Hey, welcome to the team. I'm really glad you're here.
This isn't a place where you show up, collect leads, and coast. And it's not a place that's going to run you into the ground either. Build your business around your life. That's the whole point. Work through each module, check off your items, and don't hesitate to reach out. Let's get to work.
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Form your LLC on Sunbiz — sunbiz.org
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Apply for your EIN at IRS.gov — free, takes about 10 minutes online
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Open a business bank account using your LLC docs and EIN
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Update your real estate license with your LLC at myfloridalicense.com
→ dos.fl.gov/sunbiz
[First Name] [Last Name] LLC
Example: Jane Smith LLC
Sunbiz will check if the name is available. If it is taken, try adding your middle initial or a variation. The name must end in LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company.
Enter your full name and your Florida address. This must be a physical address in Florida, not a P.O. box.
Requirements to qualify:
• Your LLC must be active on Sunbiz (complete Step 1 first)
• You must own at least 10% of the LLC (as sole member you own 100%)
• You must have a valid Florida driver's license
How to apply:
• Go to the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation exemption portal
• Select Non-Construction Industry (real estate is non-construction)
• Complete and submit the Notice of Election to be Exempt (Form DWC-250) online
• You must personally sign the application — no one else can sign for you
• There is no filing fee for non-construction LLC exemptions
→ Apply for Non-Construction Exemption
• Due date: January 1 through May 1 every year
• Filing fee: $138.75
• Late penalty: $400 automatic fee if filed after May 1. No exceptions.
• First report: Due the year AFTER your LLC is formed. If you form your LLC in 2025, your first report is due by May 1, 2026.
• File online at dos.fl.gov/sunbiz
→ IRS.gov EIN Application
• Your Articles of Organization from Sunbiz (proof your LLC exists)
• Your EIN confirmation letter from the IRS
• Your government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Chase Business Checking — widely available, strong app, common choice for real estate agents
• Bank of America Business — widely available, integrates well with Zelle
• Navy Federal Credit Union — excellent option if you have military affiliation or qualify for membership, known for low fees and great service
If you already have a personal account somewhere, check if they offer business accounts. It can simplify transfers.
• Order a debit card for the account
• Set up online banking and download the app
• Give your broker this account info for commission payments
→ DBPR Checklist — Sales Associate Add LLC
→ Download Form DBPR RE 16 (PDF)
• Check Add/Remove PA, LLC, PL, or PLLC — Sales Associate or Broker Sales Associate
• Fill in your name and phone number and email address in the Contact Information fields
• Last/Surname: Your last name exactly as it appears on your real estate license
• First: Your first name exactly as on your license. No nicknames or initials.
• Middle / Suffix: Fill in if it appears on your license, otherwise leave blank
• License Number (SL or BL): Your individual Sales Associate real estate license number
• Add or Remove: Check Add
• Select the type of business designation: Check LLC
In Section IV, sign your name, print your name, and date it. You are signing as yourself, the Sales Associate whose license is being updated.
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Make a copy of your completed form and check for your records before mailing.
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Let Tory know immediately once your updated license is confirmed. She needs to update your information in Herron's system. You must have the updated license before commissions can be paid to your LLC.
DBPR Customer Contact Center: (850) 487-1395
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Send a copy of your Driver's License and Real Estate License to Tory — this kicks off your official onboarding
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Watch for a DocuSign email from Herron — check your spam folder if you don't see it within 24-48 hours
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Join the Herron Real Estate Family Facebook group
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Join the Listings | Coming Soon | Open Houses Facebook group
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Join the Vendors and Sponsorship Opportunities Facebook group
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Herron's hiring manager will initiate your license transfer to Herron Real Estate — no action needed on your end for this step
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Select and sign up for the Standard Marketing Plan through Herron — $99/month, includes Boldtrail and Tom Ferry training
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Set up your Boldtrail CRM account once marketing plan is confirmed — watch setup video first
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Create your Blinq digital business card and download the app
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Set up your Blinq email signature in Gmail — your Blinq card becomes your signature
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Copy and personalize your business card template in Canva — print-ready
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Dotloop access confirmed through Herron — provided at no extra cost as part of onboarding, Herron will set this up for you
- MLS access set up through NEFAR — tutorial coming soon
- ShowingTime access confirmed — tutorial coming soon
- Supra eKey activated and tested — tutorial coming soon
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Update your license with your LLC once DBPR RE 16 is processed — can happen simultaneously with Herron onboarding
• Copy of your Driver's License
• Copy of your Florida Real Estate License
Email to:
torysellsfl@gmail.com support@herronrealestatellc.com
Standard Plan — $99/month
• Boldtrail CRM
• Tom Ferry training
Premium Plan — $159/month
• Everything in Standard, plus:
• Lead rotation (Tory's note: minimal value, mostly random office calls)
• Content gallery (Tory provides this to team members at no extra cost)
• Professional email (you'll set up your own work email instead, which you keep no matter where you go)
• Lockbox rentals (Tory has inventory available for the team)
• Listing flyer services (Tory handles this through Canva templates already)
Both plans have a pay-in-full option if you prefer to pay annually.
