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Your First Week as an Agent

Welcome to HomeStar! This tutorial walks you through your first week as an agent. By the end, you’ll have a complete profile, know how to search properties, and be ready to respond to leads.

What you’ll accomplish:

  • ✅ Set up your agent profile with photo and bio
  • ✅ Search for properties using natural language
  • ✅ Save your first favorite listings
  • ✅ Understand your dashboard widgets
  • ✅ Prepare to receive your first lead

Time required: 30 minutes spread over your first week

Day 1: Set Up Your Profile

Section titled “Day 1: Set Up Your Profile”

Let’s get your agent profile ready for clients to see.

  1. Log in to your account

    Use the invitation email from your broker. Click “Set Password” and create a secure password (at least 12 characters with mix of letters, numbers, and symbols).

  2. Add your professional photo

    We’ll upload a headshot that appears on your listings and public profile.

    • Click your avatar in the top right corner
    • Select “Edit Profile”
    • Click “Upload Photo”
    • Choose a professional headshot (ideally 400x400px or larger)
    • Click “Save”

  3. Write your bio

    Tell clients about your expertise. We’ll keep it conversational and focused:

    • In the “Bio” field, write 2-3 sentences about:
      • Your real estate experience
      • Your service area or specialization
      • What makes you passionate about helping clients

    Example:

    “I specialize in helping first-time homebuyers navigate the Magic Valley market. With 5 years of local experience, I make the process smooth and stress-free. Nothing beats seeing families find their perfect home!”

  4. Add contact information

    Enter your professional contact details:

    • Phone: Your direct line (this appears publicly on listings)
    • Email: Your professional email address
    • Office location: Your brokerage address (auto-filled from your broker)

  5. Review and save

    • Click “Preview Public Profile” to see how clients see you
    • Make any final tweaks
    • Click “Save Changes”

Result: Your profile is live! Clients can now see your photo, bio, and contact info when they view your listings. 🎉

Day 2: Explore Your Dashboard

Section titled “Day 2: Explore Your Dashboard”

Let’s tour your command center and understand what each widget shows you.

  1. View your dashboard

    Log in and you’ll land on your dashboard. Take a moment to look at the layout.

  2. Understand the key widgets

    Your dashboard has four main sections:

    • Active Listings (top left) — Properties you’re currently marketing
    • Recent Leads (top right) — New inquiries requiring attention
    • Upcoming Tours (bottom left) — Scheduled showings for the week
    • Performance Metrics (bottom right) — Views, saves, and engagement stats

  3. Try the quick actions

    In the top navigation, find these shortcuts:

    • New Listing button (top right)
    • Search box (center top)
    • Calendar icon (next to your avatar)

Result: You now know where everything lives! Your dashboard is your home base for daily activities.

Day 3: Search for Properties

Section titled “Day 3: Search for Properties”

Let’s find some properties using HomeStar’s semantic search. This is where the magic happens!

  1. Try a natural language search

    In the search box at the top, type something conversational:

    "3 bedroom home with updated kitchen near good schools"

    Press Enter. Notice how results appear even if listings don’t use these exact words!

  2. Refine with filters

    On the search results page, use the sidebar filters:

    • Set price range: $300,000 - $500,000
    • Beds: 3+
    • Baths: 2+

    Watch the results update automatically.

  3. View a property detail page

    Click on any listing that catches your eye. You’ll see:

    • Photo gallery — Professional listing photos
    • Property details — Beds, baths, square footage, lot size
    • Description — Agent’s listing description
    • Location map — Interactive map with nearby amenities
    • Similar properties — AI-suggested comparable listings

  4. Save your first favorite

    Found a property you like? Click the heart icon in the top right corner. This saves it to your “Favorites” list.

Result: You’ve searched properties and saved your first favorite! This is exactly how clients will search, so you’re experiencing what they’ll see.

Day 4: Try Advanced Search Features

Section titled “Day 4: Try Advanced Search Features”

Now let’s explore what makes HomeStar’s search special.

  1. Use vision-based search

    Open any listing with photos, then:

    • Click “Find Similar by Photo”
    • Select a room photo you like (e.g., the kitchen)
    • HomeStar’s vision AI finds properties with similar aesthetics

    This helps when clients say “I want a kitchen like THIS” but can’t describe it!

  2. Combine semantic + filters

    Try this powerful combination:

    • Semantic query: “modern farmhouse with open concept”
    • Filters: $400k-$600k, Twin Falls, 3+ beds

    You get properties matching your price/location requirements, ranked by how well they match the “modern farmhouse” vibe.

  3. Set up a saved search (optional)

    If you work with specific buyer profiles:

    • Perform a search
    • Click “Save Search” button
    • Name it (e.g., “First-time buyers under $350k”)
    • Choose notification frequency

    You’ll get alerts when new matching properties hit the market!

Result: You’re now comfortable with both basic and advanced search features. You know what tools are available when clients ask complex questions!

Day 5: Prepare for Your First Lead

Section titled “Day 5: Prepare for Your First Lead”

Let’s get ready to receive and respond to leads effectively.

  1. Enable lead notifications

    • Click your avatar → “Settings”
    • Select “Notifications”
    • Enable Email and SMS for new leads
    • Set Immediate delivery (respond fast!)

    Click “Save Preferences”

  2. Review response templates

    • Go to Dashboard → “Settings” → “Templates”
    • Browse the pre-made templates:
      • Initial Contact — First response to inquiry
      • Property Info — Answer specific questions
      • Tour Scheduling — Propose showing times

  3. Understand lead pipeline stages

    Leads move through these stages:

    • New — Just came in, needs response
    • Contacted — You’ve reached out, awaiting reply
    • Engaged — Active conversation
    • Qualified — Ready to view properties
    • Closed Won — Successfully helped them buy/sell!

    You’ll move leads through these as you work with them.

  4. Set up your calendar

    • Click Calendar icon (top nav)
    • Connect your Google Calendar or Outlook (optional but recommended)
    • Set your available hours for showings

    This lets clients schedule tours directly when your calendar is synced!

Result: You’re ready to receive leads! Notifications are on, you know how to use templates, and you understand the lead workflow. 🚀

Your First Week Complete!

Section titled “Your First Week Complete!”

Congratulations! In just 30 minutes across five days, you’ve:

Built Your Profile

Professional photo, compelling bio, and contact info live for clients to see

Mastered Search

Natural language queries, vision-based search, and advanced filter combinations

Organized Favorites

Saved properties and learned how to curate lists for clients

Prepped for Leads

Notifications enabled, templates ready, and pipeline stages understood

What’s Next?

Section titled “What’s Next?”

When your first lead arrives:

Explore more features:

Questions about what you just learned?