. It’s crucial to build an extensive network of individuals and other professionals. Not only is this the best way to uncover new leads, but it’s also an opportunity to learn from industry veterans or share the knowledge you’ve learned in your own journey.
Building Your Profile
While word-of-mouth is still an excellent marketing tool, there’s no getting around the fact that most people start their house hunting journey online. That includes searching for the best real estate agents in their area.
Building a professional online profile is critical in reaching your target community. To start, you can set up a social media or LinkedIn profile in just a few minutes. Then when you have more traction, consider setting up a website. Even if you don’t have the skills to handle these jobs yourself, there are plenty of online freelancers who will do the work for you.
Taking Additional Courses
Even though you’ve passed the initial exam, there’s still a lot to learn. Continuing your education is one of the best ways to stay ahead in a competitive field.
At the Indiana Real Estate Institute, we offer a variety of courses that are suitable for real estate agents who are just starting out or have been in the field for years. From managing broker requirements to agent safety or home inspection issues, our courses cover all of the topics you need to expand your real estate knowledge.
