Pros

• Available integrated payment processing features
• User-friendly interface provided
• SMS text capabilities included
• Customizable dashboard

Cons

• No free trial available to interested users
• Audience segmentation capabilities not provided
• Document management is not available
• High monthly costs compared to competitors

The Close Score

4.8

Pricing:

3.4

Lead gen software features/general:

4.6

Advanced lead generation features:

3.5

Help and support:

2.5

Customer rating:

3.4

Export score:

3.8

out
of

5

My Verdict on Market Leader & Why You Should Trust It 

I’m an experienced real estate writer and former real estate operations executive who has taken the time to consider and try many real estate platforms. I deeply understand what every real estate business person needs and faces as a challenge, so I invested the time to review these tools and give you accurate and reliable insights in this Market Leader review. My hands-on experience and in-depth research into the feature set of Market Leader, user feedback, and market positioning ensure this review is comprehensive and trustworthy.

Market Leader is a robust, end-to-end real estate process automation tool that ranges from lead generation to deal closing. It provides a suite of tools covering all real estate marketing and client management phases. With comprehensive features and a user-friendly interface, it is a mighty companion for any serious real estate professional. That said, you have to balance the platform’s benefits against the cost, which can be a pricey expense for an agent, depending on their deal flow. 

Market Leader Alternatives

While Market Leader can provide a lot of tools within its comprehensive suite for real estate professionals, there may be some cases wherein looking at the alternatives that provide more pocket-friendly pricing, customization, or the ability to integrate with present systems in the best possible way would be necessary. Other real estate lead generation platforms can provide different strengths, such as affordable monthly fees, extended customer service support hours, or AI capabilities.

Platform	Why It’s a Great Alternative	Learn More	Ready to Purchase?
	Leverages advanced AI capabilities to personalize follow-up communication and predict lead behavior	Zurple Review	Visit Zurple
	Highly rated by customers for its robust predictive analytics and marketing automation	Smartzip Review	Visit SmartZip
	Extended customer support hours, providing more accessible and timely support	CINC Review	Visit CINC

Platform	Why It’s a Great Alternative	Learn More	Ready to Purchase?
	Leverages advanced AI capabilities to personalize follow-up communication and predict lead behavior	Zurple Review	Visit Zurple
	Highly rated by customers for its robust predictive analytics and marketing automation	Smartzip Review	Visit SmartZip
	Extended customer support hours, providing more accessible and timely support	CINC Review	Visit CINC

Market Leader Reviews: What Current Users Think

The existing users’ experiences help identify Market Leader’s actual performance. Analyzing user feedback helps us understand just how much Market Leader satisfies the needs of real estate professionals and what the users like or feel it lacks. Market Leader received an overall customer rating of 4.47 out of 5 on Cuspera. Here is what others are saying in their Market Leader reviews: 

Key Features of Market Leader

Market Leader is full of features geared towards making the process of real estate easy and productive. It offers an all-rounded toolkit to help agents at each stage of their business, from lead generation and management to marketing automation and client engagement. These features are designed to help real estate professionals capture more leads, stay organized, and close deals efficiently. Now, let’s dive into some standout features that make Market Leader an asset for real estate agents.

Mobile Application 

The mobile application enables any real estate agent to continue working on the go. It facilitates the management of contacts, leads, and even marketing activities directly from your smartphone or tablet. Given the real-time notifications and the ease of access to data on clients, responding to queries, making appointments, and recording updates are easy without being deskbound. This flexibility ensures that agents can stay productive and be connected even when they are out of the field, enhancing the ability to deliver service to clients in a timely and efficient way.

Social Media Integrations 

The social media integrations provided by Market Leader enable real estate agents to seamlessly integrate their CRM with popular social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It gives the agent an automated way of marketing their listings and interacting with potential clients across various social media channels. With this integration, agents can attract more leads without much manual effort by increasing their reach and building an online presence.

Exclusive Real Estate Leads 

One of the significant strengths of Market Leader is the ability to generate and manage real estate leads. One of its standout offerings is access to exclusive real estate leads through partnerships with HouseValues, Leads Direct, and Network Boost. These platforms enable agents to directly receive high-quality, targeted leads, ensuring a steady flow of potential clients. By leveraging these exclusive lead sources, real estate professionals can maximize their lead generation efforts and focus on converting prospects into successful transactions.

Customizable Website

Agents can create custom Market Leader websites to engage and convert prospects into leads. It has websites focused on agent branding and customizable templates for property search functions and lead capture forms.

With a professionally done website builder, agents will grow their online presence and be able to display listings, share market insight, and even provide relevant resources to prospects. This marketing opportunity adds credibility to the agent and helps enhance his lead generation and high-quality lead-capturing ability from online channels.

Engagement Co-pilot

The engagement co-pilot in Market Leader has acted like a virtual assistant to the real estate agent in staying engaged with Market Leader real estate leads and clients through automated and personalized communication. It can send personalized emails, schedule follow-ups, and reminders for key activities to ensure agents have consistent, meaningful interactions with their contacts. 

By automating routine engagement activities, the engagement co-pilot allows an agent to manage other strategic sides of his business and ultimately improve client relationships while increasing productivity.

Market Leader Pricing

You may be wondering how much Market Leader costs. While most competitors are quite upfront about their pricing, Market Leader does not transparently post its price on its website, nor is there a free trial or tiered pricing. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect for costs:

• Market Leader Professional (for individual agents): $189 per month (includes a $20 data services fee)
• Market Leader Teams (for small real estate teams): $329 per month for up to 10 users on the same account
• Market Leader Business Suite (for teams and brokerages): Custom pricing

Leads products—can be added to any of the above software products:

• Network Boost: $399 per month for an average of 25 leads per month. The price includes the Market Leader Professional software system, which is required for agents who want to use Network Boost leads.
• Search engine lead products (HouseValues and Leads Direct): Generally $25 to $50 per lead, depending on your market. Leads in markets like Boston and Los Angeles are typically more expensive than leads in more affordable markets like Kansas City. 

Methodology 

Our team of real estate-focused analysts and editors researched many lead-generation platforms to give real estate professionals the best options. We have studied Market Leader’s features in depth, including its unique lead-generation capabilities, ease of use, value for money, and support provided. Market Leader reviews from users also contributed to understanding how well it performed in the real world and whether people were satisfied with it. 

We aim to deliver to real estate agents and brokers that can assist their decision-making and workflow optimization in a very competitive market. This commitment to researching and reviewing products fairly ensures that our readers get the most efficient and effective reliable information that will make them well-rooted in success in the industry.

Here’s how we came up with our Market Leader review:

• Pricing: 3.44 out of 5
  • We evaluated Market Leader’s cost-effectiveness and the value it offers relative to its pricing structure.
• Lead gen software features/general: 4.63 out of 5
  • We assessed the platform’s comprehensive set of tools designed for general lead generation and management.
• Advanced lead generation features: 3.5 out of 5
  • We looked at Market Leader’s advanced capabilities, such as exclusive lead sources and lead quality. 
• Help and support: 2.5 out of 5
  • We rated the availability and quality of customer support, noting the lack of live chat and 24/7 assistance.
• Customer rating: 3.44 out of 5
  • We compiled and analyzed user reviews to gauge the overall satisfaction and effectiveness of the platform.
• Export score: 3.75 out of 5
  • We evaluated the ease and efficiency of exporting data and integrating Market Leader with other tools and platforms.

Read more about our methodology here.

FAQs

How much would this lead generation platform be?

Will any lead generation platform integrate with my existing CRM?

How do I measure the success of a lead generation platform?

The Bottom Line: Is Market Leader Worth It? 

Market Leader equips real estate professionals with powerful lead management, integrated marketing features, and custom websites and is easy to use. Their training resources and branding features make it worth the cost and provide value-added help to agents maximize productivity and efficiency. At the same time, it can be expensive for solo agents or small teams, while other users may find the customization possibilities too limited. The other thing is that it is chock full of different features, so using all of them will be a learning curve for anyone who isn’t so tech-savvy. 

Overall, Market Leader is suitable for people with a budget looking for an all-in-one solution to help them in their real estate operations. If the Market Leader pricing is a principal factor in your decision or you need further customizations, it pays to shop around. Market Leader reviews can provide additional insights into whether it fits your specific requirements. Ultimately, your CRM should align with your business needs and resources.

The post Market Leader Review: Pricing, Features, Pros & Cons (2024) appeared first on The Close.

Understanding Divorce Leads in Real Estate

As real estate agents, we help people with one of the largest financial purchases of their lives. In divorce situations, the couple has to sell their largest asset—sometimes unwillingly. This makes these types of transactions very volatile, and a real estate agent must handle them with the utmost care. Divorce real estate listings are not for the faint of heart. You must be discerning in your communication with both sellers and keep them focused on the one thing they must do—sell the home. 

Divorce leads for realtors can be lucrative if you know what you are doing. Here are a few potential benefits of working with divorce leads:

• High motivation to buy or sell: Clients going through a divorce are often highly motivated to sell their home quickly. Also, each party may need to purchase a new home, potentially resulting in multiple transactions from a single lead.
• Increased future listings: Divorce leads can contribute to a steady stream of new listings for future income.
• Potential for repeat business: Clients who feel supported and understood during a difficult time are likelier to recommend your services to friends and family or return to you for future real estate needs (especially because they’ll both need someplace to live after selling).
• Building trust and empathy: Building trust with these clients can set you apart from other realtors and develop long-term relationships. They need someone who can empathize with their situation and provide compassionate guidance. 
• Collaboration with other professionals: Handling divorce real estate leads often involves working closely with other professionals such as divorce attorneys, mediators, real estate investors, and financial advisors. Establishing strong relationships with these professionals can lead to a reliable referral network, which enhances future business opportunities.
• Emotional reward: Helping clients navigate a difficult period and find new beginnings can provide a deep sense of satisfaction and professional fulfillment.

If you are someone with a deep compassion for others coupled with the ability to tackle emotional and legal complexities, learning how to become a divorce listing agent may be just what you need to thrive in a niche market.

How Divorce Leads Differ from Other Leads

Unlike typical transactions, working with divorcing couples requires a gentle approach that takes into account how emotional this process will be for them. These leads demand a higher level of sensitivity in handling every issue, even down to simple phone calls. 

I’ve personally worked with couples in high-stress divorce situations, and even the smallest detail can derail an entire transaction if one party reacts poorly. Often, it’s not about you as the agent but rather the message you’re conveying from the other spouse.

Let’s take a look at what makes these transactions different and how to handle common issues.

Tips for Working with Divorce Leads

When working with clients going through a divorce, here are some practical tips to make the process smoother and more supportive:

• Tip 1: Build Trust Through Empathy: Show genuine care and understanding for their situation to build trust from the start.
• Tip 2: Know the Legal Landscape: Familiarize yourself with divorce-related real estate laws and work closely with legal professionals to navigate complexities.
• Tip 3: Keep Communication Clear: Facilitate open and transparent communication between all parties involved to avoid misunderstandings.
• Tip 4: Be Proactive and Meet Deadlines: Stay on top of timelines set by court orders or agreements to demonstrate reliability and professionalism.
• Tip 5: Team Up With Experts: Collaborate with divorce attorneys, mediators, and financial advisors to provide comprehensive support throughout the process.
• Tip 6: Maintain Neutrality: Stay impartial and focus on facilitating a fair transaction without taking sides in any disputes.

In addition to tips for handling divorce leads for realtors, we should also take a look at the pros and cons of being involved in these types of transactions.

Borrowed Wisdom on Divorce Leads

While I’ve got a lot of advice and tips here, gathering as many strategies as possible from experienced experts is beneficial. It will give you an arsenal of strategies to try when working with divorce leads. 

Check out the The Reverse Selling Podcast—Unlock Endless Listings With The Divorce Real Estate Niche—on finding your unique niche to start thinking about whether or not this divorce lead is right for you.

How to Get Divorce Leads for Realtors (+ Tools) 

There are many ways to find divorce real estate listing leads. The last thing you want is to upset someone going through a tough divorce. It’s all about building trust and showing empathy. It’s key to use a mix of networking, online marketing, and social media strategies that fit the unique needs of clients dealing with divorce.

Build a Referral Network

Connect with divorce attorneys, therapists, and mediators who often work with clients in divorce situations. Building relationships with these professionals can lead to valuable referrals. Also, try connecting with relocation professionals, specifically military relocation professionals. They see many different types of divorce situations, and their job is to connect people with agents like you. Don’t be afraid to attend local events, join organizations, and keep in touch with everyone you meet regularly.

Platforms like SOLD.com allow agents to join their referral networks to connect with potential leads to list or purchase properties. Click the button below to check it out for yourself.

Use Online Marketing

Online marketing is crucial for reaching divorce leads. Start by optimizing your website with keywords related to divorce real estate. Consider running targeted ads on platforms like Google Ads or social media, where potential clients search for information about real estate and divorce. Creating blogs or videos that address common divorce-related concerns can also attract organic traffic and establish your expertise.

Market Leader offers direct leads or social media boosts with a paid subscription. Start building your online presence today.

Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms provide powerful tools to connect with potential clients going through a divorce. Develop a strategy with regular updates and engaging content. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share tips, client stories, and information about your services. Engage in discussions in local groups or forums where people seek advice on real estate and divorce. Divorce affects anyone, from renters to the luxury market, so remember to mix it up and stay active in as many groups as possible.

Agent Crate helps you stay engaged on social media by providing branded content that can be automated to optimize your business.

Final Thoughts

If you decide you want to try to tackle divorce leads, make sure you do it with an empathetic and proactive approach. It’s all about understanding the complexities involved—both emotional and legal—to offer top-notch service and build strong client trust. By networking with professionals in related fields and using modern marketing tactics, we can guide clients through what may be their most difficult real estate journey. Remember, each deal is a chance to make a real difference in someone’s life. So, approach these challenges with compassion and positivity, helping others when they need it most. 

