The CEO and Chief Business Development Officer of Linkup Studio recently shared insights on developing a CRM for the real estate. This insightful discussion delves into the role and value of CRM in the real estate realm, supported by authentic business instances.

The conversation also illuminates the primary components that are generally integrated into real estate CRMs, such as handling contacts and leads, utilizing filters, managing transactions and tasks, controlling calendars, generating reports and analytics, and overseeing property listings. Additionally, the significance of incorporating other systems into your organization's CRM is highlighted, a strategy that can augment scalability and customization capabilities of your platform.

A significant takeaway from the discussion is a comprehensive guide on the best practices for incorporating real estate CRM software into your unique business setup. You will gain a seasoned comment on the advantages and disadvantages of some of the leading CRM solutions globally. Furthermore, you will acquire knowledge on when to construct a personalized CRM versus when to adopt ready-made solutions.

Click to see the video and grab the main ideas below!

What is CRM in Real Estate?

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) in real estate refers to a tool that aids in managing relationships with existing and potential clients, automating tasks like lead generation, marketing, and follow-ups. The primary goal is to boost customer experience and increase sales.

Advantages of CRM software for Real Estate

Lead Generation: CRM gathers leads from various sources, such as social media and marketing campaigns, and even referral websites like Zillow.

Centralized Management: It offers a unified platform to edit, update, and share property listings, improving efficiency.

Improved Communication: CRM automates reminders, schedules appointments, and sends personalized messages to clients.

Sales Tracking: It helps track sales progress and manage all documents related to leads in one place.

Data Analysis: CRM allows tracking and analyzing key metrics to inform decisions.

Enhanced Marketing: CRM enables targeted, automated marketing campaigns based on client data.

Mobility: A mobile-friendly CRM ensures access to information on the go.

Additional Features: Additional functionalities may include lead scoring, referral management, predictive analytics, and ad campaign management.

Key features for real estate software CRM

Contact and Lead Management: Allows easy organization and tracking of leads and customers, which can't be handled effectively by Excel when the number of leads increase.

Filters: CRM systems should offer robust filtering and searching capabilities. This feature assists in quickly locating specific clients based on different parameters.

Task and Calendar Management: Automates follow-ups, notifications, and other essential tasks. This feature also reminds agents when to perform certain actions.

Reporting and Analytics: Provides insightful statistics about sales and customer interaction, aiding in decision-making and team management.

Property Listing Management: Crucial for real estate CRM, it helps manage property listings and automatically syncs them across teams.

Integrations with other platforms: The CRM should integrate well with third-party platforms like Airbnb, Zillow, etc., for easier management of listings across different websites.

Customization & Scalability: A good CRM should adapt to your business needs, allowing you to customize according to your workflow.

‍Transaction Management: Helps track the progress of transactions, offering a clear view of where each client is in their purchasing journey.

Data Security: Ensures client data is secure and not susceptible to theft.

Training & Support: The CRM should be user-friendly, with robust support and training available for seamless use by your team.

Automation: Automating repetitive tasks allows for more creative work and less "monkey job."

Noteworthy advice

You don’t need everything. Companies often get attracted to advanced CRM features that are not needed for their current processes, which can lead to inefficiency. Start with a clear process and find a tool that caters to that, not vice versa.

Other factors to consider

User Interface Importance: The CRM's user interface can significantly influence its usability. Always test the CRM with your staff and managers, as it will be a tool they use daily. Make sure it doesn't hinder their daily operations.

CRM Scalability: Your chosen CRM should be able to scale as your business grows. As your operations expand, your CRM should be able to accommodate your increasing needs.

Pricing: CRM pricing should be affordable and balanced with the long-term value it brings to your business.

Overview of existing solutions

Zillow Premier Agent CRM: A unique CRM that shows detailed client property searches, which can be useful for personalizing follow-ups. However, it only integrates with Zillow.

Zoho CRM: A widely-used CRM with advanced features like property and lead management, workflow automation, and an AI tool for sales forecasting. Drawback: complex user interface that can be challenging for new users.

Salesforce: An extensive CRM platform that offers a wide array of features but may require hiring professional developers. It can be quite expensive, and it may not be suitable for small businesses due to its complexity and cost.

HubSpot CRM: This CRM is known for its powerful modules and robust marketing automation features. It creates a harmonious workflow between sales and marketing. Pricing starts at $45 per month, which may be a limiting factor for some.

Wise Agents CRM: Designed for real estate professionals, this CRM stands out due to its transaction management module, enabling all relevant information to be stored and managed in one platform.

Conclusion: Every CRM has its pros and cons. Evaluate each based on your specific needs, budget, and the level of customization you require.

How to choose and implement a CRM?

Instead of sifting through CRMs independently, leverage sales representatives' knowledge — schedule demos to understand how each CRM aligns with your specific sales process and required features. Ask focused questions about your business's needs to determine the best CRM solution.

Custom CRM vs. Ready Solutions

Custom CRM systems provide flexibility for unique business processes but at a higher initial cost. Ready solutions come with numerous features that may not fit your business needs perfectly. Over time, the cost of customizing a ready solution may exceed that of developing a custom CRM from scratch.

Impressive Boost of a Real Estate Company's Performance

As an example, Keller Williams, a major real estate company, implemented a custom CRM system, leading to a 50% increase in lead generation and a 35% increase in sales. This illustrates the potential benefits of tailoring a CRM system to the specific needs of your business.

By the way, we have an Article describing Real Estate CRM: What is a real estate CRM and how does it help your business win?

About Linkup Studio

We are a product-driven software development and design company based in Lviv. Over the last 10 years, we have served up top-notch work for 150+ satisfied clients, including Porsche, Bosch, Reverso, Impactive, and others. Let the review scores speak for themselves: 4.9 on Clutch and a spotless 5-star on Goodfirms. The company has been honored with the most prestigious awards in the industry, like Red Dot, UX Design Awards, and App of the Day. Linkup Studio is about creating results that matter for our clients.

Real Estate CRM: Meaning, Importance, Benefits