If you’re thinking of getting into real estate, be sure to go into it with your eyes open. Use this worksheet to avoid the most common mistakes and take the most direct route to career success.

1. 1Get tools to build your real estate business at GoDaddy.com.
WORKSHEET
Quick guide to getting started in real estate
If you’re thinking of getting into real estate, be sure to go into it with your eyes open. Use this worksheet to avoid the most
common mistakes and take the most direct route to career success.
Step 1: Lay the groundwork
Learn the difference between a real estate agent, broker and REALTOR®
.
Decide which career path you want to pursue over the long term, as this will affect requirements and fees. Gain insight here.
Find out what’s required to sell real estate in your state.
Fulfill pre-licensing requirements. Coursework can take 60 to 180 hours to complete, depending on the state.
Pass the real estate exam.
Submit your license application to your state real estate board (fees vary by state).
Pay for membership in your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
Identify educational opportunities.
Pros recommend classes or workshops on lead generation, lead conversion, contracts, negotiation, and listing and buyer skills.
Check out Kaplan Real Estate Education for an overview of topic areas.
Start building your network.
Let your personal networks know about your impending career change. Real estate veterans say personal contacts are the most valuable asset a
new agent has.
Join and/or follow professional organizations like the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, National Association of REALTORS®
and your
state’s real estate association.
Get involved with local / civic groups like Rotary and BNI.
Participate in online groups for real estate professionals, like the Agents Online forum and Raise the Bar in Real Estate Facebook group.

2. 2Get tools to build your real estate business at GoDaddy.com.
WORKSHEET
Quick guide to getting started in real estate
Step 2: Write your business plan
Improve your chances of success with solid planning. Follow these steps to create a business plan for your real estate business (a must for anyone seeking a
business loan).
Set short- and long-term business goals.
Set financial goals and targets. Be sure to include these financial projections in your business plan.
Estimate expected expenses and income. Depending on your market and cost of living, you need at least 35 to 50 percent of your annual budget already
reserved in savings before your first year in real estate. Many agents report working for one to two years before making a profit.
How much money do you have saved?
If less than 35 to 50 percent of your current annual income, how will you come up with the difference?
_______ Loans from family, friends or your local bank.
_______ A part-or full-time job (while building your real estate career).
_______ A working partner who can make up for the missing income.
Get tips on writing a quick business plan.
Define your ideal clients. You can’t be everything to everyone — and defining your ideal client will help you create the segmented messaging and marketing
campaigns that lead to higher conversion rates.
Learn how to create an ideal client profile.

3. 3Get tools to build your real estate business at GoDaddy.com.
WORKSHEET
Quick guide to getting started in real estate
Step 3: Choose a brokerage
New real estate agents are required to work under a broker for a period of time. Ideally, this will provide you with a mentor who can show you the ropes in your
local market. A few things to ask about while shopping around for a brokerage:
Commission split (expect to pay more for better mentoring)?
Training provided?
Office space provided?
Support staff provided?
Advertising provided?
Team structure?
Need help choosing the right real estate brokerage? Find tips here.

4. 4Get tools to build your real estate business at GoDaddy.com.
WORKSHEET
Quick guide to getting started in real estate
Things you’ll need
There are a few key tools that all the best real estate agents swear by. You’ll need all of them to start — and keep — your business growing.
1. A website with a blog.
Get an industry-specific domain name like .house or .forsale. You can attach that custom domain to a professional email address,
website — even your Facebook page!
Learn more about domain names that are perfect for real estate pros.
Build a website. While real estate is still a face-to-face transaction, clients will want to search for houses on their own before reaching out to you.
Make it easy for them by including an easy-to-use search tool on your website.
Add a blog to your website. Long before they actually call a real estate agent, buyers and sellers look online for helpful articles.
Blogging on topics related to buying and selling puts you squarely in their path.
Learn how to write useful articles that generate real estate leads.
2. Active social media accounts.
Social media is an invaluable tool for building your networks and getting the word out early and often about your listings.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Learn 5 ways to make Facebook work for your real estate business.

5. 5Get tools to build your real estate business at GoDaddy.com.
WORKSHEET
Quick guide to getting started in real estate
3. A large personal network.
Create a list of close friends and colleagues who trust your work ethic. Aim for 200 contacts, including their physical addresses and emails.
Come up with a plan for communicating your real estate news and opportunities, including email marketing using a professional email address.
Get tips for creating real estate newsletters.
4. Local knowledge.
Veteran real estate agents say this is one of the most important skills you can develop. Drive through the neighborhoods in your town,
looking at available homes and the neighborhoods they’re in. The more you know, the greater your value to buyers and sellers.
5. Help at home.
If you’re a parent of young children, you need a partner or nanny who can tend to the children in the evenings and weekends when
you’re called to show houses or write offers.
Real estate agents who are willing to put in the work can make a comfortable living. What’s more, they really enjoy what they do.
According to REALTOR®
magazine, real estate ranked No. 2 in a 2016 study that examined employee satisfaction across 13 industries.
Isn’t it time you loved your job?