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Updated: September 2026
30 Things to Do in Your First Month as a Real Estate Agent
Are you a newly licensed real estate agent? If you’re fresh out of real estate school, you are probably thrilled that you passed the test and found a great broker…. but have no idea what to do next! Real estate schools do not prepare you for what it takes to become a successful REALTOR, so your first month as a real estate agent is often overwhelming. Below you will find tips to help you put a plan in place, so you have all the tools, knowledge and confidence needed to launch a successful new career in real estate!
The honest truth before you dive in
Most new agents don’t close their first deal for 2 to 6 months, and it’s genuinely common to go longer. That’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong — it’s just how the business works. The checklist below is about building the right foundation during that window, not about panicking that nothing has happened yet. We answer the most common money and timeline questions in the FAQ section at the bottom.
Get Organized
1. Order business cards – a basic card is fine in the beginning, you can always order more later with your website and branding
2. Purchase your eKey app to order to access lockboxes and show houses (often called the Supra eKey)
3. Get a professional headshot – if the budget isn’t there yet, AI headshot generators have gotten surprisingly good and cost a fraction of a traditional photo shoot. We put one to the test in our Aragon AI Headshot Generator review.
4. Write a quick bio – even though you don’t have any experience (yet), share your background, values and let readers know why they would benefit and enjoy working with you. Not sure where to start? Our guide to writing a real estate bio for new agents walks through exactly what to include.
5. Gather names, addresses, and emails of everyone you know (this is your new database or sphere of influence). Even if you just have their email or phone number, put it in a spreadsheet and fill in the blanks later. We think you’ll be amazed at how many people you know and it’s so handy to have all of their information in one central location.
Let People Know About Your New Real Estate Career
6. Create a short letter and mail to your database to let them know that you’re now in real estate, loving it, and are here to assist them – and anyone they know.
7. Set up a free email newsletter account (Mailchimp and similar tools all offer free tiers) and add all the names and emails from your new database so that you can send them a monthly email with real estate tips, neighborhood news, etc. Consider creating more than one list — for example “Close Friends,” “Past Clients,” and “Acquaintances” — to help tailor your marketing down the road.
8. Register and add your professional photo and bio to popular real estate websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, LinkedIn, and Yelp. You can also create a Facebook business page. If someone googles your name, you want them to find you (and your smiling face!) and build credibility online. New agent tip: Realtor.com lets you collect testimonials even without a closed sale yet — past coworkers, clients from a prior career, or anyone who can speak to your work ethic can leave you a review. Here’s exactly how to set it up.
Understand the Market
9. Go and show yourself a few homes – test your new eKey, open the lockbox and get comfortable with the process. This will help you get a feel for the homes and prices and inventory.
10. Pick a neighborhood every day. Drive-by all the neighborhood homes for sale in the MLS. This will also help you navigate different areas of town so that when you do have a buyer in your car, you are familiar with the area.
11. Run real estate market reports using the MLS – make sure you understand the current market conditions (i.e. how fast homes are selling, average prices, and list to sales price ratios). If you find something interesting, share it on Facebook or in your monthly eNewsletter!
12. Offer free home valuation reports to all your friends – it’s great practice and you never know if one may consider selling their home!
Connect with Other Agents
13. Open Houses – let everyone in your new brokerage know that you are available to host open houses! Usually, your broker is willing to send an email out on your behalf. Here are some amazing tips for hosting and promoting open houses.
14. Offer to show homes for other agents – busy real estate agents will gladly pay you a small fee or mentor you in exchange for your help.
15. Shadow another real estate agent on a listing appointment and/or buyer consultation.
16. Attend Agent Caravans on Tuesdays.
Learn Everything You Can
17. Take at least one class with your local MLS to make sure you know to search for homes, pull comparable sales reports, create just listed alerts and more.
18. Listen to the stories of top real estate agents on webinars and podcasts (See our list of the top real estate podcasts).
19. Review the real estate contracts and practice writing contracts for single-family homes and condominiums.
20. Attend any new agent orientations with your new real estate brokerage.
21. Find a mentor – a seasoned real estate agent or broker can show you the ropes and help you confront the unanticipated issues you’re sure to face with your initial clients. If you’re willing to share some of the commission on your first few deals, many agents will work with you from start to finish on your first contracts. An experienced mentor is also a good sounding board and can level-set your expectations for your first year in the real estate business. Not on a team and not sure where to find one? See How to Find a Real Estate Mentor Without Joining a Team.