→ Sign up for your Marketing Plan here
Once you have access confirmed, do not worry about setting it up fully yet. A dedicated Dotloop setup module is here in Phase 1 that will walk you through:
• Setting up templates for buyer offers
• FHA, VA, Cash, and Conventional contract templates
• Buyer broker agreement templates
• Herron required forms and disclosures
• How to complete and submit contracts for Tory's review
• Video walkthroughs for each transaction type
Important: Use a professional photo. This is the first thing clients see when they receive anything from you in Boldtrail. A phone selfie is not the move here.
• Instagram: your professional handle
• Facebook: your business page URL
• YouTube: your channel if you have one
Skip any platforms you are not actively using. A dead social link looks worse than no link at all.
Once you have MLS access, you can find your MLS ID two ways:
• Use the Lookup my Agent ID link directly inside the Boldtrail profile page
• Or ask Tory after your MLS is active and she can help you locate it
If you have multiple MLS IDs, enter them separated by a comma with no spaces.
Every lead entered into Boldtrail must follow this exact standard. Consistent data means better reporting, better follow-up, and a database that actually works for you. No shortcuts.
• First Name — required
• Last Name — required, use "." (a single period) if you only have a first name. This satisfies the required field without "Unknown" autofilling into texts and emails to the lead.
• Email — required
• Cell Phone — required if you have it. Always try to get it.
• Permission to Contact — default all three (Call, Text, Email) to Yes unless the lead has specifically asked not to be contacted a certain way. Never assume no.
• Street Address, City, State, Zip — fill in if known
• Lead Status — set to the appropriate stage. New leads start at New
• Lead Source — required, select from the list below. Never leave this blank.
Approved Lead Sources — pick the closest match:
Type: [Buyer / Seller / Renter]
Price Range: $[min] - $[max]
Area / Zip: [neighborhood or zip code]
Timeline: [Active / 1-3 mo / 3-6 mo / 6-12 mo / Just browsing]
Loan Status: [Pre-approved / Needs lender / Cash / Unknown]
Lender: [Name if known]
Motivation: [Why are they moving? Job, family, upsizing, etc.]
Must Haves: [specific needs]
Deal Breakers: [what they absolutely do not want]
Best Contact: [Call / Text / Email] at [time preference]
--- CONTACT LOG ---
[MM/DD/YYYY] - [Method] - [What was discussed / outcome]
[MM/DD/YYYY] - [Method] - [What was discussed / outcome]
• New buyer or seller lead: assign the New Lead Follow-Up campaign
• Open house lead: assign the Open House Follow-Up campaign
• Long-term nurture lead: assign the Nurture campaign
The campaign scripts match the PDFs in your Reference Library. Tory will set up the campaigns on the backend. Your job is to assign the right one when you enter the lead.
• First name, last name, email or phone
• Lead source filled in accurately
• Lead type selected
• A pinned note with the template filled in as completely as possible
• A Smart Campaign assigned
If you can not complete all five in the moment, set a task reminder in Boldtrail to come back and finish it within 24 hours. Never let a lead sit incomplete.
• Match the alert to their price range, area, and property type
• Set frequency to Daily for active leads, Weekly for nurture leads
• Note in the pinned note that an e-alert has been set up and what parameters you used
E-alert setup tutorial coming soon.
These resources are organized by when you will need them. Do not try to consume everything at once. Start with the setup resources and come back to the others as you reach each phase of your training.
