Print Kit for New Realtors: What to Order First (and What Can Wait)
You passed the exam, picked a brokerage, and now you have a license with no listings, no sphere of clients yet, and a budget that needs to stretch. Every vendor wants to sell you something, and it is easy to spend money on print that sits in a box in your trunk. This guide walks through what a new real estate agent actually needs to order first, what can wait, and how to set up your files so your print grows with your business instead of being thrown away after your first broker change.
Before you order anything: three decisions that save money
Most wasted print comes from ordering before the basics are locked in. Settle these first:
- Your brokerage branding rules. Many brokerages have required logos, colors and layout rules for agent marketing. Ask your broker or office manager for the brand kit before you design anything.
- Your legal must-haves. In Florida, the advertising rule for licensees states that all real estate advertisements must include the licensed name of the brokerage firm (Fla. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.025). Florida Realtors also has a plain-language summary of advertising rules. Put the brokerage name on every printed piece from day one, and check with your broker on anything else they require.
- Your "permanent" contact info. Use a mobile number and email you will keep even if you switch brokerages. A personal domain or a link-in-bio page is easier to update than reprinting cards.
Tier 1: order in your first week
Business cards
Business cards are still the cheapest way to make sure people can find you again after an open house, a networking breakfast or a chat at your kid's soccer game. For a new agent, start with a modest run of Standard Business Cards rather than a premium specialty card. You will likely tweak your headshot, tagline or even brokerage in your first year, and a smaller first order keeps that change cheap.
What to include:
- Your name and title as licensed (for example, "Sales Associate" or "Realtor®" if you are a member)
- The licensed brokerage name and logo
- Mobile number, email and website or a QR code to your contact card
- A recent, professional headshot (real estate is a relationship business; people remember faces)
Keep the back useful: a QR code to your listings page or a short line about the areas you serve works better than a generic quote.
Open house and directional signs
Even before you have your own listings, you can often host open houses for other agents in your office. That makes signs one of the most useful early purchases. 4mm Coroplast Signs are lightweight corrugated plastic, printed full color, and work well for directional arrows and "Open House" signs placed at corners leading to the property.
Design tips for directional signs:
- One message per sign: "OPEN HOUSE" plus a large arrow
- High contrast colors and big, bold type; drivers only get a glance
- Your name or brokerage small at the bottom, not competing with the arrow
- Order arrows pointing both left and right, or design a version that can be flipped
Before placing any sign, check your HOA, city and county rules; sign placement on public right-of-way is restricted in many areas.
Tier 2: order when you start prospecting (month 1–2)
Farming postcards
Picking a neighborhood to "farm" and mailing it consistently is a classic way to build name recognition. Postcards are ideal because nobody has to open an envelope. Good first postcard ideas for a new agent:
- An introduction card announcing that you have joined your brokerage, positioning you as the neighbor who knows local real estate
- Seasonal home-maintenance checklist with your contact info
- A market update card that points to a page on your website (pull figures from your MLS or a reputable source, and cite them)
18pt Postcards are a thicker stock that is uncoated on one side, which makes them easy to write on. That is useful for handwritten "thank you" and "great to meet you" notes after an open house, a small touch that new agents can use to stand out.
Property and open house flyers
When you hold an open house, visitors expect a take-home sheet with photos, key features and your contact details. Flat Flyers are the simplest option: one sheet, printed one or two sides. Our flyer sizes guide covers when to use 8.5x11 versus smaller formats.
A good open house flyer includes:
- One strong hero photo and two to four supporting photos
- Beds, baths, approximate square footage and three standout features
- Listing agent and brokerage information exactly as your broker requires
- A QR code to the full listing or a sign-in form
Tier 3: order when you get your first listing
Listing yard sign and rider signs
Many brokerages supply the main "For Sale" panel, so ask first. What you can usually personalize is the rider: the small sign that hangs above or below the main panel. Rider Signs let you add your name and phone number, or messages like "Pool," "Open Sun 1–4," "Under Contract" or "Sold." Riders are cheap to swap, so one main panel can keep working through the whole life of the listing.
Our yard sign design rules article explains how to keep any sign readable in about three seconds from a moving car.
Listing presentation materials
Once you start pitching sellers, a printed listing presentation in a branded folder signals that you are prepared. This is a "nice to have" for most new agents; wait until you have a few presentations scheduled before investing in custom folders.
What can wait
- Specialty business cards (raised foil, painted edges, plastic). Great once your branding is stable, not in week one.
- Car door magnets. Useful, but confirm brokerage rules first, and design them only after your branding is final.
- Large banners and event displays. Wait until you have a specific community event or sponsorship lined up.
- Branded giveaways. Only order these once you know which events you will attend.
Quick-start checklist for new agents
| When | Item | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Business cards | Every conversation, every open house |
| Week 1 | Open house directional signs | Host open houses for your office's listings |
| Month 1–2 | Farming and note postcards | Build name recognition and follow up personally |
| Month 1–2 | Open house flyers | Give visitors something to take home |
| First listing | Rider signs | Personalize the brokerage panel and update status |
| Later | Folders, magnets, specialty cards | Once branding and budget are stable |
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my brokerage logo or my personal logo on my cards?
Follow your brokerage's rules first. In Florida, the licensed brokerage name must appear in real estate advertisements, so it needs to be on your printed marketing. Many agents add a personal brand as well, but keep it secondary to anything your broker requires.
How many business cards should a new agent order?
Start smaller than you think, because details often change in the first year. Our guide to how many business cards to order breaks it down by profession and usage.
Can I reuse my files if I change brokerages?
Yes, if you plan for it. Keep your design files organized with the brokerage name and logo on their own layer or area, use contact info you will keep, and follow our print-ready file checklist so reprints are quick.
Get your new-agent print kit right the first time
At KEOPSY, a real person reviews every file before it prints, checking for issues like low-resolution photos, text too close to the trim, or a missing bleed, so your first impression does not come with a typo. If you do not have a designer yet, the AI Design Studio helps you create business cards, signs, postcards and flyers from your own photos, logo and brokerage colors. Start with the essentials, keep your files ready for updates, and add to your kit as your business grows.