Got My Real Estate License - Thinking of Joining a Brokerage at the start of 2024

[Eric Tosoonyan]

I'm excited about the idea of starting my journey as a real estate agent in January 2024. As a college student, I'm mindful of my budget, so I'd prefer not to pay fees for the entire year of 2023 when I'm just getting started.

I do have a few questions and would appreciate your insights. Should I begin reaching out to expired listings and FSBOs even before officially joining a brokerage? The brokerage I'm considering has informed me that if I happen to find a buyer or seller before my planned start date in January 2024, I can promptly activate my license and start doing business.

Another thing I wanted to ask is whether I should start printing my own business cards, even before affiliating with a brokerage. Your advice on these matters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your guidance!

[Bruce Lynn]

I think right now I would not print business cards or solicit business.

What you can do is build that database.

First-people who know, love and trust you and would do business with you.  Friends, family, schoolmates, religious friends, frat brothers, sports buddies, people from your neighborhood, teachers, and anyone you do business with now, barber, preacher, car mechanic, professors, etc.  You have all of them in your database, name, phone, email, address, birthdate, anniversary date connect to them on FB, IG, Linkedin, TikTok.

Then you start building the database of people you don't know. FSBO, vacant homes, divorce lawyers, probate lawyers, anyone who can potentially be business, or refer you business.

A couple of things you can do in the meantime while you are in school.   Can you be an assistant to someone in the business you want to join.  Can you be the guy who puts out signs, lockboxes, makes key copies, puts out flyers, stuffs envelopes, stuff like that.  All the busy work.   Can you take photos or shoot video?  Do you have that skill?   

or...can you be the ISA for someone?   You spend all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon calling their database or cold calling for business for them.   Let them pay you to train yourself.   Then when you are ready to turn on your license and work for yourself, you've had plenty of paid practice.

I always thought it would be good these days for a new guy to drive Lyft, Uber, or Dash. Get paid for driving for dollars. You get to meet a ton of people. Prospect while you drive. Look for all the FSBO signs, the vacant houses, the houses that need help and log those in your database to call the day you turn on your license.

Also by the way, check with your association.  Mine prorates some of the fees, like dues if you join mid-year.