- Zillow profile claimed and fully optimized
- Realtor.com profile claimed and updated
- Google Business page created and verified
- Facebook Business page created
- Instagram rebranded to align with At Home Real Estate Team
- TikTok and YouTube accounts rebranded
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Review campaign launched — personally reach out to friends and family for Google and Facebook reviews
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Confirm Dotloop access is active through Herron
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Watch Dotloop setup walkthrough video — account settings, folders, and preferences
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Set up your Conventional offer template and practice completing it
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Set up your FHA offer template and review FHA-specific addendums
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Set up your VA offer template and review VA-specific addendums and requirements
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Set up your Cash offer template
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Set up your Buyer Broker Agreement template in Dotloop
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Review all required Herron forms and add to your Dotloop library
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Practice completing a full mock offer in Dotloop and submit through the Offer Review Form for Tory to review
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Understand how to send documents for e-signature through Dotloop and how to track status
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Read the full listing process overview
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Watch listing agreement walkthrough video
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Watch MLS listing input video — full start to finish walkthrough
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Practice listing input with Tory on a test listing
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Review compliance forms by property type (resale, condo, land, new construction)
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Submit your first listing input form to Tory for review
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Review open house process guide and prep checklist
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Host your first open house
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Notify Tory at least 24 hours before the appointment — she can help with comps or give a second opinion while you build confidence
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Schedule a listing appointment training session with Tory at least 2 days before your first one
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Pull the prior MLS listing for property details, photos, and prior list/sale price
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Pull the tax record to confirm ownership, year built, square footage, and prior sale history
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Run a permit search if seller is unsure of age of roof, AC, or other major mechanicals
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Run comparable sales (CMA) — ask Tory for help until you are confident on your own
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Check the Zillow Zestimate so you are ready to address it if the seller brings it up
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Run a net sheet from J. Riley Law so you can walk the seller through estimated closing costs and what they net
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Open and personalize the listing presentation in Canva — bring your laptop or iPad to show the seller digitally
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Use the Seller Consultation Guide as a phone prep reference before the appointment — review the questions to ask the seller ahead of time, not all will come up but it helps you go in prepared
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Bring a blank listing agreement in case they are ready to sign on the spot
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Print the House Prep Guide to leave with the seller in the comps folder — helps them understand how to prepare the home for market
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Arrive 10 minutes early — do a slow drive through the neighborhood to get a feel for it before going in
Use these tools before every listing appointment to confirm ownership, pull prior sale history, check property details, and research permit history. Always start with the MLS tax record tab — it is fastest and usually has everything you need.
Duval County (Jacksonville):
→ paopropertysearch.coj.net
St. Johns County:
→ sjcpa.gov
Clay County:
→ ccpao.com
A pulled and closed permit means the work was done and inspected legally. No permit on a major repair is a red flag worth noting.
Duval County (Jacksonville):
→ Jacksonville Building & Permitting
St. Johns County:
→ sjcfl.us/permit-status
Clay County:
→ claycountygov.com/permit-search
• Zestimate higher than your CMA: Acknowledge it, explain Zillow uses public data and has not seen the inside of the home, then walk through your actual comps.
• Zestimate lower than your CMA: Use it as a positive — the market data suggests their home is worth more than Zillow thinks.
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Review compliance forms for your property type
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Review the Seller Consultation Guide before your listing appointment — use it to prep questions for your pre-appointment call with the seller
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Schedule photos with Yazan at Home Prime Media — photos due by Tuesday for Thursday/Friday go-live
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Set up Zillow Showcase after listing is live — invite photographer to upload media directly
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Submit listing input form to Tory for review (company leads) or input yourself (personal leads)
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Go live Thursday or Friday only — no exceptions
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Schedule and promote opening weekend open house from day one — minimum 1, 2 preferred
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Watch tutorial: how to pull a free mailing list from the county property appraiser website
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Pull your first mailing list for a target neighborhood
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Copy and personalize your Just Sold postcard Canva template
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Review, rebrand, and add the FSBO guide to your website
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Download and review the Buyer & Client Intake Guide — use this at every buyer consult to capture client info and preferences
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Review the buyer broker agreement guide and understand when and how to present it
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Print the Buyer & Client Intake Guide and bring it to every buyer consult
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Personalize the About You flyer in Canva with your photo and bio — have Tory review before usingPrint the full buyer packet to bring to every buyer consult — includes About You flyer, Road to Home Ownership, costs breakdown, and reasons to work with youRole play a buyer consultation with Tory before your first real one
The buyer packet is a printed leave-behind you give clients at the consultation. It covers who you are, what the buying process looks like, and what it costs. Personalize the About You flyer first, then print the full packet before every buyer consult.
→ About You Flyer (Canva)
Steps: Choose agent → Get pre-approved → Begin home search → Submit offer → Negotiate → Under contract → Escrow deposit → Loan application → Due diligence & inspections → Re-negotiation → Appraisal → Survey → Conditional loan approval → Clear to close → Final walkthrough → Closing!
• Earnest money deposit: Typically 2-10% of purchase price, due 3-5 days after accepted offer (new construction may be immediate). Applied to down payment or closing costs at closing.
• Common inspections: Home ($450+), WDO ($250+), Pool ($300+), Well ($300+), Septic ($400+), Mold ($300+), Sewer scope ($400+), Radon ($500+), Wind mitigation/4pt ($150+)
• Appraisal: ~$600, ordered by lender
• Closing costs: 3-5% of purchase price
• Down payment: 0% (VA/USDA) up to 25%+ depending on loan type
→ Full Buyer Packet (Canva)
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Watch offer writing walkthrough video
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Review offer email templates for sending to listing agents
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Practice writing a mock offer with Tory before submitting a real one
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Submit your first real offer through the Offer Review Form for Tory to review before it goes out
Copy/paste templates for submitting offers to listing agents. Always submit to Tory for review first via the Offer Review Form before sending to the listing agent. Replace all bracketed fields before sending.
