We asked a group of our all-star members, “If I could give myself any piece of advice as a new agent starting out, it would be…” here’s what they shared:

 Get a mentor! It makes such a big difference in the beginning. – 

Study the market and share your knowledge regularly – 

Don’t overthink things and don’t wait to be perfect, just do it. – 

Don’t be scared to post on social media multiple times a day! – 

SHOW UP!!! To the office, to events, just show up! – 

Develop a routine and stick with it, NO MATTER WHAT. – 

Don’t get discouraged and push hard towards your goal. – 

Don’t obsess over what other realtors are doing. Pave your own path! – 

Follow up, be consistent, focus on the relationship and not the transaction. – 

Don’t expect to “make it” in your first year. Be patient. Be humble. Be hungry. – 

Bet on yourself and believe you can be successful! – 

Practice contracts, live and breathe them. And never burn a bridge with anyone you meet! – 

Take advantage of social media and create as big of a presence as possible! – 

Pick a brokerage that you feel comfortable going to for support. – 

 of like-minded agents for the support you need to kick start your real estate career. 

Key Advice for New Real Estate Agents

The Advice I wish I had Received as a new Real Estate Agent

Most real estate agents meet AI the same way: they open a chat window, type a question, get a decent answer, and close the tab. Helpful, sure. But you just used the most capable assistant on the market to do the equivalent of a Google search.

Claude can do a lot more than answer questions. It can do the work. Think less "search engine" and more "the assistant you've been meaning to hire." This is your 101 on what Claude actually is, what real estate agents are using it for, and how to get started without falling down the AI rabbit hole.

One thing up front, because it will save you months of trial and error: Claude is the hands, not the brain. It can execute almost anything, but it's only as good as the strategy and content you point it at. The agents who win with AI already have a marketing system. Claude just runs it faster.

Claude isn't a chatbot. It's a coworker you train once

Here's the mindset shift that changes everything.

Chatbot behavior is what most people do: ask a random prompt, chat endlessly, and recreate the same work from scratch every single time. You're the one doing the heavy lifting, every time.

Coworker behavior is different. You train Claude once, delegate a task, and it runs that task the same way going forward. Instead of re-explaining how you write listing descriptions every week, you teach it your style one time and it remembers. That's the difference between a tool you poke at and an assistant that actually saves you hours.

Skip the endless chatting. The fastest way to understand what Claude does is to hand it a real job and watch it work, the way you would with a new assistant.

Download the Claude desktop app and open Cowork, the workspace where Claude can actually do things for you instead of just talking. Cowork runs on the paid plan (around $20 a month), and there's usually a free week to try it. Connect one low-stakes tool to start, like your Google Calendar. Then give it a real assignment:

Look at my calendar for this week and build me a prep sheet for each appointment: who I'm meeting, what it's about, and three things I should have ready.

Claude reads your actual week and hands back a usable prep sheet in a couple of minutes. You didn't write a prompt and copy a reply out of a chat box. You delegated a task and got finished work back. That is the difference, and it's the whole reason Claude is more than a chatbot.

Start with one tool and one task. Once that clicks, you give it more access and teach it more of your process. Here's how to think about that.

The easiest way to wrap your head around this is to treat Claude like a new team member. A sharp one who's always on, never forgets, and works at your pace. The catch is the same as any new hire: on day one, it knows nothing about your business. Your job is to onboard it.

There are three things that turn Claude from a generic tool into your assistant:

 These are the logins to the tools it works in, like Gmail, your calendar, Google Drive, and your CRM. Connecting them is the equivalent of giving a new hire access to your systems. Be thoughtful here, because linking your email or CRM shares client data. Vet the tool and check your brokerage's rules first.

 A skill is simply how Claude does a specific task, written down once so it does it your way every time. Your most important skill is your "Brand Brain," which teaches Claude your voice, your market, and how you sound. This is the brain you hand over. Claude brings the horsepower, but your voice, your market, and your strategy decide whether what comes out is any good.

 You can tell your assistant when to run things, so the work happens while you're showing homes or asleep. A lead recap every morning, a review check every month, whatever you'd put on an assistant's calendar.

Give it access, teach it your SOPs, and you can even give it a name. From there, you just talk to your assistant, and the skills are what it knows how to do.

The point isn't to use Claude for everything. It's to hand off the repetitive tasks that quietly eat your week. A few examples agents are already running:

 Wake up already briefed. New leads, deadlines due today, and drafted replies pulled from your calendar, email, and CRM before your first coffee.

 Feed it the property details and your style, and it drafts polished, on-brand copy you can review and post. No more staring at a blank MLS field.

