Where Do I Even Start with AI? A Real Estate Coach’s Take on Getting Out of Overwhelm and Into Action
“Where Do I Start Using AI in My Real Estate Business?”
This is one of the most common questions I get from agents right now — not just in private coaching calls, but after talks, during events, and in my DMs on Instagram @coachemilyterrell.
And I get why they’re asking.
Real estate agents already wear 14 hats. Between contracts, open houses, lead gen, social media, and trying to eat a meal without checking your phone — adding “figure out AI” can feel like adding another full-time job.
So when someone says, “You should be using AI,” the most natural response is:
“Cool. But… how? And where do I even start?”
Here’s what I tell them — and what I’d tell you if we were talking over coffee.
Step One: Don’t Start with Tools — Start with a Problem
Most agents think the first step is picking the right AI tool. But that’s actually the second (or even third) step.
The first step is asking:
“What’s the one thing in your business that’s slowing you down, or that you’re avoiding because it feels too time-consuming or unclear?”
That’s your entry point.
AI isn’t meant to add more tasks. It’s meant to take something you’re already doing — or avoiding — and make it easier or faster. If you’ve ever said:
- “I don’t know what to say in follow-ups”
- “I need to write something but don’t have time”
- “I wish I had a way to get marketing done faster”
That’s where AI can help. Not someday — today.
Step Two: Choose ONE Simple Use Case
The agents I coach who see the most success with AI didn’t start by trying to automate their whole business. They picked one thing and made it better.
Here are a few areas that tend to be good starting points:
✏️ 1. Writing Better Follow-Up Messages
Instead of freezing up at a cold lead, you can ask an AI tool like ChatGPT:
“Help me write a warm, low-pressure follow-up text to someone who visited my open house last weekend and hasn’t responded yet.”
Now you have something that feels conversational — not canned — and you’re not starting from scratch.
📣 2. Drafting Listing Descriptions
Most agents already write listing descriptions themselves. AI can help you generate multiple versions — a short MLS version, a longer website version, or even a social caption. You stay in control of the tone, but save time and energy.
📧 3. Creating Client-Facing Updates
Need to send your seller a weekly update? Instead of spending 45 minutes trying to make it sound “professional enough,” you can input a few bullet points and ask AI to format it into a clean, clear email.
None of this is fancy. But it’s helpful — and it works.
Step Three: Start with ChatGPT or What You Already Have Access To
If you’re not sure which tool to start with, my advice is:
Start with the one you already have.
For most people, that’s ChatGPT. You don’t need to buy anything. Just start playing with it. Use plain language. Type your thoughts like you’re talking to a friend. That’s enough to get started.
If you’ve heard me speak or coach, you’ve probably seen me use tools like ChatGPT, Grok, and Revy AI. But that doesn’t mean you need all of those right now. One is plenty to get going.
Step Four: Don’t Try to Sound “Techy” — Just Be Clear
One mistake agents make is thinking they have to write the “perfect prompt” to get a good result.
You don’t.
Just be specific and conversational. For example:
✅ “Write a short Instagram caption for my new 3-bed listing in Durham. It’s walkable to the park and has a great backyard for dogs. Keep it light and fun.”
That’s better than saying:
❌ “Create social media content for real estate listing.”
You’re not being tested. You’re being supported.
Step Five: Use It, Then Decide If It’s Helpful
This is the part where most people stop:
They try AI once or twice, feel a little unsure, and never go back.
But the key to making it work is testing it in your actual business — not in theory.
Copy the message. Send it to a client. See if it helps you move forward. If it does? Great. If it doesn’t? Adjust and try again.
That’s how learning any new tool works — AI included.
What I’ve Seen Coaching Agents Through AI
In my coaching at Tom Ferry — the #1 real estate coaching company in the world — I work with agents at all levels of experience. And across the board, the most important thing isn’t how “techy” they are.
It’s that they stay curious and take small steps.
One agent I work with started by using AI to write their first 5 follow-up emails. That gave them the confidence to use it for listing content. Then they used it to draft out a marketing calendar. Not because they “mastered AI,” but because they built trust in the process one step at a time.
And that’s what I want for you — not perfection, just progress.
Final Thought: Start Small, Stay Real
If AI still feels overwhelming, let me leave you with this:
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to start with one thing.
Pick a real task you’re already doing. Try AI for that. Use simple language. And be okay with it being a little messy at first.
If you want more ideas or real-world prompts, I share those often over on @coachemilyterrell and on my site, www.coachemilyterrell.com. You’ll find practical ways to bring AI into your workflow — without losing your voice or your mind.
You’ve got this.
And if you ever find yourself asking “Where do I start?” again… you’ll know:
Start with what’s real. Start with what’s in your way. Start with one thing.