Hi [Listing Agent First Name],
Please find attached an offer to purchase [property address] on behalf of my buyers.
Offer Summary:
Purchase Price: $[amount]
Earnest Money Deposit: $[amount]
Down Payment: [%]
Financing Type: [Conventional / FHA / VA / Cash]
Inspection Period: [X] days
Closing Date: [date]
[If pre-approved: My buyers are pre-approved with [lender name]. Pre-approval letter is attached.]
[If cash: Proof of funds is attached.]
Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything additional to present this offer. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
At Home Real Estate Team | Herron Real Estate
[Your Phone] | [Your Email]
Hi [Listing Agent First Name],
Please find attached our offer to purchase [property address]. We understand you may be in a multiple offer situation and want to ensure you have everything you need to present this to your sellers promptly.
Offer Summary:
Purchase Price: $[amount]
Earnest Money Deposit: $[amount]
Down Payment: [%]
Financing Type: [Conventional / FHA / VA / Cash]
Inspection Period: [X] days
Closing Date: [date]
[If pre-approved: Pre-approval letter from [lender name] is attached.]
[If cash: Proof of funds is attached.]
My buyers are serious and ready to move forward. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. We are happy to discuss terms.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
At Home Real Estate Team | Herron Real Estate
[Your Phone] | [Your Email]
Hi [Listing Agent First Name],
Just following up on the offer I submitted yesterday for [property address]. Please let me know it was received and if there is anything additional you need from us.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
At Home Real Estate Team | Herron Real Estate
[Your Phone] | [Your Email]
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Complete personal marketing and lead gen strategy session with Tory
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Set up new lead follow-up cadence in Boldtrail using the scripts PDF
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Copy your Canva templates and add your personal branding and info
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Review and rebrand the FSBO guide to add to your website
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Pull your first mailing list from the property appraiser website for free
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Watch model home tour video guide
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Watch virtual tour guide for out-of-state buyers
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Create a free Canva account at canva.com if you don't already have one
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Read the how-to guide for copying and personalizing templates — you can copy but not edit the master versions
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Set up your Canva Brand Kit with your name, headshot, contact info, and colors
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Copy and personalize: Just Sold postcard template
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Copy and personalize: Open house materials template
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Copy and personalize: Social media post templates
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Write your personal agent bio using the template provided
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Review the vetted vendor list below — inspectors, contractors, cleaners, stagers, and more
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Watch the model home tour video guide — how to film, what to say, how to capture lead info naturally
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Watch the virtual tour guide for out-of-state buyers
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Film your first property video or model home tour and share with Tory for feedback
These are vendors Tory has personally worked with and recommends to clients. Always disclose to your client that these are team-vetted referrals. Never guarantee a vendor's work. Add to this list as you build your own relationships.
(904) 834-1154 bwhomeinspections.com →
(904) 852-8537 gopro-spect.com →
(904) 467-5314 lunsproflorida.com →
(203) 806-0622 Hello@HomePrimeMedia.com Book online →
Net Sheet & Closing Cost Calculator: Use this free tool to generate estimated net sheets for sellers. Bookmark it — run one before every listing appointment so sellers know what to expect at closing.
→ Net Sheet & Closing Cost Calculators
Best contact: Text for quotes. She may need to meet at the house to provide a quote.
(904) 832-7993
Blinq is your digital business card AND your email signature. Every email you send will have a professional branded signature that links directly to your Blinq card. Recipients can tap it and instantly save all your contact info. Free, takes about 10 minutes total, and looks sharp.
→ blinq.me
• Profile photo — your professional headshot, same one as Boldtrail
• Background image — optional, a lifestyle or brand photo
• Company Logo — ask Tory for the At Home Real Estate Team logo file
Click Change Layout to adjust how photos are arranged.
Personal: Name (as on license) • Job Title: Licensed Real Estate Agent • Company: At Home Real Estate Team | Herron Real Estate
General: Email • Phone (label: Cell) • Company URL (your Boldtrail website) • Link (Google review link if you have one)
Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok — only platforms you actively post on
→ iPhone App Store → Android Google Play
→ Create Email Signature in Blinq
• Click the gear icon ⚙ top right
• Click See all settings
• Scroll down to the Signature section
• Click + Create New
• Name it Professional and click Create
Your full branded signature will appear — photo, name, title, contact info, and your Blinq card link all formatted and ready to go. No manual formatting needed.
Scroll to the very bottom and click Save Changes.
Send yourself a test email to confirm it looks right. Every email you send from now on will have your professional Blinq signature automatically.