 It can scan your CRM for leads that look active but are quietly going cold, then draft the follow-ups so you're not the bottleneck.

 It tracks every contract date so you never miss one, and helps keep clients calm from contract to close.

 It can speed up captions, repurpose what's already working, and personalize posts to your specific market faster than doing it by hand.

Notice the pattern. In every case you're delegating a finished task, not babysitting a conversation. And in every case the output is only as sharp as what you feed it. Point Claude at a real marketing system and it stops sounding generic and starts sounding like you.

A quick map so you're not confused by the names.

Claude Chat is the quick-question version, closest to what you might already know. Claude Cowork is the operational workspace, where you connect your tools and run real workflows and automations. Cowork is where the assistant magic happens, and it lives in the desktop app. There's also a Chrome extension for when you need Claude to work inside a website that doesn't connect directly, like your MLS or your Instagram inbox.

On models, don't overthink it. Sonnet is your daily driver for writing, organizing, and planning. Opus is the premium brainpower for deeper strategy and heavy projects, but it burns through usage faster. Haiku is the fast, lightweight option for simple tasks. Claude has a free version to test the waters, and the connected workflow features run on a paid plan that starts around $20 a month. Most agents should start with the entry plan and only upgrade if they're hitting limits.

You're still the agent. Review every output before it goes anywhere, never let anything auto-send to a client, and remember that Fair Housing, MLS, and license rules still apply to AI-generated work.

Your brokerage's rules come first. Check with your broker or compliance person before connecting tools or adopting a new workflow. And nothing here is legal or compliance advice, just what's working in the field.

You don't need to learn every prompt and every tool. Start here.

Step 1: Connect one or two tools you use daily, like your email and calendar.

Step 2: Pick one repetitive task that drains your time and teach Claude to do it. Run it together once, then save it as a skill.

Step 3: Schedule it or run it on demand, tweak as you go, and add the next task once that one is humming.

The biggest mistake is trying to automate your entire business in week one. The win is picking one task off your plate, then another. Block an hour a week for "AI playtime" and you'll be ahead of most of your market within a month.

This is where the brain and the hands come together. Claude is the hands. Coffee & Contracts is the brain: the operating system your marketing runs on, with the strategy, the content, and the weekly plan already built in. An assistant is only as good as the system behind it, and you can now connect that system straight to Claude.

Once your C&C account is linked (no API key, just a few minutes), Claude works from your real account instead of guessing. Ask it to pull your personalized content calendar, browse your template vault by pillar and type, write captions in your actual voice, and talk through your Instagram analytics to see what's working, all without leaving the app. That's the difference between Claude running generic workflows and Claude running your marketing.

Already a member? Connect it now with our 

 and see the system for yourself, then connect it to Claude when you're ready. Want a head start in the meantime? Subscribe to Coffee Drip, our free weekly marketing playbook, and join 40,000+ agents getting something worth handing to their new assistant every Tuesday.

Claude AI for Real Estate Agents

Claude AI for Real Estate Agents: A Beginner's Guide (2026) 

His listing videos have racked up millions of views and $8M in closed or pending volume in 2026 alone (and yes, he’s just using his iPhone).


) breaks down what he thinks 90% of agents miss, his TikTok “testing” strategy, the clips he always films, and a hot take that had us laughing out loud. 


Enjoy our conversation with Nashville real estate agent, Colton Reid.

 

Quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Welcome Colton! Tell us about your market, who you serve, and what kind of client is the right fit for your business?

My business is rooted in Nashville proper, though I also serve the greater market, including Franklin and Nolensville.

My average sale is around $700K, with most clients in the mid-$500s to $1M range. I'm primarily on the buy-side, focused on first-time buyers — especially Millennials, Gen Z, and out-of-state clients.

The clients who are the best fit for me are those who value guidance and transparency. I’m very direct in my advice; I’ll always walk my clients through the good, the bad, and the potential of every home. My goal is for them to understand what they're buying today, and how it fits their long-term lifestyle and investment goals. 

You already have $8M in closed or pending volume from social media this year. Take us back to the moment TikTok went from "side experiment" to a real pipeline & what shifted in your strategy.

TikTok became a real pipeline for me around mid-2025. I had a few random posts perform well, unrelated to real estate. That showed me the potential, so I decided to treat it like a real business channel and focus my content. I committed to posting 2–3 times a day for 90 days.

Historic homes resonate most (people connect with their character, texture, color, and charm) compared to polished new-construction homes. That consistency, paired with clearer content direction, is what changed everything. Videos started hitting 50K–100K+ views, and I was getting 500+ messages a week.