Do you work with divorce real estate leads or have any coaching wisdom on how to find divorce real estate leads? Share some of your best advice or experiences in the comments.

The post Divorce Leads for Realtors: The Complete Guide appeared first on The Close.

• CINC: Best for hyper-local lead generation and IDX websites
• Zurple: Best for automated lead nurturing system
• Market Leader: Best for predictable exclusive leads
• Offrs: Best for seller leads without a contract
• Zillow Premier Agent: Best for capturing buyer leads
• Ylopo: Best for tech-savvy agents looking for complete marketing solutions
• Real Geeks: Best for affordable, all-in-one lead generation platform
• Catalyze AI: Best for exclusive inherited property leads
• REDX: Best for niche leads and affordability
• zBuyer: Best for buyer and seller leads with no long-term contract
• SmartZip: Best for geographic farming

The Close’s Picks for Top Real Estate Lead Generation Companies

CINC: Best for Hyperlocal Leads

Pros

• It offers exclusive buyer and seller leads.
• Advertising strategy drives higher-quality leads.
• It is easily scalable for teams and brokerages.
• It has beautifully designed websites.
• It has cutting-edge CRM and AI nurturing tools.

Cons

• It has a relatively high price tag for solo agents.
• You don’t own your IDX website.
• Complex system might be overwhelming for some agents.
• It lacks customization options.

The Close Score

4.9

Pricing:

2.0

General Features:

5.0

Advanced Features:

4.1

Customer Service:

3.4

Customer Rating:

4.4

Expert Score:

4.3

out
of

5

Why I Chose CINC

With its sleek and stylish IDX websites, advanced customer relationship manager (CRM), behavioral messaging, and artificial intelligence (AI) texting tool trained by top-producing agents, CINC is one of the top real estate lead generation companies with a price tag to match. It uses a hyperlocal, custom-tailored approach for agents who use the platform. After signing up, CINC’s onboarding team interviews you to find the exact neighborhoods, school districts, or gated communities where you know the best buyers and sellers are looking.

How CINC Generates Leads

Like most real estate lead companies on our list, CINC uses a combination of pay-per-click (PPC) ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram to generate buyer and seller leads. However, instead of only advertising by county or ZIP code, CINC targets hyperlocal leads in specific neighborhoods, school districts, or gated communities, depending on the agent’s preferences. They also offer Facebook retargeting ads to stay top of mind with leads who have already visited your website.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: CINC’s all-in-one lead generation platform starts at $899 monthly for single agents and $1,299 for teams. For more details about pricing for the Guaranteed Sales Program and additional advertising promotions available for new clients, please get in touch with a CINC sales rep.
• Advanced CRM and AI nurturing tools: CINC uses technology and clever design to ensure leads don’t slip through the cracks. Its behavioral property alerts modify the type and timing of the nurturing texts and emails sent to your leads, increasing engagement for efficient conversion.
• AI texting assistant: Another tool I love is its AI texting assistant, Alex. Instead of blasting out the usual prequalifying questions, CINC uses top-producing agents to train its AI to respond to leads.

Zurple: Best for Automated Nurturing System

Pros

• It offers exclusive buyer and seller leads with a robust profiling and nurturing system.
• It has an easy-to-use platform.
• It has social media scheduler and video messaging.
• It has behavior-based email and SMS conversations.
• You can easily manage large teams and brokerages.

Cons

• Pricing can be a little confusing.
• Customer service needs some improvement.
• Training is not robust.
• Six-month contract is required.
• It has limited integrations with other software.

The Close Score

4.8

Pricing:

2.3

General Features:

4.4

Advanced Features:

4.5

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

3.4

Expert Score:

4.0

out
of

5

Why I Chose Zurple

I am impressed with Zurple’s powerful lead generation system, which has exceptional nurturing tools for agents who can spend a little more. Once a lead is captured through one of its landing pages, it’s fed directly into the CRM, where the nurturing campaign begins. Zurple builds your business on autopilot with a healthy stream of exclusive leads.

How Zurple Generates Leads

Zurple is one of the real estate lead companies that uses landing pages targeting buyers or sellers for their agents’ specific markets. Use the ads manager inside Zurple to run ads to drive traffic to your landing pages and capture leads organically through your social media, website, and any other place you exist on the internet. Zurple also offers paid programs as an add-on if you want to let them do the heavy lifting to get your landing pages in front of the right people.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices:
  • Basic Package: $309
  • Auto Leads: $448
  • Add’l Sites: Basic package at $309 + $100/month per site
  • Pipeline Boost: $609
• Behavior-led outreach: These highly engaging interactions are sophisticated outreach campaigns using email, text messages, MLS market updates, new listings, and more that adjust based on the lead’s behaviors.
• Lead-capturing websites and integrated CRM: Instead of having one website with your branding and IDX feed, Zurple’s websites are more like landing pages designed to capture data from site visitors. This feature separates your agent site from these landing pages, driving more leads directly to your CRM.

Market Leader: Best for Exclusive Leads

Pros

• You can get a predictable number of exclusive leads every month.
• Network Boost social media leads start at just $6 each.
• It has a great mobile app.
• CRM and automated nurturing tools are included.

Cons

• DX lead generation websites look a little dated.
• CRM is not as sophisticated as more expensive competitors like CINC.
• Leads tend to be higher funnel than other providers.

The Close Score

4.7

Pricing:

3.4

General Features:

4.6

Advanced Features:

3.5

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

3.4

Expert Score:

3.7

out
of

5

Why I Chose Market Leader

Market Leader remains near my top rankings as best realtor lead generation because of its exclusive lead guarantee and new Network Boost program, which offers affordable top-of-funnel social media leads and automated nurturing tools. Unlike its competitors, Market Leader provides a predictable number of monthly exclusive leads, which makes predicting your future performance much more straightforward. Once you figure out your lead conversion rate and closing ratios, it’s easier to forecast how many deals you’ll close in a year.

How Market Leader Generates Leads

Market Leader takes the ad agency approach to generate real estate leads, placing targeted ads where your prospects spend their time (Facebook and Google). These ads direct seller prospects to Market Leader’s landing page and HouseValues.com, and buyer leads to a personally branded, IDX search-enabled site. Once a lead gives their information, it’s automatically populated in the Market Leader CRM, and then you take over with nurturing and conversion.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: 
  • Professional for Agents: $189 + $10 to $50 per lead (for one user only)
  • Market Leader Teams: $329 + $10 to $5 per lead (up to 10 users)
  • Market Leader Business Suite: Custom
  • Network Boost: $399 per month for an average of 25 leads per month. The price includes the Market Leader Professional software system, which is required for agents who want to use Network Boost leads.
  • Teams (up to 10): $329
• Affordable social media leads and automated lead nurturing tools: Market Leader’s new Network Boost program offers social media leads at just $6 each. You’ll want to nurture these top-of-funnel leads with Market Leader’s automated lead nurturing tools.
• Mobile app: Market Leader’s mobile app allows agents to promptly and efficiently respond to new leads using real-time push notifications and contact records, which include lead insights. Additionally, all email activity is synchronized with your desktop CRM, ensuring you never miss any important updates.

Offrs: Best Seller Leads Without a Contract

Pros

• Smart data platform is based on hundreds of data points.
• It has accurate prediction rates.
• It offers guaranteed exclusive leads.
• It has ROOF lead conversion using AI technology.
• It includes some online ad spend.
• No contract option allows agents to test the platform before making a long-term commitment.

Cons

• It has no CRM.
• Most leads have a long nurture time.
• ROOF referral fee is pricey.
• Noncontract option is twice the price of the annual contract.

The Close Score

4.7

Pricing:

3.7

General Features:

4.4

Advanced Features:

3.4

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

3.1

Expert Score:

3.9

out
of

5

Why I Chose Offrs

I included Offrs on this list because it uses predictive analytics to generate leads but doesn’t lock agents into a long-term contract. I love that Offrs also uses hundreds of data points to generate their predicted sellers and boasts a 72% accuracy rate. If you’re looking for a platform to help you predict your gross commission income (GCI) for the year, Offrs claims to be the software to do just that.

How Offrs Generates Leads

Offrs generates agent leads with predictive analytics. It pushes hundreds of data points through its proprietary algorithms and AI systems to uncover behaviors, characteristics, and demographics that lead to home sales within 12 months. The leads are then delivered directly to the Offrs agent.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: 
  • 10 cents per month for each lead
  • $400 per month for leads in one ZIP code
  • $800 per month for exclusive leads in one ZIP code
  • RAIA (AI-powered lead conversion): $499 per month
  • Premium: $799 per month
  • Premium + ISA (Inside sales assistant): $1,199 per month
• Includes exclusive paid lead generation for up to five ZIP codes: Offrs’ price tag comes with paid lead capture campaigns and a daily dose of predictive sellers, for sale by owner (FSBO), and expired listings in your designated areas. You’ll also get online ads to target your leads and enhance your conversion rate. Offrs uses hundreds of data points to uncover patterns of behavior that lead to homeowners selling within 12 months. 
• ROOF conversion: ROOF leverages its AI technology to help convert your leads into clients by ensuring each lead is touched 30 times within the first 90 days. ROOF is your inside sales agent (ISA) reaching out to your leads via text, calls, and email. The AI assistant will qualify your leads for you and stay in touch until it’s time for you to take over. The best part about ROOF is that you can pay for the upgrade and use it at will, or you can simply pay a 25% referral fee from your commission at closing.

Zillow Premier Agent: Best for Buyer Leads

Pros

• You can capture buyer leads earlier than competitors.
• Its leads are often warmer than those of the competitors.
• Zillow Live Connections puts you in contact with leads over the phone.
• It has behavioral insights on buyers.

Cons

• Customer service is not strong.
• Zillow CRM is very basic.
• Leads aren’t exclusive.
• Price per lead can be higher than other platforms.

The Close Score

4.7

Pricing:

3.1

General Features:

4.3

Advanced Features:

3.6

Customer Service:

3.2

Customer Rating:

3.0

Expert Score:

4.0

out
of

5

Why I Chose Zillow Premier Agent

Zillow Premier Agent captures buyer leads before the competition. Millions of buyers start their home search on Zillow’s website. An astonishing 93.2 million monthly visitors go directly to Zillow’s website—not Google—to search for homes. What does that mean for you? Well, since so many buyers start their search on Zillow, by the time they end up clicking on a Google or Facebook ad from another lead generation company, chances are they’re already talking to a Premier Agent. Advertising on Zillow gives you a first shot at these leads.

How Zillow Premier Agent Generates Leads

Zillow sells display advertising next to listings in specific ZIP codes to its clients (Premier Agents). Zillow transfers leads to the Zillow CRM or into whatever CRM you’re using, and the nurturing and conversion are up to you.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: The estimates below fluctuate based on the median sold price in your area, number of agents, and how many leads you want to capture with the service.
  • Major metro markets start at around $1,000 per month.
  • Nonmajor markets average between $300 and $500 per month.
• Generates warmer buyer leads than other companies (yes, really): Even if buyers start their home search on Google, Zillow’s unique advertising strategy means you’ll get warmer buyer leads from the platform. Unlike competitors who capture buyer leads while they’re looking at cute kitten videos on Facebook, Zillow generates leads when they are actively searching for homes. So, does that mean every lead you get from Zillow will be ready to close in a month? Of course not. However, the purchase intent is generally higher.
• Client communication resources: This Zillow tool helps real estate agents keep track of their clients. It lets agents know when they have a new client or if someone wants to see a house. Agents can also put their clients into groups, like people who want to buy a house or people who want to sell one. They can also keep records of texts, emails, and calls with each client to remember what they talked about.

Ylopo: Best for Tech-savvy Pros

Pros

• It offers exclusive buyer and seller leads.
• It is multichannel on Facebook and Google.
• It has AI-driven nurturing chatbot, Raiya.
• It has tons of integrations with other software.
• You can reengage cold leads in your database

Cons

• Websites have limited customization options.
• It lacks control over ads.
• It lacks a built-in CRM.
• It has a $1,500 startup fee.
• It can be pricey, especially for solo agents.

The Close Score

4.6

Pricing:

2.2

General Features:

4.2

Advanced Features:

3.7

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

4.1

Expert Score:

4.2

out
of

5

Why I Chose Ylopo

Ylopo is a stellar choice for tech-savvy agents seeking a complete marketing solution that generates quality leads. It allows you to integrate with your existing marketing systems, like your favorite CRM, while delivering exceptional advertising that generates new leads and reinvigorates your cold ones. Furthermore, I love that Ylopo uses an advanced matching algorithm that instantly connects your newest home listings to prospective buyers based on their search criteria and interests.

How Ylopo Generates Leads

Ylopo is a done-for-you marketing solution that leans into the power of PPC ads on Google and Facebook ads. It drives traffic to your optimized website and tracks behaviors to tailor the user experience. Ylopo uses lead capture from the PPC ads and feeds them directly to your chosen CRM. 

Once the leads are in your CRM, the Ylopo lead nurturing AI bot, Raiya, begins interacting with your leads through text and voice to engage and qualify them. Most leads are top-of-funnel digital leads and require a longer nurturing process. However, the retargeting of older leads amplifies your success and conversion rates.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: Ylopo offers flexible custom packages based on services, features, and ad budget needs. Costs generally range from $600-$1200 monthly. There are no long-term contracts required. Key variables influencing costs include:
  • Ad budget: Higher monthly ad spending allows for more lead volume. Budgets usually range from $1000-$5000 per month.
  • Database size: Remarketing to your current database normally brings clients the highest and fastest ROI. We generally recommend you spend around $100 per 1,000 leads in your database on remarketing to nurture them effectively.
  • Service level: Compared with the entry-level, premium packages have more features and concierge service.
  • Team add-ons: Additional fees apply for AI (RAIYA), onboarding, and custom website work if needed.
  • Markets: Lead generation costs vary significantly by geographic market. Exact pricing is customized during onboarding. Ylopo specializes in maximizing ROI on ad spending to deliver strong value.
• Includes paid ads and speed-optimized websites: Ylopo is a done-for-you marketing solution designed to drive traffic to your website, capture information from top-of-funnel leads, and feed them into your integrated CRM for a long-term nurturing campaign. You’ll have to do a lot of work to convert these digital leads into clients, but the lead generation from Ylopo will deliver plenty of leads for you to work with.
• Remarketing and AI-enhanced lead nurturing: Ylopo uses data mining, paid ads, and AI to target cold leads and nurture new ones. It tracks leads’ online behaviors and tailors Facebook ads to reignite cold leads and keep fresh leads engaged.