Create a Plan for the Future
22. Draft a business plan – you probably aren’t going to know what to include in your plan initially, but setting some basic goals and a budget for the next 90 days is the perfect place to start. Our Real Estate Agent Expenses guide is a good starting point for budgeting.
23. Outline your goals for each week — setting realistic goals will keep you on track and can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed. You can also review your goals with your broker or mentor to get additional feedback and make sure you’re on the right track.
If you are a new agent with eXp Realty, we would also recommend:
24. Activate your lead generation website (BoldTrail) and start sharing your new website and/or local company listings on Facebook and other social media sites.
25. Create a list of interesting links from your BoldTrail lead gen site and post them on your new Facebook business page and Twitter. Examples include open houses this weekend, price reductions on Mondays, homes that were just listed this week, and “complimentary home valuation” posts.
26. Attend all of the orientation classes for new real estate agents and the eXp New Agent University. We also highly recommend signing up for the eXp FastCAP Program.
27. Schedule a consultation with your sponsor and/or mentor.
28. Add your picture and bio to all the eXp Realty agent rosters and referral networks (you can do this on eXp Enterprise and eXp Workplace).
29. Check out the full line up of classes each week.
30. Ask for buyer leads! Many agents in your area may have extra BoldTrail website leads that they would be willing to share with you in return for a referral fee.
31. Offer to host an open house. Connect with other agents in your area or ask your broker if there are opportunities to host open houses. This is a great way to find and connect with potential home buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take a new real estate agent to get their first sale?
Most new agents close their first deal somewhere between 2 and 6 months after getting licensed, though it’s not unusual for it to take longer, especially if you’re building your sphere from scratch. The agents who close fastest are usually the ones who lean hardest into their existing network (friends, family, past coworkers) in the first few weeks rather than waiting to build a following online first.
How much money should I save before becoming a real estate agent full-time?
A common rule of thumb is 3 to 6 months of living expenses, on top of your licensing and startup costs. Because commissions are only paid at closing (and closings themselves take 30-40+ days after a contract is signed), there’s often a real gap between doing the work and getting paid for it. See our Real Estate Agent Expenses guide for a full breakdown of what to budget for.
What if I don’t get any leads from my sphere of influence?
It happens, and it doesn’t mean your business is doomed. Diversify early rather than relying on one source: open houses, floor time at your brokerage, showing homes for busier agents, and building a local online presence all create additional lead channels. The agents who struggle most tend to be the ones depending entirely on one source of business.
Should I join a real estate team or go solo as a new agent?
There’s no universally right answer — it depends on how much mentorship and structure you want versus how much of your commission split you’re willing to give up. We break down the pros, cons, and key questions to ask in Should You Join a Real Estate Team?
Do I need a website and CRM right away?
Not on day one. Your first priority should be getting your existing contacts organized (even a simple spreadsheet works to start) and telling people you’re now an agent. A polished website and full CRM system matter, but they won’t generate business on their own — direct outreach to people who already know and trust you will move faster in month one. When you’re ready, check out our list of 32 free tools every real estate agent should be using, including a couple of genuinely free CRM options.
What’s the biggest mistake new agents make in their first year?
Underestimating how long it takes to generate steady income, and not budgeting accordingly. Close behind that: relying on a single lead source, skipping a mentor, and treating the license like a part-time hobby rather than a business that needs consistent daily effort.
How do I tell friends and family I’m a real estate agent now?
Directly and without over-explaining. A short letter, text, or social post letting people know you’re licensed and ready to help — or help anyone they know — is enough. Most new agents overthink this step far more than the people receiving the message do.
Where can I find my state’s exact licensing requirements?
Every state has different hour requirements, exam formats, and fees. Check our state-by-state licensing guides for the exact process where you live.
Editor’s note: This article was created by Kerry Lucasse, Founder of Building Better Agents and REALTOR at eXp Realty. Information deemed reliable but is subject to change.
About Building Better Agents
At Building Better Agents, we are dedicated to helping agents build successful real estate careers. We help agents develop a plan, build a database, and work smarter to uncover the keys to success as a real estate agent. All without cold calling, door knocking, and chasing expired listings. Building Better Agents Leaders Kerry Lucasse and Kary Perry are proud to be agents with eXp Realty.
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For more information, please contact us today!
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