I adapted that same format for Instagram, which hadn't been converting — but once the content aligned, it grew by nearly 5,000 followers in six months

, with multiple viral videos that kicked off my first wave of clients from Instagram.

Walk us through your TikTok strategy...posting cadence, types of videos, and how you decide what gets posted to TikTok vs. Instagram.

I typically film 3-5 homes per week (dialed back from 10–15). As my business has grown, it’s been less about volume and more about precision. 

I’m balancing 3–5 active clients at any given time, so I focus on homes I 

 have something special. For each property, I shoot two distinct video styles. Over time, I’ve learned that different formats resonate differently, so I let TikTok be the testing ground. 

Whichever version performs best on TikTok is what gets pushed to Instagram. 

That strategy alone gives me about a 70–80% success rate on Instagram.

TikTok also dictates my audio strategy. I’ll test an audio there first, then carry it over.

As for the homes I spotlight, I focus on what my audience responds to: character, charm, and emotion. The kinds of homes people grew up dreaming about 

(The Holiday, Home Alone, Father of the Bride, Miss Honey’s cottage in Matilda)

That emotional connection is what makes people feel something, and drives engagement and shares.

I take editing seriously, too. The difference between a video that performs and one that doesn’t often comes down to how polished and intentional it feels.


Your listing reels have millions of views, and your hooks clearly work. What's the secret sauce that most agents miss?

Most agents are missing their target audience!!! 

I cannot stress that enough! First, learn what your local audience wants to see. Mine, for the most part, loves old homes, walkable locations, and tree-lined streets.

My hooks are about what will resonate with all people, not limited to local viewers. Yes, I sell Nashville homes, but if I know a video has broader appeal, I’m not going to say, “POV: this storybook cottage in Nashville, TN is what you’ve been waiting for.” I’m going to think, what can I say that will get someone in Maine to share this and fall in love with Nashville?


When I film, I’m thinking about the first shot I can capture to grab attention (because let’s be honest, you have about 3 seconds to catch people’s eye).

I check the angles of the home. Does it shoot best straight on or from the side? Are there flowers or trees that enhance the overall picture?

I have a hot take for agents and listing videos: You DO NOT need to be in every shot! Most people don’t care to see you walking in the kitchen, grazing your hand across the countertops! 



C&C Members: have you checked out our comprehensive 

? We cover all the tips and tricks to filming videos on your phone like a pro.

That last line made us laugh out loud! Now, tell us about the music you select and your captions.

The music is one of the most important parts of the video, in my opinion. The song has to match the vibe and cadence of the video. A bad song choice can ruin everything!

A modern home shouldn’t feel the same as a storybook Tudor. If a home feels nostalgic or whimsical, the audio has to match that emotion, otherwise it’ll fall flat. 


Sometimes I’ll listen to 50+ songs and test my video with each one. I have to put myself in the viewer’s shoes, what feels right and actually creates emotion?

I have my master’s in marketing, and one of the most valuable takeaways was: if you can evoke emotion or a memory, you can completely capture your audience.

As for captions, mine really haven’t changed in over a year. I stay very consistent with the verbiage, format, and style across both Instagram and TikTok.

Once someone DMs you from a listing reel, what happens next? What are you doing to keep the conversation moving?

I message everyone personally, I don’t use ManyChat, although I use that style of “comment ‘Home’ for the link.” 

 the ManyChat. It’s exhausting, and it’s a numbers game, but it eventually works.

My first message is straightforward and consistent:

“Hi [Name], here’s the link to the home in [area] Nashville. Let me know if you have any questions.”

I also make sure they know I’m not the listing agent - that I work with buyers in their position. From there, I try to open the door for conversation, but I don’t force it. This is where personality really matters, you have to tailor it to how you naturally communicate.

98% of people you message won’t even acknowledge it, but if someone is serious about buying and not already working with another agent, they’ll usually let you know pretty quickly.

I do have one rule: if I’ve messaged someone 5 listing links and they haven’t acknowledged them at all (no likes or reactions), I stop sending links on new listing videos. Some might think that’s a bad approach, but it keeps me sane. If they really want the information, they’ll come back and ask for it.

For the agent reading this who's on Instagram but hasn't touched TikTok yet (or has tried and stalled), what's the one move you'd tell them to make?

Take all the content you’ve already created and start putting it on TikTok, 

. See what performs!

At the end of the day, it comes down to consistency and volume. You just have to post and keep posting.