Real Geeks: Best for Affordable, All-in-One Lead Generation

Pros

• It offers exclusive buyer and seller leads.
• It is more affordable than competitors like CINC, BoomTown, and kvCORE.
• IDX websites are designed for converting real estate leads.
• Leads can be purchased or generated using Facebook marketing tool.
• CRM sends automated texts and emails based on lead’s behavior.

Cons

• Websites have limited customization options.
• Real Leads PPC management fee is a bit pricey.
• It has limited team and brokerage features compared to rivals like BoomTown.
• It has extra fees for a la carte features can add up quickly.
• It needs more analytics and lead distribution tools.

The Close Score

4.3

Pricing:

1.4

General Features:

4.6

Advanced Features:

3.1

Customer Service:

3.2

Customer Rating:

4.3

Expert Score:

4.4

out
of

5

Why I Chose Real Geeks

I chose Real Geeks as an all-in-one lead generation platform because it offers the same cutting-edge lead generation, marketing, and nurturing tools other platforms offer at a price individual agents can afford. You get a sleek IDX website designed for conversion, a sophisticated CRM, automated drip campaigns and texting, top-shelf training and customer support, and even a behavioral marketing tool called Reactive Responses that can give Zurple a run for its money.

How Real Geeks Generates Leads

Real Geeks generates leads using a combination of Google and Bing PPC ads to drive seller leads to home valuation landing pages or Facebook ads to drive buyer leads to an IDX website. You can also generate leads yourself with their platform using the Facebook Marketing tool to simplify the process of creating Facebook ads and save some money. Real Geeks users can also drive traffic to their IDX websites or landing pages through search engine optimization (SEO) or social media to generate leads.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: The prices below are based on a 12-month term contract paid per month and have a one-time signup fee.
  • Establish: $299
  • Grow: $599
  • Expand: $999
  • Conquer: $1,599
• Includes paid real estate leads and DIY lead generation tools: I love that Real Geeks’ platform lets you choose how you want to generate real estate leads. You can buy into their Real Leads program and let their marketing experts run your Facebook, Google, and Bing ads for you, or you can use their Facebook Marketing Tool to create your ads. You can use their home valuation tool to generate seller leads or drive traffic from your Facebook ads to your IDX website to capture buyer leads.
• IDX website and CRM designed for conversion: I love Real Geeks’ powerful conversion tools. The home valuation tool allows you to create custom landing pages for specific neighborhoods and automatically send out a market report drip campaign to nurture them. You can create custom workflows to nurture your leads or use tools like SMS auto-responders, their AI chatbot Robin, or Reactive Responses, which sends automated text messages based on leads’ behavior on your website.

Catalyze AI: Best for Exclusive Inherited Property Leads

Pros

• Inherited listing leads are highly motivated to sell.
• Predictive analytics technology finds inherited listing leads before competitors.
• Leads for properties under $1 million are only $12 each.
• It has an easy-to-use, intuitive dashboard.
• Monthly conversion training calls offer scripts.

Cons

• It lacks marketing tools.
• It relies on excellent interpersonal and follow-up skills.
• Leads can take months to get to the closing table.
• It is not available in all markets.
• Leads are not exclusive.

The Close Score

3.9

Pricing:

3.0

General Features:

3.0

Advanced Features:

3.0

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

0.4

Expert Score:

4.0

out
of

5

Why I Chose Catalyze AI

Catalyze AI took the crown for best inheritance leads—they are the only company using predictive analytics and AI technology to identify highly motivated inheritance leads before they end up in probate court. They can also uncover inherited properties in trusts—something competitors like US Probate Leads and All The Leads can’t do. That means you can start marketing to highly motivated sellers before they get sold as leads to other companies. With so many agents desperate for listings, getting there first gives you a massive advantage.

How Catalyze AI Generates Leads

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people inherit properties. Catalyze AI helps sort through more than 400 million data points to narrow these properties down to the best real estate leads—so incredible that Catalyze AI estimates this market represents $77 billion in property value each year.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: 
  • $360 per month for 30 leads under $1 million
  • $450 per month for 30 leads over $1 million
• Highly motivated exclusive sellers: Catalyze AI finds people who really want to sell their homes. They’d rather get quick cash than keep paying for a home they don’t need. If the home goes to probate, it might take a while to sell. But usually, 40% of the people sell within a year. Working with Catalyze AI lets you talk to these people first, so they’ll call you when they want to sell.
• Affordable leads allow you to fill your database quickly: Catalyze AI offers exclusive seller leads starting at $12 per lead for homes worth less than $1 million and $15 per lead for homes over $1 million. This allows you to quickly expand your database and use automated nurturing tools to keep potential leads engaged while you focus on leads that require immediate attention.

REDX: Best for Prospecting Leads

Pros

• It has affordable, a la carte pricing.
• It includes CRM and auto-dialer (multiline auto-dialer upgrade available).
• Leads are verified to not be on Do-Not-Call list.
• Scripts and objection handlers are built into platform.
• It has verified owner and contact information for all leads.

Cons

• It requires significant investment of time to convert leads.
• Cold calling is not the ideal strategy for every agent.
• Leads are not exclusive.
• Conversion rates are lower than other lead sources.

The Close Score

3.6

Pricing:

3.6

General Features:

2.7

Advanced Features:

1.7

Customer Service:

3.4

Customer Rating:

3.8

Expert Score:

3.2

out
of

5

Why I Chose REDX

REDX offers real estate niche leads for seller agents at an affordable price, starting at $49.99 per month. Even better, all the leads REDX offers are seller leads, including expired listings, GeoLeads, FSBO, for rent by owner (FRBO), and preforeclosure leads. In addition, REDX offers multiple lead types and provides tools, training, and scripts to convert leads into clients. If you want to become a listing agent and are willing to make calls, REDX gives you the best value.

How REDX Generates Leads

Instead of waiting for leads, REDX flips the script with an outbound real estate lead generation system, putting contact information (and the power to make connections) into the hands of real estate agents, teams, and brokers.

REDX users choose the lead types (such as expired listings, FSBOs, and preforeclosures) they want to target, and REDX provides contact information. With a constantly updated system, you’ve always got a fresh list of real estate agent leads in your area, so you can decide how much time you want to spend reaching out, following up, and converting them into clients.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: You can get leads and tools for as low as $49.99/month. Pay monthly OR save with quarterly, semi-annual, and annual payment options for all leads and tools. All pricing below is per month:
  • Expired Leads: Starting at $69.99
  • GeoLeads: Starting at $69.99
  • FSBO Leads: Starting at $49.99 
  • FRBO Leads: Starting at $59.99
  • Preforeclosure Leads: Starting at $49.99
  • Ad Builder: $49.99
  • Brand Builder Social Video Edits: $267
  • Brand Builder UNLIMITED: $899
  • Brand Builder Social Management: $699
  • Power Dialer Products: Starting at $59 
  • Vortex®: Free with any subscription
• Vortex CRM and Power Dialer make prospecting easier: REDX’s included VORTEX CRM and Power Dialer work together to simplify and speed up the cold calling process. Leads are sent directly to the VORTEX CRM. The Power Dialer automatically dials and connects you if the lead picks up the phone. The system leaves a prerecorded message on their voicemail if they don’t. When you connect to a lead, the Power Dialer pulls up scripts and objection handlers to help you convert them.
• Included scripts, objection handlers, and training to help you convert more leads: While similar lead generation companies just sell you leads and an auto-dialer, REDX takes it a step further by including powerful scripts and objection handlers right in the auto-dialer to help you convert them. They even offer live role-playing and extensive lead conversion training with expert cold callers like LabCoat Agents’ Tristan Ahumada.

zBuyer: Best for Affordable Leads With No Contract

Pros

• Leads are verified and the company offers free replacements for bogus leads.
• It has no yearly contract.
• It has reasonable pricing.
• It’s a mix of high-funnel and low-funnel leads.
• It has free prospecting leads.

Cons

• Leads can “sell out” or become limited in number in a given area.
• Leads are not exclusive.
• It has no CRM (although I think this is one of their main selling points)
• It has no IDX website.

The Close Score

3.5

Pricing:

2.2

General Features:

3.3

Advanced Features:

2.4

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

3.3

Expert Score:

3.0

out
of

5

Why I Chose zBuyer

Consider zBuyer for an affordable and efficient way to get high-quality leads without the commitment of long-term contracts or expensive CRM and marketing tools. Unlike other lead generation companies for realtors that require lengthy contracts, zBuyer gives you the flexibility to leave if you’re not satisfied with the platform or the leads, no questions asked. This approach, different from other real estate lead generation companies, aims to address the common complaint of being locked into long contracts.

How zBuyer Generates Leads

zBuyer uses innovative analytics to uncover early indications of interest in selling or buying. The company offers targeted potential sellers a chance to discover their home’s worth and potentially a cash offer. Buyer leads are captured through the company’s site, HousingNow.com.

Potential leads must confirm their interest at several points, verifying their intent, which results in higher conversion rates. zBuyer then provides the agent with the lead’s contact information in real-time via the zBuyer app, email, and your chosen CRM. While the leads aren’t exclusive, zBuyer says they work hard to “limit their exposure.” ZBuyer is a low-cost, low-risk option with excellent customer service and a robust lead-generation strategy.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: 
  • $400 per month minimum (leads cost between $12 and $17 each)
  • No contract or startup fees
• Free prospecting leads: Another feature that puts zBuyer at the top of my list is its free prospecting leads. Yes, you read that right. For every dollar you spend with zBuyer, they will give you one four- to 12-month-old lead from their system—for free. These leads will be ice cold, but you can always warm them up with lead-scoring software like Revaluate.
• You don’t have to spend money on a CRM you don’t want: Most realtors who want to buy leads already have a CRM. Instead of forcing you to pay $200-plus per month for another one, like most lead generation companies

SmartZip: Best for Geographic Farming

Pros

• Predictive analytics identifies likely sellers before other lead generation companies.
• It has the best-in-class marketing and nurturing tools to convert seller leads.
• Easy upgrade to Offrs includes buyer leads on the same smart data and CRM.
• It has home valuation landing pages.

Cons

• Leads are not exclusive and generally top-of-funnel.
• It is not recommended for new agents.
• It is more expensive than most competitors.

The Close Score

3.3

Pricing:

0.3

General Features:

3.9

Advanced Features:

2.1

Customer Service:

2.5

Customer Rating:

4.0

Expert Score:

4.0

out
of

5

Why I Chose SmartZip

SmartZip’s near-magical ability to predict likely sellers is complemented by its suite of marketing tools, which are highly effective in nurturing and converting these leads. This made SmartZip a clear choice for seller leads. SmartZip’s predictive analytics technology combs through millions of data points to identify likely sellers six to 12 months before they’re ready to sell. That means you’ll reach seller leads before your competition does, and with the help of SmartZip’s marketing tools, you’ll be able to convert them into successful sales.

How SmartZip Generates Leads

SmartZip combs through consumer data (from places like credit card companies), market data (from places like your MLS), and demographic data, predicting which homeowners in your targeted region are most likely to sell.

Realtors who sign up with SmartZip get instant access to the SmartZip CRM, which is populated with “Smart Data” for their areas. Essentially, this is a list of all the property owners in your targeted area, ranked by how likely they are to sell their home in the next year and a half. Armed with this information, you can focus your outreach on only the most likely sellers, saving you time and money on marketing efforts and making your lead conversations more fruitful.

Additional Features

• Starting monthly prices: $299 (requires 12-month contract)
• Reach150: Using Reach150, real estate agents can manage their online presence and use favorable testimonials to attract new referral clients.
• Best-in-class marketing and nurturing tools: I love SmartZip’s marketing and nurturing tools. While its CRM might not be as sophisticated or customizable as tools like Propertybase, it does give you a lead’s estimated equity, home data, social media profiles, or taxable value changes. That’s not to mention their CheckIn app, which tells you who to follow up with every day. You also get home valuation landing pages, automated direct mail campaigns, a comparative market analysis tool, and local trend reports.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are real estate lead generation companies?

How do I find the best lead generation company?

How much do real estate leads cost?

What are exclusive leads?

Is it better to buy high-funnel or low-funnel leads?

How do most Realtors get leads?

Are real estate lead generation companies worth it?

What’s a good price per lead in real estate?

Methodology: How I Chose the Top Real Estate Lead Generation Companies for 2024

To evaluate the real estate lead generation companies in this article, I leaned on our team of licensed real estate pros, writers, and editors, who created a weighted rubric to evaluate each company. Our team has spent hours researching dozens of companies and assessing each one based on the most impactful elements for agents and brokers. Here are the criteria we based our evaluations on:

• Pricing (20%)
  • I looked at the average price per lead for buyer and seller leads, monthly ad management fees, the minimum required ad spend, onboarding fees, and pricing for mandatory tools like CRMs, IDX websites, and automated lead nurturing. I also included whether or not a contract is required. 
• Features (25%)
  • I evaluated each company’s main features, like lead capture tools, lead management, integrations, and ease of use. If a company required features like a built-in CRM, IDX websites, or automated nurturing, I included those features in my analysis. 
• Advanced Features (20%)
  • I evaluated whether the leads generated were high-funnel or low-funnel, lead exclusivity, how leads are qualified, lead quality, and how difficult the leads are to convert.
• User Experience (UX)/Customer Service (10%)
  • The dashboard and user interface are important factors to consider. If it’s challenging to use or find your way around the platform, you’ll be much less likely to use it. 
• Customer Rating (10%)
  • I read reviews of software after I’ve taken it for a test drive to evaluate others’ experiences compared to my own. I take that additional feedback into account when assessing any software. 
• Expert Score (15%)
  • I give extra credit for any standout features not covered in the above categories. 

