After Getting Your Georgia Real Estate License: What’s Next?

You’ve done it. You’ve successfully passed all your testing and exam and you are officially a licensed real estate agent in the state of Georgia. Congratulations! Now that all the studying is over, you’re probably wondering what comes next. Luckily, after the stress of the exam and all the steps that go into getting it comes the fun part. Here we go over what happens after you’ve passed your exam and are ready to crush it in the real estate industry.

Ready to get started and hit the ground running?

What Happens After You Get Your Georgia Real Estate License?

Hopefully, you had a minute to relax after passing your exam and getting your Georgia Real Estate License. Now comes the fun and challenging part - building your sphere of influence and selling properties! Read on as we give you some helpful tips to help you get started actually making money in the real estate industry.

Find The Right Sponsoring Brokerage For You

You’ve likely already found a sponsoring brokerage when you were getting your license. When you’re just getting started in your career, it’s helpful to lean into your brokerage because of their years of knowledge and their ready-made network. Once you have found the right broker, they will help you maneuver your first few transactions and give you amazing tips in exchange for a commission split.

State law actually requires that you work under the guidance and protection of a real estate broker. Though the beauty of becoming a real estate agent means you own your own business and get to set your own schedule and growth rate, you’ll want to take on a mentor that will help build your successful career.

While looking for a great brokerage to team up with, you should look for a team that has a solid reputation in Georgia, and also has a strong established continuing education program. The best brokerages are those that invest in their agents. A successful agent reflects well on a brokerage, so it’s worth it for you to do your research and build a good relationship with your broker.

Our last quick tip for finding the right Georgia broker is to consider their specialty. Is it your dream to sell commercial real estate? Did you get your Georgia real estate license so that you could lease properties to up and coming businesses? Align yourself with a team that shares your goals and knows the ins and outs of what you want.

Plan and Stretch Your Marketing Budget

You’re in business for yourself now, which means the marketing and expenses that come with starting a business lies on you. Though your sponsoring brokerage might be able to hook you up with referrals and starting marketing materials, it’s your responsibility to make sure you get your name out there!

Our advice is to make sure that you are focused on marketing yourself at all times. From business cards to a website, from social media to even how you present yourself, everything feeds into your marketing. The most important thing to remember is that it all comes down to connections. Not only connections with potential clients but also with other professionals in your industry and surrounding industries.

It can often take 3-6 months before you earn your first commission. A lot of times brokerages will make sure you can work on retainer for your first few months as a new Georgia real estate agent. However, another way to get started and plan for your marketing budget is to earn commissions by leasing rental properties. The turnaround time is much quicker, and there is much less experience required in order to earn a paycheck.

Talk to your mentor and sponsoring brokerage. They will show which marketing tools work best in your area and will give you the tips you need to get started gaining exposure right away.

How to make money with a real estate license? Find out more tips!

Join The Right Organizations

Want to connect with other professionals, network and grow your sphere, and also increase your knowledge of the real estate market? Then joining some professional real estate organizations is paramount.

We think that one of the most important associations for any real estate agent is the NAR or National Association of REALTORS®. There is a difference between a real estate and a REALTOR®. If you are part of the NAR, then you are considered an educated and ethical real estate agent. This membership elevates yourself as an agent as you have to hold yourself to a higher code of conduct.

However, there are dozens of organizations you can join to help you not only expand your knowledge, but also give you more opportunities to network and boost your reputation.

Network, Network, Network!

The entire reason to join organizations and groups is so that you can widen your net and your sphere of influence. Obviously starting with the people you already know is key, but it is also crucial that you build relationships with as many people as possible. Real estate attorneys, general contractors, title companies, and more - all these people can give you referrals and help you grow your business.

A few ways you can build your network is to host and attend open houses, invite your team out for coffee or lunch, and attend local and regional meetings. Joining local networks can give you that leg up and help you build your contact lists in a great way. Make sure you always have your business cards on you and try to keep up on your social profiles. This business is all about staying on top of mind.

The biggest piece of advice that we can give new agents who have just acquired their Georgia real estate license is to build your database and stay organized. Every person you meet that could be a potential client should go into that database. Where did you meet them? What information did you learn about them? Take note of anniversaries and special dates. What are their kids’ names? This type of organization and note-taking can set you apart and help you make a great impression when you reach out to them again.

Find our more tips on how to network as a real estate agent.

What to do after you get your Georgia real estate license? Conclusion

Every real estate agent has their own journey to go on and their own roads to pave. Having a strong mentor can help you start a successful career. Building and maintaining your sphere and your network are crucial to keeping consistent business throughout the years.

We hope we’ve been able to give you some tips for going forward into the real estate industry. The biggest step is behind you! You’ve completed your exam and have been equipped with everything you need going forward. Lean into your brokerage and don’t be afraid to learn and make mistakes. The best is yet to come!

Also check out our Georgia real estate license course.