TikTok is a lot more forgiving than Instagram. If the video is a little shaky, that’s okay. Color slightly off? Fine. Not as polished or smooth as you’d normally want? Still fine. 

Instagram tends to be a harsher critic, but TikTok cares more about the content itself than perfection.

You just have to push through that and stay consistent when it comes to Tiktok!


Colton Reid is a Nashville, Tennessee real estate agent and a member of Coffee & Contracts. 

 is a marketing platform that helps real estate agents make social media their top lead source. 

8M in closed & pending volume from TikTok & Instagram – in 2026 alone.

8M in closed & pending volume from TikTok & Instagram – in 2026 alone. Meet Colton Reid, Nashville Real Estate Agent

made a bet. She'd go all-in on Instagram for six months — post consistently, follow the C&C strategy, and see what happened. Eighteen months later, she's closed $10 million in volume with another $25 million pending, and Instagram has become her primary source of business.

Enjoy our conversation with Lauren Delamater. Quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

How long have you been in real estate, and what made you choose this career?

My grandfather was a Realtor for 25-30 years, and going to his office in the Chicago suburbs as a kid always seemed so exciting to me; it planted a seed early on.


I had my kids young, so a dependable income was always important to our family. It wasn't until later that I could transition into real estate. I've been an agent now for 8.5 years - it was a long-term goal!

I've always been an entrepreneur. My mom and I owned a café, and I ran a wedding-planning company. Both experiences shaped how I think about business and my clients' experience. I finally made the jump when we moved to Charleston, South Carolina.


What did your marketing look like before Instagram started clicking for you?

I was trained by someone more traditional, with lots of experience in print marketing. It was perfect as a new agent because they shared leads with me, and I built my sphere that way – I got really lucky right out of the gate. 

Three and a half years ago, I made a change and joined an independent brokerage where marketing and lead generation were completely on me, and I quickly realized I needed to replace those leads. 

At the time, I started seeing agents in my market finding success on Instagram, and that got my attention. That's also the time I found Coffee & Contracts, and I decided in December 2024 to go all in on Instagram in January 2025.

I committed to figuring it out, posting consistently, and implementing the C&C strategy. I told myself that if it didn’t work after six months, I'd go back to something else. 

This year, every single closing I've had is from Instagram. How wild is that? I've closed about $10 million from Instagram now and have around $25 million in pending sales. It’s insane to me!

What's surprised you most about the clients who find you on Instagram?

My favorite clients are the ones who have found me on Instagram! The best part is, by the time they reach out, there's no need for me to "sell" them because they feel like they already know me.

What would you tell an agent who is hesitant to start?

If it doesn't work after consistently trying for 4-6 months, fine, but if you follow the strategy and do exactly what Coffee & Contracts has laid out, it will work.

There's definitely a learning curve, for example, figuring out how to film nicer listing videos on my phone, but Coffee & Contracts provides resources, like the Reels Guide, to help you improve your skills.

I think people hold back because they're afraid of what other agents will think. You just have to accept the fear and do it anyway - they don't pay your bills!


Every piece of content inside Coffee & Contracts is built around three jobs:

 — reaching people who've never heard of you. Local itineraries, events & happenings, relatable local quips, and personal recommendations. This is the type of content locals share, and relocators save. 

 — building trust over time. Market updates, sharing behind-the-scenes of your business, your point of view, and stories of your clients having great outcomes. This lays the foundation for trust and establishes you as the right person to work with.

 — turning followers into conversations and clients. Listings they can message you about, lead magnets that get them on your email list, and posts that feel like direct invitations to start a conversation.

Lauren Delamater is a Charleston, SC real estate agent and a member of Coffee & Contracts. 

 is a marketing platform that helps real estate agents make social media their top lead source. The posts featured in this article are Coffee & Contracts templates.

The Advice I wish I had Received as a new Real Estate Agent

More like this

Claude AI for Real Estate Agents: A Beginner's Guide (2026)

8M in closed & pending volume from TikTok & Instagram – in 2026 alone. Meet Colton Reid, Nashville Real Estate Agent

She's Closed $10 Million from Instagram. Meet Lauren Delamater, Charleston Real Estate Agent

Put Coffee & Contracts to work for you

The Advice I wish I had Received as a new Real Estate Agent

More like this

Claude AI for Real Estate Agents: A Beginner's Guide (2026)

8M in closed & pending volume from TikTok & Instagram – in 2026 alone. Meet Colton Reid, Nashville Real Estate Agent

She's Closed $10 Million from Instagram. Meet Lauren Delamater, Charleston Real Estate Agent

Put Coffee & Contracts to work for you

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