Your Take

Are there any top real estate lead generation companies we haven’t covered that you’d like to know more about? Or perhaps you have experiences with the ones we’ve already listed? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!

The post The 11 Top Real Estate Lead Generation Companies 2024 appeared first on The Close.

Social Media Real Estate Ads Examples

Advertising on popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram is always a game-changer for real estate agents. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), social media (52%) is the top tech tool that provides REALTORS® with quality leads. You only need a killer concept, a captivating lead magnet, compelling copywriting, and creative flair to reel in those leads on Meta’s top platforms. I’m here to show you some of the best real estate ads on Facebook and other platforms and explain why they’re so effective.

1. Buyer Quiz Ad

Lead magnet: Quiz

Why this copy works: This copy starts by leveraging first-time buyers’ FOMO (fear of missing out) and then cleverly offers a solution. What’s particularly effective is how it speaks directly to the person reading, making them feel valued and important rather than addressing a general audience. Instead of a generic image, they opted for a picture of the agents teaching the course. This choice makes the agents appear friendly and approachable, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort for the first-time homebuyers they’re targeting.

Pro Tip: Don’t have the time or patience to learn Facebook ads? Top Producer Social Connect makes it easy. Enter your city and budget, and Top Producer’s advertising experts do the rest. Even better, you’ll get a suite of automated lead nurturing tools to keep them warm while you work with clients.

2. Reasons to Buy a Home Video Ad

3. Home Valuation Ad

Lead magnet: Free home valuation

Why this copy works: It’s simple and straight to the point. Emphasizing the word “free” helps draw in people who have not sold a home before and don’t know that all home valuations are free. I love how the agent added a casual yet professionally shot picture of herself. This unique approach sets her apart from other agents and is sure to intrigue and engage potential customers. Too many home valuation ads use bland, generic graphics; we would bet this one converts much better.

4. First-time Homebuyer Tips Video Ad

Lead magnet: Video

Why this copy works: This language is light and fun but gets straight to the point and uses emojis to guide the reader through the real estate ad. The video’s title, in bold and attention-grabbing italic font, immediately draws your attention. This element of intrigue makes the audience feel drawn in and curious, but still professional.

5. Simple Exclusive Listing Ad

Lead magnet: Private tour

Why this copy works: With only one sentence, this copy cuts through the noise on social media and gets straight to the point. Using the terms “accepting appointments” and “private tour” not only makes the listing sound exclusive but also emphasizes the value of the experience, making potential clients feel intrigued. It is simple but very effective: gorgeous photography, brokerage branding, and a headshot in the lower right corner. This professional presentation instills confidence in potential clients, making it perfect.

6. Simple Exclusive Listing Ad: Example 2

Lead magnet: Private tour

Why this copy works: This ad’s success lies in its simplicity. A professional image, precise address, and straightforward price, all presented in an elegant font, instill confidence, rendering additional copies unnecessary. This template is a versatile solution that can be adapted for a wide range of marketing needs. It’s not limited to private tours but could also be used for open houses, under contract, or just-sold real estate ads. Apply your brand colors and logo, and you’re ready to go.

7. Simple Open House Ad

Lead magnet: None

Why this copy works: Once again, the power of simplicity shines through in this copy. It cuts through the noise and gets straight to the point, instilling confidence in the reader. The two charming emojis add a touch of personality without overwhelming the message. Again, simplicity is key! The beautiful real estate photography, clean graphic design, and company branding strategically placed in the lower right corner reinforce the audience’s role in shaping the company’s identity.

8. Open House Ad With Aerial Shot

Lead magnet: None

Why this copy works: The ad’s effectiveness is not reliant on many copies. Instead, it impresses with its minimalistic approach, relying on the strength of its creativity to capture the audience’s attention. Coupled with decreasing attention spans—now just 8.25 seconds—complex ads cause more confusion than conversion. The bold, clean design, a testament to the ad’s effectiveness, draws the audience’s eye into this ad. The headshot and contact information are on the lower left instead of the more traditional lower right, but it still works.

9. Buyer Lead Ad

Lead magnet: None

Why this copy works: This copy is a masterclass in leveraging FOMO and desire. In just two sentences, it taps into the universal longing for a home we truly love. It cleverly positions its website as the key to alleviating the audience’s FOMO. It’s all about simplicity! This is not a grand mansion but a humble, approachable home. It’s nice but not intimidating, making the audience feel comfortable.

10. Six Costly Mistakes Homesellers Make Ad

Lead magnet: e-Book

Why this copy works: This copy empathizes with the fears that every homeseller experiences before, during, and even after putting their home on the market. Even better, it offers a solution to help them overcome those fears. It won’t win any graphic design awards, but it certainly grabs your attention. Photography or graphics would just distract from this simple, powerful copy.

Are you considering social media ads for your property but find the process of creating, posting, and testing them time-consuming? Experience the benefits of Sierra Interactive’s Real Estate Ad Management tool. With just a budget setting, you can leave the rest to them, allowing you to focus on other crucial aspects of your property sale!

11. Seasonal Ad for X (Formerly Twitter)

Lead magnet: Seasonal theme

Why this copy works: Be sure to take note of this intriguing social media post on X (formerly Twitter). The post is designed to grab the attention of potential buyers and sellers and encourage them to learn more about the sales process. Its seasonal theme makes it especially timely and appealing for the Halloween season. It cleverly incorporates the theme into the question, “haunted by the housing market?” and includes a professional headshot and contact details, making it easy for viewers to see them.

12. Short-video TikTok Ad

Lead magnet: Short-video

Why this copy works: Heider Real Estate has achieved tremendous success by harnessing the power of TikTok to showcase its listings. With an astounding 3.7 million followers, Daniel Heider effectively uses trending songs and music to make property listings more entertaining and engaging. Furthermore, as shown in the example above, instead of just showing the property, Heider included real people in the house, allowing potential buyers to visualize themselves enjoying the property, a strategy that has proven effective on such a large scale.

13. Funny Real Estate Memes or Jokes

Lead magnet: Real estate memes and jokes

Why this copy works: Remember to incorporate real estate memes into your social media strategy to highlight your property listings, personality, and brand. Using memes is an engaging and lighthearted approach to grabbing the interest of your audience and establishing a sense of rapport with your page visitors.

14. Real Estate Quote

Lead magnet: Real estate quotes

Why this copy works: The tagline in this post is strategically crafted to appeal to potential home buyers. It uses a simple and comforting image to evoke positive emotions, drawing on inspiration and joy to drive the message home. This is followed by a clear call to action, prompting the audience to take the next steps toward purchasing their dream home.

Outdoor Real Estate Ad Examples

The outdoors is more than just a path from your car to your listing. Many enjoy activities like walking dogs, jogging, and riding bikes. The outdoor advertising market is projected to reach USD 43,900 million by 2028 with a 3.9% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during 2023–2028, underlining its enduring value in a competitive marketing landscape. The great outdoors is a good place to reach people who may not use the latest apps. Here are some cool outdoor real estate agent ads.

15. Sense of Home Scratch & Sniff Ads

Why this copy works: These eye-catching and freshly scented scratch-and-sniff ads are designed to make you feel part of a community. They are enough to make your average curious resident pause. Once they’ve got your attention, the message behind these ads—that our new developments foster a sense of ‘home’ and community rather than just a place to live—resonates deeply.

16. Compass: Powering Your Home Search

Why this copy works: A great pun works wonders, and this copy brings everyone in on the joke. These slickly designed and clever ads on electric car charging ports send the perfect message to the very kind of hip, upwardly mobile, and eco-conscious clientele every brokerage covets. 

17. Stribling Building Listing Signs

Why this copy works: This well-made listing ad signs leaves a lot up to one’s imagination. I know there’s a townhouse for sale on a gorgeous, tree-lined street. Maybe that’s all we need. I like the mystery. The simplicity here lets the environment do the heavy lifting, and the bright pink logo elevates the overall look, keeping the ad from feeling stale or boring.

18. Halstead Outdoor Ads

Why this copy works: In the first example, Halstead uses a clever play on words in hopes their audience will pause just one second longer. “Move to what moves you, huh? That’s clever. What’s this? Halstead? I’ll look into them.” This second example lets the bright poppy colors do the heavy lifting. It’s hard to ignore the vibrancy, and an open house with this chic of a sign is probably a property worth seeing.

19. Realtor.com Subway Ad

Why this copy works: Making a pun about the subway seems like a rite of passage (ha!) for advertising execs cutting their teeth on transit signage. Realtor.com’s ad here, on the other hand, is well thought out. The cheeky play on the ad’s placement—an LCD that alternates between ads like this and upcoming subway departures—makes this ad stand out.

20. Realtor.com House Wrap Ad

Why this copy works: This message uses FOMO to entice its audience to switch from Zillow to Realtor.com. A tried-and-true ad strategy. No one wants to miss out on something great. This type of ad can go viral and take on a life of its own. It’ll get people talking, sharing and, above all, checking out Realtor.com.

21. StreetEasy Subway Ad: ‘You’re Dead to Me!’

Why this copy works: This speaks to New York City or any other metro with a massive chip on its shoulder. It gives the audience confidence that the agency is in the know, speaks the language, and has true local bona fides. StreetEasy’s subway ads have always been clever, but these ads take an old-school monster fight from classic movies and insert humorous things that New Yorkers tend to argue about—in this case, moving to LA.

Print Real Estate Ad Examples

The rumors of print advertising’s death have been wildly exaggerated. An eMarketer.com survey found that 82% of Americans trust print ads in newspapers and magazines more than digital ads (only 61% of consumers). Also, some real estate agents still swear by the persuasive qualities of ink and paper. Are they right? Well, judge for yourself. Here are a few killer print ads that we bet will have a great return on investment—or will at least help grow brands.

22. Douglas Elliman: Ask Elliman

Why this copy works: Still one of our favorite real estate agent ad campaigns of the past few years, Douglas Elliman’s “Ask Elliman” campaign hits all the right notes. It manages to evoke expertise and care at the same time. The Elliman-branded blue pops against black, white, and gray shades. It has a slightly nostalgic feel but is appealing to just about any audience in a modern setting.

23. NAR: Most Valuable Square Inch

Why this copy works: This magazine ad makes the NAR aspirational, if not damn near heroic. The copy creates a club that you want to be a part of (or that we want to represent our interests in). I don’t need to see the Realtor’s face to know she’s trustworthy, has integrity, and will sell this house. Or help you buy it. This is an ad that shows us as much as it tells.

24. Lefferts Place Mews

Why this copy works: This copy makes you contemplate your legacy, hopes, dreams, and maybe even hints that the “life is short—buy the pretty house” argument. Of course, it also works on a literal level—it’s a historic property.

25. Nourmand & Associates: New Hire Announcement

Why this copy works: OK, you’re probably wondering why I put a new hire announcement, of all things, on this list, and I’ll admit it—it’s not really for the copy. It’s for the design. This example showcases why it’s crucial to sweat the small stuff to get ahead. The typography, layout, and imagery are all pinpoint perfect.

26. Compass: Door Hangers

Why this copy works: These just-listed and open-house door hangers ideas keep the message simple and let the properties and headshots do the talking. Door hangers are often a check-the-box marketing tool, but if you take the time to think about layout, images, and overall design, they can make a huge impact. Instead of going right into the trash can, someone will pause, take in the beautiful property photos, and maybe even read that testimonial.

27. First Mallorca: Taylor-made Houses

Why this copy works: How clever are these ads for Mallorca-based luxury real estate firm First Mallorca? The “Taylor-made houses” line makes it. It’s a fresh approach to the idea that this brokerage is focused on the client as an individual. The image works here, reinforcing the idea that each buyer or seller is as unique as the properties.

28. Sotheby’s International Realty

Why this copy works: Clean, classic, eye-catching images and pithy copy are everything you need to get the most out of a two-page layout. This Sotheby’s campaign is about creating a vision of an aspirational and familiar lifestyle.

29. Corcoran’s ‘Live Who You Are’ Campaign

Why this copy works: I’m enchanted by this whimsical take on Corcoran’s core statement, which celebrates the life you’ll live in your new home. These illustrations by Simone Massoni are fun and clever while still evoking emotion. Other Corcoran print campaigns showcase photography by Rob Howard, Annie Liebovitz, Paul Costello, and Stefan Anderson. The Corcoran brand believes that storytelling fosters loyalty, and I agree.

If we had to pick a single real estate brochure company to recommend, it would be ProspectsPLUS! It has marketing print collateral in almost every format and size, plus no membership fee. Some providers require a monthly subscription to access designs, but ProspectsPLUS! works well for one-off projects and ongoing campaigns.

Real Estate Brand Promotional Items Examples

Your headshot, logo, and other branding can be used on items like pens, notepads, and similar items for promotion and advertising. Giving away these items can help potential clients and existing customers remember your professionalism, skill, and dedication. According to a study, 40% of consumers keep some promotional items for over 10 years. That’s longer than most other types of advertising. Another study found that 83% of people like getting promotional products with an advertising message.

30. The Helpful Branded Fridge Magnet

Why this creative works: I’m a big fan of any longevity promotional item. This helpful, well-designed magnet will live on the fridge, reminding leads that one cup equals 8 ounces and that you are there any time, day or night, to help with real estate.

31. Custom Mug of Your Mug

Why this creative works: Branded mugs are pretty common, but this illustrated, customized mug has real personality and is likely to stand out among all the clutter in your kitchen.

