Pre-Onboarding Checklist
Complete these items before onboarding begins
Your license, MLS, association status, compliance items, and required documents must be prepared before onboarding can begin.
Before onboarding can begin
All required items must be prepared, reviewed, submitted, or verified before onboarding begins. This includes your license status, license transfer, MLS membership, association membership, compliance items, and required documents. If anything is missing, your onboarding may be delayed. No agent may begin onboarding activities until all required items are complete and Broker sign-off is obtained.
⚠️ Onboarding Timeline ⚠️
Once your onboarding begins, you have 48 hours to complete all required steps and submissions. A mandatory check-in meeting will be scheduled at the 72-hour mark to resolve any outstanding items.
Missing items will not be chased indefinitely — check your email regularly and respond promptly. Delays beyond this timeline should be the exception, not the norm.
Mentees: Direct all onboarding questions to your mentor. They are CC'd on all onboarding communications and are your first point of contact — reach out to them as soon as an item is flagged, rather than waiting.
Universal requirements for all states
These items apply whether you are joining Alabama, Mississippi, or Florida. All must be submitted or verified before onboarding begins.
Licensing
Your real estate license must be active and not expired. Your license transfer must be initiated and transferred to this brokerage before Day 1. You also need to provide your license number and expiration date and disclose any pending disciplinary actions or suspensions.
MLS Membership
You are responsible for joining the MLS required for your market. Your MLS should already be active or in progress before onboarding is completed. Have your MLS login credentials ready, and be prepared to provide your MLS ID and MLS registered email address during onboarding.
Association Memberships
Make sure your national, state, and local board or association memberships are active or in progress, if required for your branch or market. If your board dues or membership status are not current, onboarding may be delayed.
Agreements & Legal Documents
Be prepared to review and sign all required onboarding documents. This includes your Independent Contractor Agreement, Policy and Procedures acknowledgment, W-9, and any added brokerage documents that apply to your role or setup. Onboarding does not move forward until required documents are completed and received.
Professional Headshot
You will be required to upload a professional headshot for your profile, company marketing, and business cards. Your photo must be waist up, clear, current, and taken against a plain or clean background. Selfies, cropped photos, face-only photos, filtered photos, and casual social media photos may be rejected. If your headshot does not meet company standards, you will need to submit a new one before onboarding can move forward.
Vanity Domain &
Professional Email
If you are joining iXL as a solo agent, you will be required to purchase a vanity domain. You must also have a professional email address — preferably one that matches your vanity domain (e.g., [email protected]). Be ready to provide both your domain and email information during onboarding.
GoDaddy is preferred because it is the easiest to use. If you are joining a team, you do not need a vanity domain unless instructed otherwise.
If you are unsure whether your domain or email choice is compliant, reach out before purchasing. This helps avoid delays or having to redo your setup later.
Domain Admin Access
If your vanity domain is purchased through GoDaddy, be prepared to grant admin access when requested so your domain can be connected correctly during setup. Have your GoDaddy login ready and wait for the access steps before making changes on your own.
Onboarding Form Submission
Complete your onboarding form carefully and submit all requested information, including your MLS ID and onboarding email address. Once your form is submitted, your onboarding documents will be sent automatically. Systems setup begins after your signed documents are received.
E&O Insurance
Your Errors and Omissions coverage must be active and ready before you begin business. Be prepared to provide your E&O information or coverage confirmation if requested during onboarding.
Lockbox Access — SentriLock / Supra eKEY
Before you can begin showing properties, you must activate a lockbox access account through SentriLock or Supra eKEY, whichever is required by your local MLS or board. Once your account is active, submit proof of activation (screenshot or confirmation email) as part of your onboarding requirements. Access is not automatic — your onboarding will not be considered complete until this proof is received and verified.
MLS FAQ
Common MLS Questions
MLS setup looks different depending on your state, market, and current membership status. Review these questions before taking action. If you are unsure, ask before signing up for anything. Agents are responsible for joining the MLS required for their market, and MLS should already be active or in progress before onboarding is completed.
Do I need to join an MLS before onboarding is complete?
Yes. You are responsible for joining the MLS required for your market. Your MLS access should already be active or in progress before onboarding is completed. If your MLS membership is not in place, your onboarding may be delayed.
Can I start my MLS application before my license transfer is complete?
No. Wait until your license is active and affiliated with iXL Real Estate in your state licensing system. The MLS will verify your broker affiliation during processing and may reject your request if your license is not updated yet.
I already belong to an MLS. Do I still need to apply again?
Not always. Some agents are brand new. Others are transferring from another board or brokerage. Some current members may only need an office switch. For example, current GCMLS members can switch offices in Matrix, while Alabama transfer applicants may need a Letter of Good Standing and a transfer application type.