32. Brokerage Ready-to-Wear Line

Why this creative works: Sometimes, you need your brand to make a statement. It helps when there’s an emphatic period at the end. This SERHANT. hoodie sweatshirt is classic, warm, and brilliant advertising. Imagine people walking around wearing your brokerage name on their clothing, hats, fanny packs, or even swim trunks—it doesn’t get much better than that.

33. Branded Pen Ad

Why this creative works: Discover the power of promotional pens! By putting your contact information and logo on a pen, you’re not only providing a useful tool, but also spreading your brand to a wide audience. Imagine handing out these pens at open houses, listing appointments, networking events, or giving them to buyers as they sign on the dotted line. It’s a brilliant way to get your brand out there and make a lasting impression!

34. Tote Bags

Why this creative works: Branded reusable bags and totes are a massive hit with eco-conscious individuals. When you add a catchy slogan, your contact details, and your logo to a bag, just like the example above, your customers essentially become walking billboards for your brand.

Internet Platform Best Realtor Ads Examples

To attract real estate leads, advertise on high-traffic sites like your local multiple listing service (MLS), Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, and Craigslist. Use Google, Microsoft ads, Yelp, and your website to establish your expertise. Since 41% of recent buyers’ first step in the home buying process was to look online at properties for sale, ensuring that your ads stand out in the crowded online landscape is crucial. Here are some successful real estate ad ideas and what makes them stand out:

35. Zillow Active Property Listing

Why this creative works: This Zillow property listing is effective because the agent, with their professional approach, uses visually stunning images to capture the reader’s attention. The listing also highlights the benefits and details of working with their firm, instilling a sense of confidence. High-quality photos and compelling property descriptions are included to encourage visitors to linger and browse.

36. Google Paid Advertising

Why this creative works: This awesome Google ad may not have any images, but it’s a powerhouse for generating real estate leads. Using targeted keywords and showcasing the brokerage’s impressive 5-star Google My Business profile ratings, this ad pulls in leads from Google in a specific area like a pro!

37. Real Estate Agent Sponsored Google Ad 

Why this creative works: This sponsored real estate agent Google ad is effective because it showcases a professional realtor headshot, adding a personal touch and credibility. The eye-catching headshot helps establish a connection with potential clients, conveying trust, professionalism, and a human touch. This ad is designed to make a lasting impression on its target audience!

Direct Mail Real Estate Ads Examples

Direct mail strategies like postcards and flyers are still super effective for generating leads. They make you stand out, grab people’s attention for longer, and pack a bigger emotional punch than digital ads. Plus, even though they might cost more than online ads, they’re still pocket-friendly for agents. And here’s the best part—you can target specific audiences based on demographics and niche markets, making it super efficient for generating leads in your specialized areas of expertise!

38. Mailable Real Estate Flyer

Why this creative works: This mailable real estate flyer displays a local home in the area with captivating photos to entice buyers and provides sellers with a sample of its high-quality marketing materials. All you have to do is choose a specific neighborhood or get a mailing list for a particular street from a direct mail service, and presto! You’re all set to send out your personalized real estate flyers.

39. Recipe Direct Mail Postcards

Why this creative works: This clever direct mail real estate agent postcard targets potential sellers. It includes a fantastic recipe that not only grabs attention but also gives people a reason to hold onto the card. By regularly sending out postcards with different recipes, you will ensure your brand is always on your contacts’ minds.

40. Personalized Calendar

Why this creative works: Branded calendars, such as the one provided, are valuable household items that constantly remind you of your brand. These personalized calendars are not only excellent gifts for clients but also for potential clients, as well as friends and family. By displaying your information, these calendars can help maintain brand recall and serve as a practical and thoughtful token of appreciation.

Direct Digital Real Estate Ads Examples

Many businesses have effectively used digital campaigns in real estate. According to Statista, 70% of consumers prefer to receive emails from online brands. Effective strategies include clear headlines for direct emails, monthly newsletters, and holiday emails with recipes or tips. Let’s explore some appealing real estate agent advertising examples for digital ad campaigns and why they successfully generate and convert leads.

41. Direct Email Ad

Why this creative works: This straightforward email is effective due to its concise headline, which presents a question to potential buyers. The email copy provides a solution that highlights the real estate agency’s expertise and features its current listings. Use these emails to share your listings with your email subscribers.

42. Direct Text Ad

Why this creative works: This real estate advertisement informs buyers ready to buy by advertising an open house through the highly effective medium of text message marketing. Text messaging is a powerful way to update your contacts about new listings. With a higher open rate of 98% compared to email’s 21.7%, it’s an incredible way to remind clients about upcoming events or open houses or to check in with them.

43. Monthly Newsletter

Why this creative works: A monthly real estate newsletter sent directly to your inbox is a powerful tool for lead generation. It fosters consistent engagement, showcases your expertise, highlights your listings, and provides detailed market updates. But it’s not just about information, it’s also about action. Its call to action is designed to motivate and encourage readers to take the next step, whether it’s exploring your listings, contacting your agents, or making a conversion.

44. Holiday Email

Why this creative works: One of the most effective and non-intrusive ways to engage with your clients is through holiday emails. These emails, unlike traditional sales pitches, are a subtle yet powerful way to reinforce your brand and humanize your relationship. These catchy real estate ads are not pushy or salesy but a gentle reminder to your clients that you’re thinking of them. And for even more impact, share them on your social media platforms. Check out our real estate holiday calendar so you will never miss out!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you write an effective real estate ad?

What is the basic rule of advertising in real estate?

Do Facebook real estate ads work?

Bringing It All Together

Remember to use attention-grabbing taglines, eye-catching images, and imaginative content in your real estate ads. Spreading your ads across multiple channels is essential to connect with a larger audience. Advertising is a crucial investment for a thriving real estate business. Have some powerful real estate ads you’d like to show off? Or do you have some insights about upcoming trends? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post 44 Clever Real Estate Ads: Real Examples (+ Why They Work) appeared first on The Close.

Want to start promoting your listings on Craigslist? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get real estate leads from Craigslist—from creating an account to posting your listings, optimizing your posts with high-quality images, and reposting listings frequently.

1. Create a Craigslist Account

Although you can post listings on Craigslist without an account, creating one makes managing your real estate posts and communications simple. Follow these steps to create your account:

• Go to Craigslist.org, find your location, and click “Acct” at the top right of the homepage.
• Enter your email address and click “Create an account.” Once you click submit, CL will send you an email asking for a password and to complete your registration.
• Log into your account to access your user dashboard.
• You’re now a Craigslist realtor! Post, view, and manage active and inactive posts on your dashboard. Modify and save drafts.
• You can filter posts by date, status, title, location, and other criteria and search for specific text if you have many posts.

Craigslist homepage for New York

Craigslist log-in page

Craigslist user dashboard

2. Choose a Location & Posting Category

Posting residential listings to get Craigslist real estate leads is simple and free. Choose your target location, create a new post, and add photos and information. Make sure to use high-quality photos and choose the location where you want the real estate ad to run. It only lets you post to one area and category, so you may want to create multiple listings. You must change them for each area, like using different subject line descriptions and mixing up the images.

Here are the location-based steps:

• Select your target location in your user dashboard.
• Click “Go” from your dashboard or “Post an ad” from the top left-hand column of the homepage.
• Choose the location that fits best.

Select the type and category of your post. For example, “housing offered,” then “real estate—by broker.”

Post an ad

Select the location that fits best

Choose the type of post

Choose a category for your Craigslist post

3. Agree to Craigslist’s Real Estate Posting Guidelines

When learning how to list real estate on Craigslist, ensure your ads adhere to the laws and guidelines governing housing ads, restrictions, and tips. Once you’ve selected all the correct categories for your post, you’ll see a screen detailing Craigslist’s guidelines for real estate and a large button that says, “I will abide by these guidelines.” Make sure you review this.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Each real estate post must be about a single property, not loans, services, or multiple properties.
• Do not add photographs of yourself or links to “more information” outside of Craigslist.
• A successful real estate agent will follow these guidelines regardless of the platform.
• After reading the guidelines, click the button at the bottom to agree to the guidelines.

4. Input Listing Information

The next step in learning how to post a house for sale on Craigslist is designed to help you attract leads. You’re only required to fill in the title, city or neighborhood, property ZIP code, and email address. Adding more details will make your listing stand out and give prospects a better picture of the property. It’s a simple form with no styling, but you still want to maximize your chances of capturing a real estate buyer’s lead by making your listing description compelling.

Here are the top tips to learn how to post real estate on Craigslist:

• Write a captivating title: Write something descriptive, like “Lovely Remodeled Bungalow in Walking Distance of Downtown.”
• Include the street name: Only add the street name or indicate the general area by neighborhood.
• Add the property description: Use descriptive real estate words that accurately depict the home and guide the client’s imagination. For instance, write “spacious kitchen with ample cabinet space, breakfast bar with granite countertops, and new stainless steel appliances.”
• Enter neighborhood information: Include neighborhood amenities, such as shopping, transportation options, and walkability scores, using real estate keywords to drive more traffic to your post.
• Include a clear call to action (CTA): To guide viewers on what happens next, add a solid and clear CTA at the end of your description.

Pro tip: Be wary of adding the full street address. For example, instead of adding “123 Main Street,” opt for “Main Street.” This protects the privacy of your listing, especially if someone is currently living in the home. Additionally, this encourages the lead to contact you for further information about the property and schedule a showing.

5. Add Posting & License Details

On the same page, you must provide additional details for selling a house on Craigslist. Though this information is optional, adding more details to your post will give prospects a better idea about the home and encourage them to reach out. Add your real estate license number as a licensed agent or broker for reference. Doing so boosts your credibility and gives interested buyers the confidence to contact you.

Additional details include price, square footage, accessibility, housing type, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. The only required fields are laundry and parking details. You can also include open house information or details about when the house is available. Once you have added listing details and your license information, click “continue.”

Add property details to your Craigslist listing post.

Add your contact information to your Craigslist listing post.

6. Add Location & Map

After writing an eye-catching title and compelling property description, Craigslist will generate a map showing the location of your listing. Using the map feature is essential because it helps potential buyers determine if the home is in their desired neighborhood.

There are two ways to add the location:

• Input the street name, closest cross street, and postal code into the blank fields to automatically pin.
• Drag and drop the pin or click the interactive map to choose the exact location of your listing.

7. Upload High-quality Listing Photos

The next step to publishing your listing on Craigslist for real estate leads is to upload high-quality photos. High-quality photos are critical to showcasing your property’s best features and attracting qualified real estate leads. Craigslist makes it super easy to add photos. You can only add 24, so add a good variety that provides a solid “sneak peek” into your listing and encourages prospective buyers to want to see more.

Here’s how to upload images:

• Click the “Add images” button to add up to 24 professional property images.
• Use high-resolution (300 dpi) photos in JPG, GIF, or PNG format to attract serious buyers.
• Review the order of your upload to ensure the photos flow in the direction you want the buyer to tour the home virtually.

To enhance your high-quality listing photos for your Craigslist posts, employ real estate photography best practices for the most success. Use Canva to edit images or create social media posts, flyers, brochures, or a professional logo. Canva makes your listing photos and marketing materials more appealing—enabling you to stand out. Get started with the free plan.

8. Review Draft of the Post & Publish

Before submitting your draft, ensure it is precisely how you want it to be displayed. Ensure the images are high-quality and in the order you want viewers to see them. Proofread your text to confirm that there are no typos and that it is grammatically correct. Avoid blocks of text so it’s easier to read. Follow these steps to review and post your listing:

• After finishing the post, follow the prompts to review your draft post.
• After reviewing, click “publish” in the lower right-hand corner.
• Check your email inbox for a message from CL to publish your draft.
• Again, review all the listing information and photos for errors and accuracy.
• Check your spam folder if you don’t see an email within a few minutes.
• If everything looks great, click the “publish” button, and your post will go live.

9. Add New Leads to a CRM

When you’re first learning how to get real estate leads from Craigslist, you might not think too much about where to capture those leads for future reference. Once your Craigslist real estate listing posts, however, you can expect prospects to reach out to you via the email address in your user account.

To maximize your Craigslist real estate ads, use a real estate customer relationship manager (CRM) to track and nurture each lead as soon as they make initial contact. Also, consider using posting and tracking software to save time. Check this one out:

Using a CRM with a Zapier integration or built-in listing management, like the one offered by Real Geeks, streamlines your lead capture and tracking. Real Geeks integrates with the multiple listing service (MLS) and automatically posts your listings to Craigslist. You can then monitor Craigslist-generated leads and follow up with interested buyers using Real Geek’s automated email drip marketing tools. Check out our Real Geeks review to learn more, or visit the Real Geeks website by clicking below.

10. Renew & Repost as Permitted

Free Craigslist posts remain active on the website for 30 to 45 days, though this may vary based on your location. You can renew or refresh an active free post after 48 hours from the initial posting or last renewal. Re-upping a post is only for 30 days from the initial posting. Renewing doesn’t extend its lifespan. Renewing moves your post to the top of the list and can be seen by many active users.

Follow the tips below to refresh your posts:

• Click renew to repost the duplicate listing (before the original one has been removed).
• Reposting creates a fresh copy and moves it to the top of the list.
• A “dual listing” may be flagged by moderators. If Craigslist finds your account posting too frequently, they can delete or “ghost” your listings, making them invisible to users.
• To avoid deleted and flagged posts, create a separate Craigslist account for each day of the week you wish to post listings.
• Alternatively, you can use an auto-posting service like Real Geeks, kvCORE, and TaskBullet to post for you.

Craigslist Statistics

Craigslist is the 23rd-most visited website in the country and the first in the “eCommerce & Shopping” category, with nearly 170 million visits monthly. Most users come directly to Craigslist rather than through search engines, indicating a loyal user base. This means it’s a ripe marketplace for getting your listings in front of interested buyers.

Craigslist’s user base is interesting. Almost 57% of Craigslist visitors are male, while only 43% are female. The 25-34-year-old demographic is the largest group of Craigslist users, making it a popular platform among young adults or first-time homebuyers. The 45-54-year-old group follows closely, or homeowners looking to upgrade.

With these statistics, here are some of the pros and cons of using Craigslist for real estate:

FAQs

Does buying leads for real estate work?

Where do most realtors get their leads?

How do I get real estate leads from my website?

How do I find seller leads?

Bringing It All Together

Generating real estate leads can be daunting and, in many cases, expensive. Learning how to get real estate leads from Craigslist is a great way to maximize your budget. Follow these ten easy steps to get real estate leads from Craigslist—from signing up to posting a compelling real estate ad that prompts buyers to reach out. This maximizes your return on investment by converting even just one client. Moreover, generated leads can also go into your CRM for long-term nurturing and conversion.

The post How to Get Real Estate Leads From Craigslist That Actually Convert appeared first on The Close.

1. Make Professional Connections

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Weeks to months

Forming professional connections is the beginning of getting real estate clients. When closing real estate transactions, you must involve other professionals like accountants, lawyers, and mortgage lenders in your deals. Continuously connecting with these professionals, who are not real estate agents, is crucial to building a sphere of influence and referral network. These professionals often interact with people who will eventually need real estate services, and you want to be at the top of their minds when the opportunity arises.

2. Collaborate With Other Businesses

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Weeks to months

Getting involved with local businesses to help with cross-promotion is another great way to obtain new clients. It’s also a great strategy to boost your visibility and credibility among the local community. Great companies to partner with would be moving companies, local coffee shops, and even the local tax accountant. 

Collaborate through hosting events, offering discounts, or even agreeing to continue recommending each other’s businesses. Over time, these relationships can lead to a steady stream of income with little financial investment on your part.

3. Spend Money on Buying Leads

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Immediately

Investing in lead generation sources is another effective way to receive buyer and seller leads. Agents can quickly get their businesses up and running by purchasing leads from reputable companies. This method does save a lot of time compared to other organic methods of getting new client leads. Buying leads can significantly boost your client base and accelerate your business growth.

Market Leader allows real estate agents to connect with new clients quickly. Leads received through this real estate lead generator are exclusive and never distributed to other competitors. Agents can select their desired target market to become local experts while taking advantage of the lead volume commitment provided through the platform. Coupled with their CRM, agents can execute automated lead nurturing and marketing.

4. Learn How to Cold-call & Door Knock

• Best for: Obtaining new exclusive listings
• Time to get clients: Weeks to months

A proactive strategy to obtain new clients in real estate is to cold-call and door knock. Door knocking is prospecting for clients by physically visiting a home and introducing yourself and your services. Many agents will block off a specific time in their week to select a neighborhood or street and just go door to door. It’s a great way to learn if clients are looking to sell or move in the near future and for agents to distribute their contact information. 

Cold-calling is a lead generation strategy many agents veer away from because they’re intimidated by it. However, the more you practice cold-calling prospective clients and pitching your services, the easier it will become. Learning how to get clients as a real estate agent through cold-calling will take a lot of perseverance and commitment to get new leads. As you cultivate relationships through these methods, you’ll see an increase in short-term leads and long-term client loyalty. Check out these cold call scripts for more inspiration. 

5. Find Your Niche

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients:

Finding your real estate niche will help you differentiate yourself from your competition and also allow you to attract clients looking for your specialty. Whether you want to select your niche based on demographics, property type, or types of buyers or sellers, you can tailor your marketing efforts to attract clients within those niches. 

To find a niche, agents should find a sector of the real estate market that interests them and has high demand. Then, focus efforts on becoming the best agent within that niche. You can even find additional training or designations that help boost your marketability. As a result, you will begin attracting more targeted clients to sustain your business growth.

6. Leverage the Power of Social Media 

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Days to weeks

If you’re new to real estate, you might wonder how real estate agents get clients. Many use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for their real estate marketing. These platforms offer access to vast audiences and sophisticated targeting options to reach potential clients where they spend their time. 

Agents should be on all these social media platforms and regularly post high-quality content such as property listings, market updates, and client testimonials to help engage their audience. Additionally, there are available social media advertising options to help your posts target specific demographics and promote your services.

7. Have a Professional Website 

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Days to weeks

Having an online website is fundamental to establishing an online presence and is essential for learning how to get customers in real estate. Websites also provide a sense of credibility to your business and should act as a lead generation tool. Your website should be user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and feature interesting content like property listings, blog posts, and market reports. 

Make sure to also regularly update your real estate agent website with fresh content and ensure it is optimized for search engines to attract organic traffic. Your contact information must be readily available and accessible on your site, so prospective clients can easily reach you.

Agents can easily build powerful, user-friendly websites with AgentFire. The platform offers customizable templates, advanced IDX integration, and powerful SEO features, so a real estate agent’s website stands out and attracts organic traffic. The platform also includes robust lead generation tools and CRM integration to help you manage and nurture leads effectively. By using AgentFire for website creation, agents can enhance their online visibility and engage potential new clients.

8. Learn How to Network Effectively

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Weeks to months

Initially, networking may seem like a daunting task. However, like any muscle, the more you use it, the easier it gets. The better you are at networking, the more successful your business will be. Finding real estate clients through networking will require you to attend local events, join real estate associations, and participate in community activities to expand your contacts and increase your visibility.

Face-to-face interactions with other professionals will help you build trust and allow you to showcase your knowledge and personality. This will make it easier for them to vouch for your services and refer your business.  

9. Offer Free Knowledge to the Public

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Months

Offering free knowledge to the public is an excellent way to establish yourself as a trusted authority in real estate. If your content and information are valuable to the public, there is a higher likelihood that they’ll reach out to you for your services or share within their own personal networks. This can include sharing market reports, homebuying guides, and educational webinars.

Agents can distribute these resources through their websites, social media channels, and email newsletters. The above example is a newsletter sent with fun, engaging content, attractive images, and resources that might be useful to the end recipient. You want your content to serve as a knowledge source that prospective clients can refer to when encountering real estate questions or needs. 

10. Create a Strong Referral System

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Weeks to months

Developing a strong referral program is a key strategy in getting real estate clients. Encourage satisfied clients to refer their friends and family to expand your client base through word-of-mouth. Offer incentives such as gift cards, discounts on future services, or donations to charity to motivate clients to refer others. Communicate the details of your referral program clearly through your website, social media, and during client interactions. A well-structured referral program will continue to feed your business without costing you much. 

11. Invest in Online Advertising

• Best for: Buyer and seller leads
• Time to get clients: Days to weeks

This is probably the first way agents learn how to get clients in real estate through paid means. It’s a very effective way to obtain new clients who wouldn’t otherwise reach your contact information. Online advertising for real estate leads does require a significant financial investment. Agents can advertise on Google, Zillow, or third-party lead generation sites. It’s a great way to supplement lead generation with the above 9 tips on how to get more real estate clients.

FAQs

How can I effectively balance multiple lead generation strategies?

How do I measure the success of my lead generation efforts?

What should I do if I'm not generating new real estate clients?

Bringing It All Together

A multifaceted approach to how to get clients in real estate will help you build your real estate business. Many of these lead generation strategies can be performed concurrently to allow you to maximize your lead generation efforts. By integrating these approaches, you attract diverse clients and create a sustainable model for long-term growth. Each method complements the others and ensures your real estate business remains visible, credible, and competitive in the fast-paced market.

The post How to Get Clients in Real Estate: Our Top 11 Tips appeared first on The Close.

What is the Zestimate & How Does Zillow Get It?

The Zestimate is a home valuation based on a sophisticated algorithm that considers many factors and data points and is delivered in real-time for both on- and off-market properties. However, it’s important to note that a Zestimate is not the same as an appraisal conducted in person by a trained professional. When a property is evaluated in person, considering all data points, the condition of the property, and any upgrades, it will be the more accurate valuation.

 According to Zillow, there is a method to the madness regarding the Zestimate, which includes a “nationwide median error rate.” For on-market homes, the error rate is 2.35%, and for off-market homes, it’s more than three times that, at 7.74%. Zillow breaks it down even further and shows the percentage of properties within 5%, 10%, and 20% of the sale price.

These numbers show that the Zestimate is generally good at getting within 20% of the market price, gets within 10% a little more than half the time, and only gets within 5% a third of the time. Roughly 20% of properties are off by 20% or more. This discrepancy is real money clients might be leaving on the table—or expecting to pocket. 

Variations to Consider 

• On-market: Zestimates are based on listing price, description, comparable homes in the area, and days on the market.
• Off-market: Zestimates are determined by tax assessments, prior sales, and other publicly available records.
• Geographical: State-by-state data varies in accuracy. The Zestimate in West Virginia, for example, misses the sale price by more than 20%, nearly a third of the time. Properties in western states, like Utah and Nevada, are within 5% almost half the time. 
• Planned communities: They tend to have more accurate Zestimates because the properties are much more homogeneous, making it easier to calculate accurate comps.

How Is a Zestimate Calculated?

A property’s Zestimate is calculated by complex software using an “automated valuation model” that analyzes data points collected from users, public records, and multiple listing services. According to Zillow, here’s what goes into that equation:

• Recent comps (geographic area can be as large as an entire county)
• Home features (bedrooms, bathrooms, and more)
• Physical attributes (square footage, acreage, and more)
• Historical data
• Tax assessments
• MLS data
• Listing price
• Market trends (and seasonality)
• Public data
• User-submitted data

Zillow constantly tweaks and improves its algorithm, and the information input can change over time. For example, it used to be that Zillow didn’t include listing price data, but now it does. Additionally, not all MLSs participate in Zillow’s massive data collection. This results in a much more limited data set, further skewing a Zestimate, so understanding your MLS’s relationship with Zillow is also important.

Are Zestimates Accurate?

There is often a debate about the accuracy of the Zillow Zestimate, and we’ve all seen the jokes. But as much as some real estate agents claim the Zestimate is completely inaccurate, it’s not that cut-and-dry. As a real estate agent, I have learned to use the Zestimate as a guide to help my clients better understand their home value. Let’s break it down further to answer whether Zillow is accurate.

Zestimate accuracy can fluctuate depending on the data Zillow has access to. The listings on Zillow get updated when information is publicly available. So, for instance, if a homeowner makes improvements to their property, this will increase its value. However, unless the local property tax authority adds that information to the public database, Zillow does not know there have been updates, and therefore the Zestimate would be skewed.

Where Zillow shines is in the on-market Zestimates, which are based on the list price data and are far more accurate than the off-market Zestimates. However, neither compares to a custom comparative market analysis (CMA) from an experienced real estate agent. In any case, a Zestimate is great to use as a starting point and could even be a catalyst for someone’s decision to hire a top-notch real estate agent.

Pro tip: Sellers typically already have a perception of what they think their home is worth, often due to the Zestimate, so don’t avoid talking about it. Add a section to your listing appointment checklist that touches on the Zestimate, and use that time to explain it further.

​​Strategies for Talking to Clients About a Zestimate

Believe it or not, the Zestimate has existed for almost 20 years. It launched in 2006 and evolved over time. By this point, the general public has a better understanding that the true value of their home cannot be determined by the Zestimate alone. And while this may be the case, answering “Is Zillow accurate?” is still something we, as real estate agents, have to battle with occasionally. 

We still have clients who use the Zestimate to support an inflated listing price or devalue a home they want to buy, leaving you to answer, “How accurate is Zestimate?” Let’s discuss ways to combat seller objections and leverage the Zestimate with your knowledge. 

Strategy 1: Use Your Data

When conducting your listing presentation, this is your chance to show why you are confident in your listing price. Walk the seller through your customized CMA and compare it to the Zestimate to help give the seller a complete picture of accurate pricing. This is a good time to explain how a Zestimate is calculated and why variances exist.

Pro tip: If you are getting a lot of pushback from the seller because their Zestimate is different from your suggested list price, offer to test the market with the Zestimate price as a pocket listing for a specific period of time. 

Strategy 2: Apply Your Local Expertise

You know your local community better than Zillow does. Use this expertise to illustrate how your price considers new zoning, a great new donut shop coming in around the corner, whether you’ll need flood insurance, or that buyers paid more for the neighbor’s house because it had a brand-new HVAC system. You have the advantage of proximity. Remind your clients that when making giant financial life decisions, it’s OK to back away from a computer and rely on an actual human being. 

Strategy 3: Show Proof of the Inaccuracies

To paint a full picture, it’s important to acknowledge and discuss the potential inaccuracies that can come with the Zestimate. Our clients hire us to help them sell their homes for the highest and best price in the fastest timeframe possible. Pull some examples of Zestimate inaccuracies and explain why that can happen. Remind your clients that a home is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and that sold homes reflect that accurately. 

Strategy 4: Practice With a Script

Feeling comfortable having difficult conversations with clients comes with time and experience. If you’re unsure how to approach a discussion about the Zestimate, try this script.

copy to clipboard

I know you don’t want to undervalue your home, and online estimates, like Zestimates, can be attractive. But here’s the thing—those estimates don’t always reflect the local market or take into account your home’s unique value, and they can be misleading.

My CMA is based on in-depth research of the local area, current market trends, and years of local expertise. It’s designed to help you price your home strategically so you can sell quickly and for the best possible price.
I know it’s hard to hear your home might not match an online estimate, but my goal is to be your advocate and help you get the best outcome. I’m not trying to undervalue your home, but I want to make sure it’s priced right for this market.

Let’s review my CMA together and discuss a pricing strategy that positions your home for success. I’m confident we can agree on a price you’re comfortable with and that attracts serious buyers.

Remember, the longer a home sits on the market, the harder it becomes to sell. Let’s work together to price it right from the start and get you moving forward.

How is the Zestimate helpful? 

While there are many reasons real estate agents don’t like battling the Zestimate or constantly answering, “Is Zillow accurate?” learning to use it as a tool can actually be beneficial.