Is joining the board the same thing as activating my MLS?
Not always. In Florida, joining the local association is not the same thing as activating Stellar MLS. Those are separate steps, separate payments, and separate deadlines. Your MLS access is not active until both are complete.
What if I am transferring from another brokerage or board?
You may need a Letter of Good Standing. In Alabama, transfer applicants do not usually repay NAR dues, but they may need to choose the transfer application type and expect a short gap in MLS access during processing. Mississippi also requires a Letter of Good Standing for transfers.
Do I need to notify admin after my MLS is active?
Yes. Once your MLS access is active, notify admin and provide your MLS Member ID so your onboarding record can be updated correctly.
Are there training or orientation requirements after I join?
Usually, yes. Alabama boards often require New Member Orientation and Code of Ethics training. Florida Stellar subscribers must complete 3 required courses within 60 days, and some associations also require orientation.
What's the difference between my iXL subdomain and my vanity domain?
Every agent automatically receives a free yourname.ixlrealestate.com subdomain, which is used for your website only — it does not include email. You are also required to purchase your own independent vanity domain (e.g., yournamerealestate.com), which GoDaddy makes easiest to set up.
Can I use "Realty" in my domain or email address?
No. "Realty" implies brokerage ownership, so it is not permitted in your personal domain or email address. "Real estate" is considered generic and is acceptable (e.g., yournamerealestate.com).
Can I use "iXL Real Estate" in my domain name?
No. "ixlrealestate" is reserved and cannot be used in your personal vanity domain.
Can I use a @ixlrealestate.com email address?
No. @ixlrealestate.com addresses are reserved for company, admin, and office use only. Agents must use their own professional email tied to their personal vanity domain.
Can I use "REALTOR®" in my email address?
Only if you are a confirmed member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), and only when paired with your full legal name — never standalone or with generic descriptive words. Reach out before using this in your email to confirm your membership status is on file.
What if I'm not sure whether my domain or email is compliant?
Reach out before you purchase your domain or set up your email. This is the easiest way to avoid delays or having to change your setup after the fact.
Can I make changes to my business card design?
No. Business cards use a mandatory company template, and no design changes or personalization are made to it. If you'd like a personalized card of your own, you're welcome to have one made independently — at your own expense — outside of the company template process.
Complete the section for your state
After you review the universal requirements and MLS FAQ, go to the state page that applies to your branch. Each state has different licensing rules, MLS setup, association requirements, and added compliance items.
Alabama
Review Alabama license and broker affiliation requirements, board and MLS guidance for your market, fingerprinting if it applies, Alabama disclosure review, and first 30-day MLS expectations. Alabama agents may need GALMLS, GCMLS, BCAR, or another local board depending on market.
Florida
Review Florida DBPR broker affiliation, local association setup, Stellar or other MLS activation, CE and post-license requirements, Florida disclosures, and separate association and MLS billing expectations. In Florida, joining the association is not the same thing as activating the MLS.
Mississippi
Review Mississippi license transfer rules, MLS United or local MLS setup, Mississippi Realtors and local board requirements, criminal history disclosure, state-specific agency forms, and post-license education if it applies to you.
What happens after you submit your onboarding form
Once you submit your onboarding form, your information is reviewed, your required documents are sent for signature, and onboarding moves forward from there. Your MLS ID and email should be provided directly on the form so setup can begin once your signed documents are received. The current onboarding docs already support the main flow of form submission, documents sent, documents signed, then systems setup.
Submit your onboarding form
Complete and submit your onboarding form in full. Be sure to provide your MLS ID and the email address you want used for onboarding and systems setup. The GHL build reference already treats survey submission as the trigger that starts the workflow.
Sign your onboarding documents
After your form is submitted, your required onboarding documents will be sent electronically. Onboarding does not move forward until those documents are signed and received. The current workflow sends documents after form submission, and the docs themselves say systems setup cannot begin until signed documents are on file.
Admin completes your setup
Once your signed documents are received, admin begins your setup. This includes adding you to your systems and moving your onboarding forward. The current workflow already moves to Systems Setup after documents are signed and creates admin tasks for system access.
Review and approve your business card proof
Admin will create your business card proof and send it to you for approval. Once your proof is approved and your setup items are complete, your onboarding is complete.
⏱ Reminder: Onboarding must be completed within 48 hours, with a required check-in at 72 hours. Please check your email regularly — items left unaddressed will delay your onboarding. Mentees: direct questions to your mentor.
iXL Real Estate LLC
251-265-1230 | [email protected]
907 Hillcrest Road STE J, Mobile, AL 36695
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