• The Zestimate is a great conversation starter. 
• You can leverage the Zestimate to show your expertise and further dive into the details of a CMA. 
• It can be a door opener for new business. 
• It can act as a bridge to have difficult conversations, including those about price reductions. 

FAQs

Is Zestimate or Redfin more accurate?

Can a seller change the Zestimate?

Bringing It All Together

Embracing technology and tools in the real estate industry is a way to keep evolving your business. Especially since we’ll likely continue to see more tools and tech in years to come. Zillow was ahead of its time when it rolled out the Zestimate. While frequently getting asked, “How accurate is the Zestimate?” and having to defend local market valuation data can still be frustrating to deal with at times, it continues to improve. Consider it part of your market research and use it to your advantage to help educate your clients.

The post How Accurate is Zestimate? appeared first on The Close.

Whether you use a paper sign-in sheet, a digital one, or a combination, here are nine templates for your next open house. Then, read the best use cases for each sign-in sheet and extra tips to maximize your lead gen opportunities at open houses.

Basic Open House Sign-in Sheets

• Best for: Agents seeking a quick and efficient method to gather essential contact details

These are simple, but you can use their generic layout in various situations, such as community gatherings or networking functions. Keep some extras of this realtor open house sign-in sheet in your bag at all times for impromptu events. They can be a backup if you’re unexpectedly missing your branded material. Keeping a supply of these basic sign-in sheets prepares you for any opportunity to connect with potential clients.

Here’s what goes in a basic open house sign-in sheet:

• Name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Address (optional)

If you expect a crowd at your open house, these basic, easily fillable templates will do the trick. This will minimize inconvenience and make visitors sign in immediately since you only want their basic information.

Download Template #1:

Download PDF | Google Doc

Download Template #2:

Download PDF | Google Doc

Detailed Questionnaire Sign-in Sheets

• Best for: Agents who want to gain comprehensive insights into attendees’ preferences and needs beyond basic contact information

This sign-in sheet includes fields for specific preferences besides the usual name, email address, and phone number. Questions may cover home type preference, a timeline for buying and selling, and whether they’re already working with an agent. Remember to use this template strategically. Some guests are wary of sharing too much information on a publicly visible form and others don’t want to complete many fields.

Here are other things you can include in a detailed questionnaire sign-in sheet:

• Additional fields for preferences and requirements
• “What are your current real estate needs?”
• “What is your preferred neighborhood?”
• “How do you prefer to be contacted?”
• “What is your budget range?”
• “Have you been preapproved for a mortgage?”
• “Would you like to receive updates about similar properties in the future?”

Gathering this information allows agents to customize their follow-up communication and property recommendations to align with each attendee’s preferences. This personalized approach increases your chances of converting leads into clients.

Download Template #3:

Download PDF | Google Doc

Download Template #4:

Download PDF | Google Doc

Did you know? You can organize your sign-in sheet data in a customer relationship management (CRM) to manage your leads effectively. Try Market Leader’s CRM platform as it can streamline your lead management process and improve follow-up communication with future clients.

Open House Sign-in Sheets With Feedback

• Best for: Agents who want feedback about the property

This free open house sign-in sheet provides agents with valuable insights into visitors’ impressions and preferences. Questions include their interest in the property and thoughts about the home’s price and features. All your guests’ answers can help you understand better what they’re looking for and improve future open houses. This approach demonstrates your commitment to visitor satisfaction.

Some questions you can include in this type of sign-in sheet are:

• How would you rate the overall condition of the property?
• Did the property meet your expectations based on the listing description?
• Was the property priced appropriately for its condition?
• What features of the home did you find most appealing?
• What other amenities would you like to see on the property?

If a seller insists on a particular price point (against your recommendation), feedback from an open house can sometimes be a great way to start a conversation about improving the price. It could also help convince seller clients to consider other recommendations, such as decluttering, painting, sprucing, and depersonalizing.

Download Template #5:

Download PDF

Google Doc

Download Template #6:

Download PDF

Google Doc

Download Template #7:

Download PDF

Google Doc

Open House Sign-in Sheets With a Giveaway

• Best for: Agents coupling an open house with a promotional giveaway

The strategy of this approach is pretty simple: Print up a handful of these pages and cut them into individual sign-in sheets. When your guests arrive, have them sign in and drop their slip into a fishbowl. After your event is over, call everyone. Let the winner know the happy news (and ask how you can help them with their real estate needs). Let every other attendee know about your next event and see if there are ways you can help them in the future.

Here’s what you can include in this type of sign-in sheet:

• An opt-in checkbox to give attendees an option to join the giveaway
• A section where attendees can indicate their preferred prize category, such as gift card or home decor item
• Ask if attendees agree to the terms and conditions of your giveaway or raffle

Are you wondering what the prize should be? I love offering something from a local vendor. Rather than bake cookies for the open house myself, I’ll buy some from a favorite local bakery and a gift certificate. While my guests enjoy the cookies, I remind them about the drawing for a gift certificate to the bakery that made those delicious cookies. How do they enter the drawing? All they have to do is sign in.

Download Template #8:

Download PDF | Google Doc

Download Template #9:

Download PDF | Google Doc

The Case for Using Digital Sign-in Sheets

As much as we like the old pen-and-paper system, a digital open house sign-in sheet makes a lot of sense now. Digital sign-in sheets have become more popular and will likely become the future standard in various industries, including real estate. Some benefits of using a digital sign-in sheet for open house include:

• Most people are familiar with the format and find using technology more convenient. Attendees can input their information quickly using touchscreens, eliminating the need for manual entry.
• People type a lot more accurately than they write. You won’t have difficulty decoding their names if everything’s entered electronically.
• You can transfer the data easily to your CRM software. This seamless process saves you time and enhances productivity.
• Many digital sign-in sheets send a message automatically if the email contact information is incorrect, providing more accurate follow-up details.

Imagine pulling together your marketing, landing pages, quick response (QR) codes, and digital sign-in sheets from one easy app and then exporting your new leads directly to your CRM. While plenty of good ones are out there, our pick for a digital open house sign-in platform is Curb Hero. This app offers a ton of functionality, easy sign-in for your guests from nearly any device (auto-fill) and, best of all, it’s free for realtors.

Common Open House Sign-in Issues & How to Fix Them

We want to help you avoid the pit-in-your-stomach feeling at the end of an open house when you look at your list of attendees and realize there isn’t much to work with. Here are some common issues agents encounter with open house sign-in sheets and some solutions to help you address them.

Issue 1: Your guests have illegible handwriting

Let’s face it: not all of us have beautiful penmanship. A standard form will likely have at least a couple of illegible names. The simple act of asking someone to sign in to your open house and then engaging them in conversation while they do so will solve many problems. Since they also talk to you simultaneously, your guests will slow down and write more legibly. If you get someone with a doctor’s handwriting, you can immediately follow up with them to clarify their details.

Issue 2: You put your sign-in sheet in the wrong place

Don’t set the sign-in sheet in the entryway when camped out in the kitchen. Instead, position it next to the refreshments. Whether guests help themselves with food or drink, nearly everyone will cruise by the kitchen, creating an ideal opportunity to invite them to sign in. You also want to avoid crowding guests into a smaller space or preventing them from entering the front door, so positioning your sign-in sheet in an open area of the home will alleviate that. 

Issue 3: You’re not starting conversations with your attendees

Your open house sign-in sheet creates an opening to start a conversation with everyone who enters the door. But it only works if you engage with them actively during the event or in a follow-up communication (or both). Here are two crucial tips:

• Capture one piece of information beyond the basics. Every sign-in sheet will ask for a name and email address. These are essential bits of information, but they only get you to the doorstep of your first conversation about real estate with that prospect—during the open house or in your follow-up.

• Gather one small fact to spark a conversation. Our favorites are “What is a must-have feature of your next home?” and “How long have you been looking for a new home?” Later, when you follow up, you’ll be equipped to have a meaningful conversation right out of the gate.

Issue 4: You’re not asking if the lead is already working with an agent

You’ll want to check with prospective leads to see if they are already working with another real estate agent. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Code of Ethics states its no-client-poaching policy clearly. Even if you’re not a member of the NAR, it is common courtesy not to poach another agent’s clients. A simple yes or no on the sign-in sheet will give you a good idea of who’s eligible to enlist you as an agent.

Issue 5: You’re not hosting enough open houses

Open houses are that magical win-win-win-win opportunity. Seller clients see how hard you’re marketing their property, brokers see how much you’re hustling, neighbors see you as the go-to expert, and buyers might see you as their new agent. 

If you’re a new agent—or new to an area or a niche like luxury real estate—you want to host as many open houses as possible. It can be tempting to hand them off because they take time (and it can be exhausting to be that charming), but every open house is a golden opportunity to build your business. Make sure you’re hosting your own and even offer to host them for other busy agents.

Issue 6: You haven’t mastered the follow-up

You should follow up with every attendee of your open house. After all, why collect contact information if you won’t use it to build your business? This process takes time but it shows off your professionalism and dedication. Whether you call, email, or text, it’s a crucial step in taking advantage of your open house. Read our article on the best open house follow-up emails and tips for writing your own.

FAQs: Open House Sign-in Sheets

Why should I use a sign-in sheet for my open house?

Do I need to have graphic design skills to use your templates?

How do I encourage potential clients to sign in at my open house?

Bringing It All Together

Open houses are an essential marketing tool for your business. They allow you to showcase your listing and sales skills to neighbors and potential new listers and—of course—meet and greet buyers. Now that you’ve armed yourself with some solid open house sign-in sheet strategies and templates you can use this weekend, get out there and work.

Tell us about your most successful open house in the comments. What made it stand out above the rest?

The post 9 Free Open House Sign-in Sheets to Try This Weekend appeared first on The Close.

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What Are Real Estate Landing Pages? 

A real estate landing page is a dedicated webpage for your business designed to capture leads by providing value in exchange for contact information. It’s different from a general real estate website because it focuses on prompting visitors to act, such as signing up for a newsletter, requesting a home valuation, or searching for properties. 

Real estate landing pages are a vital part of your digital marketing strategy because they insert leads at the top of the funnel, hoping to carry them toward taking action, culminating in a sale.

Remember that the realtor landing page is separate from your personal website or business homepage. It is a single page specifically made to capture leads and prompt visitors to act in a certain way, whereas your real estate website is built to house multiple pages with broader information.

Top Real Estate Landing Page Examples (+ Providers)

Before we get into how to create your landing page, you need to see some examples to understand what they should look like and get inspiration for your own. Creating real estate landing pages that convert requires a blend of art and science. You want to balance engaging visuals with strategic content and technical back-end optimization. 

Each example below is from a reputable landing page provider, so if you like one of the designs, check out the provider to use their services to create your landing page.

Example 1: Agent Image

This realtor landing page from Sharona Alperin was created with Agent Image. She has a clear call to action (CTA) reading, “Let’s connect – Don’t miss a beat,” which stands out against the rest of the page in capital bold letters. Sharona also tells the visitor what you’re exchanging for your contact information: market updates, restaurant picks, and home inspiration, all enticing items for a buyer or seller. Agent Image specializes in full agent websites, so you can use their services to complete an online makeover. They also offer IDX and CRM integrations to make sure listings are seen, and leads are captured.

Example 2: AgentFire

Using a home valuation page is a great way to snag seller leads at the beginning stages of the selling process. AgentFire offers multiple landing page options that are engaging and easy to set up. A cool feature from AgentFire is that you can set up realtor landing pages to provide an instant valuation, meaning visitors get a result immediately. However, those are based on algorithms. If you’d like, you can also set the system up to notify you when visitors provide their information and then create a custom comparative market analysis.

Example 3: iNCOM

This example from iNCOM entices clients with exclusive “VIP Platinum Access” to brand new condos in exchange for their contact information. This type of landing page is great for realtors who specialize in niches, particularly condo sales. Other iNCOM landing page features include mobile-optimized designs, higher conversion and click-through rates, and lifetime support from the iNCOM team.

Example 4: Placester

To be a functional landing page, it’s important to provide your visitors with value, like the above example made by Placester for Atoka Properties. In exchange for contact information, visitors will receive a guide to homebuying, which will help them in their journey and encourage them to work with the people who created it—and that’s the way to get people into the sales funnel! Placester has other amazing landing page designs and a Do It For Me lead generation website system where professional designers will create your online pages and maintain your site.

Example 5: Easy Agent PRO

This simple yet effective landing page from Easy Agent PRO hits visitors with a stunning visual and a quick CTA of “Get the newsletter.” While minimalist, it appeals to the foundations of a successful landing page to bring buyer and seller candidates to the beginning of the sales funnel. And don’t forget, with Easy Agent PRO, you can create an unlimited number of neighborhood sites. This feature helps establish your credibility and improves your website rank in the top results for search engine optimization (SEO).

How to Create a Strong Real Estate Landing Page

Now that you have a better understanding of what a landing page is and ideas of what you want yours to look like, let’s talk about how to create a real estate landing page for yourself. To see success with your real estate agent landing page, you’ll need to offer something of immediate value to your visitors in a super-easy process. All they’ll have to do is provide their contact information to get your value-add item. 

Strong Headline 

The headline is the first thing visitors will see on your landing page. It should be simple, direct, and short. It is one or two concise sentences (see what I’m doing here?). The font and colors should stand out from the page and be exceptionally legible. The goal is for visitors to know what you are offering and be enticed to click on that offer. That way, you’ll have generated a lead for yourself. 

Here are some examples: 

• Join Our Newsletters
• How Much Is Your Home Worth? 
• Get Our Free Homebuying Guide
• Find a Home You Love 
• Sell Your Home Fast 

Pro tip: When you’re writing your headlines and landing page copy, make sure to pay attention to the words you’re writing. The words should appeal to the audience that you intend to capture by using proper keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) tactics.

Call to Action

A call to action (CTA) is a statement and typically a button on your page that directs visitors to the item you’re offering. Similar to the headline, it should be kept short, have bold colors, and give an obvious directive to your landing page visitor. When people click this link, they will be prompted to complete a lead capture form. Choose from some of these CTAs: 

• Get in touch 
• Get an estimate
• Sign up today 
• Get my free offer
• Sell with us 
• Send me a newsletter 
• Schedule a tour

Lead Capture Form 

Everything you’ve done so far has led to your lead capture form. This is the most important piece of the landing page real estate puzzle because it moves website visitors into your sales funnel. The form should contain all the pertinent information you need to contact the person on the other side of the screen. This includes someone’s name, email address, and phone number. However, you can also include more options to learn about your visitors. 

• Radio buttons asking someone is a buyer or seller
• Message box to add a personal question
• Drop-down with a preferred method of communication (email, phone, text, etc.) 
• Checkboxes asking how far they are in their home search or sale (Just started, saw a few houses, have been working with an agent, lost one offer, etc.)

Keep in mind that you want the form on your real estate landing pages to be as easy as possible so that visitors aren’t deterred from completing it. According to Email Vendor Selection, the landing page conversion rate is 10% when you ask for three pieces of information. Even though it’s tempting to include all of the above information in your form, be selective and pick only what is necessary to move your leads forward in this process. 

Value Proposition

While your ultimate goal is to snag contact information, you must provide value to website visitors in exchange. This value proposition can be anything from e-books to free consultations. Still, it has to work in the favor of your target audience, whether they’re buyers, sellers, investors, renters, etc. Here are some ideas: 

• Free home valuation or comparative market analysis
• E-book about the homebuying or selling process, home staging tips, templates for investors, etc. 
• Listings and property information 
• Free marketing materials like flyers and brochures 
• Virtual meet-and-greet

No matter which you choose, it has to be enticing enough for visitors to willingly give up their information (with the assumption you will use it to contact them). 

High-quality Images 

Your visuals are crucial because you only have a few seconds to grab a visitor’s attention. For a real estate landing page, high-quality images representing the neighborhood, the type of properties, or your marketing location could be the difference between a visitor and a lead. These images should capture the area’s essence—appeal to your ideal client and help them create an emotional connection that encourages them to engage with your landing page.

Mobile Experience 

Optimizing your landing page for mobile users is non-negotiable. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 76% of homebuyers used a mobile or tablet search device in their home search. With such a large portion of web traffic coming from mobile users, your landing page needs to focus on two essential things: 1) it should load quickly, and 2) your landing page should look great on all screen sizes. Before publishing your site, preview the mobile experience and ensure it’s easy to navigate and looks amazing. 

A/B Testing

A/B testing is an invaluable way to improve the performance of your landing page over time.

To do this, experiment with different elements, change the number of fields in your lead capture form, and continually tweak the performance of your CTA buttons. Does a red button or a green button do better? How about filling out three forms vs four? Perform the tests and take the data to improve your landing pages through ongoing optimization.

FAQs

Are landing pages for real estate still a thing?

Do I need a professional web designer to set up a landing page?

How much should a landing page cost?

What is a squeeze page in real estate?

How do I drive traffic to my landing page?

Bringing It All Together

Have you succeeded with a real estate lead generation strategy that includes landing pages? Do you have a genius strategy for converting traffic into clients? Still have questions about landing pages? Let us know in the comment section below.

The post Real Estate Landing Pages: 5 Stunning Examples & Tips appeared first on The Close.

To help you get started, we created the Ultimate Real Estate Farming Strategy Guide for those who want to dive in headfirst. Download our comprehensive, proven resource for all things farming!

Download Free Farming Guide

What Is Farming in Real Estate?

Real estate farming is a lead generation and marketing strategy agents use to generate consistent business from a specific geographic area.

Agents “farm” a specific neighborhood by providing consistent value while cultivating relationships and generating leads that evolve into long-term clients. This practice also helps build a reliable business. Ultimately, the goal is to become the local expert and go-to agent for a particular geographic area.

Real Estate Farming Ideas

Ready to start farming real estate? Here are the four basic steps to this powerful strategy, plus the budget you’ll need to get started in your first year.

1. Target the Right Neighborhood

To get the rate of homes sold/turnover rate, look back 12 months to see how many homes were listed for sale in your farming area, and how many sold. You can find this information in Zillow or your multiple listing service (MLS). We want to know the rate of homes sold to tell us how many months of inventory are in this neighborhood. Take your time frame (let’s say, one year or 365 days) and divide that by the number of homes sold.

For example, if there were 16 homes sold in your farm over the last year, we can divide 365/16 to get 22.8. So now we know that for your farm area, the rate of homes sold is roughly 23 days.

Stick with me to get the absorption rate. Let’s say there are two active listings in your farm. To do this math, we’ll multiply the number of homes sold by the rate of homes sold (which we just calculated).

So we will do 2 x 22.8 = 45.6 (or about 1.5 months). That’s a reasonable absorption rate—the average varies, but as a quick rule, you’re looking for less than three months.

Now you know that the current market conditions of the farm you’ve chosen are pretty hot—as long as market conditions remain consistent. 

Next, gather information on your farm area and get to know the market backward and forward. In addition to understanding average sales prices and days on market (DOM), you’ll need to be knowledgeable of the average age and income of homeowners, typical home styles and age, local employers, upcoming developments, zoning and permitting regulations, neighborhood amenities, and other local agents who might be competition. Use the tools at your disposal, like your local MLS and market reports from a place like Altos Research.

Arming yourself with neighborhood knowledge will immediately help you stick out when you get a lead from your efforts.

Download the Ultimate Real Estate Farming Strategy Guide

2. Plan How & When to Deliver Value to Your Farm

This neighborhood strategy goes a long way in easily establishing you as the local expert. It’s also easy to do—once a month, send out your postcards to your farm. We like PostcardMania for this because their designs are simple. Try to include images of the recently sold homes—your farm will recognize the homes and they will come to associate you with the neighborhood. 

PostcardMania is offering our readers $50 off their first purchase when you use the link below.

3. Make a Plan to Manage & Track Your Leads

4. Start Delivering Value

Where Does Social Media Fit Into Real Estate Farming?

Social media doesn’t replace traditional farming techniques but can go a long way in enhancing them. Many local neighborhoods have their own Facebook groups. Some homeowner associations also have dedicated websites and social profiles, not to mention active residents on social platforms. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for a deep dive into social media post ideas. The Close’s own Sean Moudry suggests this proven, unique social media approach to farming:

Start by connecting with members of your farm area using your personal social media profile. Then, using Facebook, create a custom audience for specific posts that include only the people in your farm.

Sean Moudry, Real Estate Broker, Close Contributor

Sean’s strategy is great for promoting any neighborhood-specific content you’ve created for your website, like market updates or neighborhood guides.

Essential Real Estate Farming Tools You’ll Need

Learning how to farm a neighborhood in real estate requires a high level of organization, a solid execution plan, and—of course—the necessary tools to consistently deliver value to your farm area.

Regularly Scheduled Real Estate Postcards

• Frequency: Once or twice per quarter
• Typical annual cost (250 homes): $1,260
• Our suggested provider: ProspectsPLUS!
• The Close resource: Real Estate Postcards Providers + Postcard Examples That Actually Work

Direct mail is the backbone of your farming campaign. Postcards and flyers are the ideal tools to convey messages, statistics, and authority to your farm area.

Use direct mail to deliver quarterly touches. Mix it up with a snapshot of the market, recipe, inspirational quote, joke, or sports schedule—anything that will provide value to your recipients. ProspectsPLUS! has dozens of geographic farming campaign postcards, perfect for quarterly mailings that keep you top of mind.

On-demand Postcards

• Frequency: Whenever a home is listed or sells in your farm area
• Typical annual cost (250 homes): $1,584
• Our suggested provider: LabCoat Agents
• The Close resource: Circle Prospecting Case Study

If your regularly scheduled postcards are like a dependable, professional handshake, then on-demand postcards are your unexpected high-five. Use this marketing tool to make homeowners aware of market activity in their community, especially after a property sells. 

Sending about 250 postcards to the homes in your farm area, most similar to the market activity you’re highlighting, is a wake-up call to homeowners. You provide valuable information and insight into their financial opportunities if they also sell.

If you don’t already have a postcard provider you work with, we like LabCoat Agents, known for their effective, real estate-specific templates—including that perfect “just sold” postcard.

Farm-specific Content on Your Blog

• Frequency: At least monthly
• Typical annual cost (250 homes): Free (as long as you have a website)
• Our suggested provider: Placester
• The Close resource: Viral Real Estate Blog Ideas (+ Examples & Expert Tips)

Your farm area should have a dedicated section on your website where you can post weekly updates about the micro-neighborhood market, neighborhood goings-on, and even events in and around town. Your content can be short and sweet, with five or six sentences and a picture.

Remember, your website serves two purposes: to act as an online hub for your neighborhood and to show potential clients that you’re the go-to expert. Placester offers a package with unique, custom content to add to your site, including prewritten social media posts.

Market Update Letters

• Frequency: Quarterly
• Typical annual cost (250 homes): $550
• Our suggested provider: Coffee & Contracts
• The Close resource: Our Best Real Estate Prospecting Letter Templates

A real estate letter can share in-depth, thoughtful market insights and analysis, but it’s also a chance to talk about what’s going on in your business or give shoutouts to those doing good work in your community. Share messages that communicate that you’re the expert for buying and selling homes, but—perhaps just as importantly—you’re also the expert at living in your community.

If you’re farming a luxury, higher-end neighborhood, consider your design elements. You can use a service like Coffee & Contracts to put together a high-end, aesthetically pleasing, branded market update for your farm.

Neighborhood Website

• Frequency: New content one to two times a month
• Typical annual cost: Starting at $3,500
• Our suggested provider: Easy Agent Pro
• The Close resource: Best 7 Real Estate Website Builders

With Easy Agent Pro, you can create an unlimited number of neighborhood sites. This helps establish your credibility and improves your website rank in the top results for SEO. For example, Keeton & Co Real Estate has 19 different neighborhood sites for Goochland, Ga. Each one of these sites includes a small summary of the area, notable points of interest and activities, nearby restaurants and amenities.

As a tip, also try including interviews with neighborhood business owners, local news, coupons, and, of course, all the latest information about the real estate market.

Our suggestion for this platform type is Easy Agent Pro. Easy Agent Pro creates websites for you that are focused on driving engaged leads directly to your website. There are other providers on this list that focus on SEO, but we like how easy it is for agents to make small edits to these premade pages. Book your free consultation below.

Door Hangers for Your Annual Door-knocking Session

• Frequency: Once a year
• Typical annual cost: Starting at $100
• Our suggested provider: Canva
• The Close resource: Fun Real Estate Door Hanger Ideas to Inspire You

Door-knocking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s helpful to remember that you’re not going into these neighborhood walks cold. When you kick off your door-knocking weekend, residents will have heard from you multiple times. They know of you, even if you haven’t met yet, and they should be familiar with the value you’ve already provided.

Your farming efforts will be significantly more effective if you’re intentional about getting face-to-face with the people in your farm. Leave a little something behind, like these brand-friendly, easily customized templates. Purchase a template on Etsy or create one with a free Canva account.

Automated Home Value Email Updates

• Frequency: Once a month
• Typical annual cost: Starting at $300
• Our suggested provider: Homebot
• The Close resource: 23 Real Estate Email Templates That Will Generate Business in 2023

Home values in this market are volatile. As your area’s go-to real estate expert, one clear way to personalize your expertise is to help nervous homeowners understand how volatility will affect their investments. After all, a family’s home is often their most significant asset. 

If you want to automate this farming technique, consider Homebot. Using thousands of data points and the power of artificial intelligence (AI), the company sends automatic, consistent, and accurate information on what a home is worth (and if it’s incorrect, you can easily tweak it).

Many agents are hesitant to leave home valuation to the robots (and for good reason), but we’ve found that Homebot is much more accurate than Zillow, and it’s an easy way to nurture the owners in your farm on their home’s value. You can also partner with a lender on this tool to decrease your monthly cost. You can check out our full review of Homebot here.

An Annual Sponsored Event

• Frequency: Once a year
• Typical annual cost: Starting at $1,000
• Our suggested provider: You!
• The Close resource: Unique Client Appreciation Event Ideas

Whether you’re throwing a summer block party and BBQ, a holiday gathering, wine tasting, or a Super Bowl watch party, events are a fun way to meet and greet community members.

If you’re new to events, start with something you know will be a hit, like a pumpkin giveaway in October or a trivia night with great prizes. Or, try sponsoring a neighborhood garage sale, a community fireworks display in July, or a community service project with plenty of food and drinks afterward to celebrate all that hard work.

What Does It Cost to Get Started?

You can expect to pay some upfront costs for effective real estate farming, but the returns will repay your investment many times over if you remain consistent. Here’s my estimate of typical annual costs for a real estate farming operation with 250 homes:

While this is a sizable investment, don’t forget to look at the big picture. If you’re farming a neighborhood where the typical home sells for $400,000, a single 3% commission equates to $12,000 in gross commission income. 

In this case, a single property sale would recuperate your approximately $11,000 investment—and then some. The positive return on investment is clear if you turn over three or four transactions a year from your real estate farm area.

Real Estate Farming FAQs

Why is it called ‘farming’?

What kinds of activities constitute real estate farming?

Why should my real estate farm be 500 homes or less?

How much of my real estate farming message should be about the local market?

What kind of results should I expect from my real estate farm?

What if another agent is already farming in that area?

How long does it take for a real estate farm to produce results?

Bringing It All Together

Real estate farming is an effective means of prospecting and developing a consistent source of seller and buyer leads. The best part about farming is that the rate of return on your investment improves over time as your messaging gets sharper, more people recognize you, and your sales stats in the neighborhood improve.

Have a real estate farming idea we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comment section!

The post Real Estate Farming: How to Become the Go-to Agent in Your Neighborhood in 2024 appeared first on The Close.