How a Real Estate CRM System Will Make You a More Successful REALTOR® - Software Advice

Or perhaps you believe that the systems or programs you’re currently using are adequate. Well, let me take a couple of minutes to explain first, what it means to practice effective contact management; and second, what really constitutes a Real Estate CRM system. Effective contact management is an approach to doing business. It’s about collecting relevant information on your contacts over time and storing that information in a safe and organized manner. It’s also about being able to then search and filter that information for insight into your business and to drive more relevant, personalized and timely communications. It facilitates effective contact management in your career. Because a real estate CRM system enables and automates the process of contact management. But before we explore exactly how contact management, and a real estate CRM system in particular, can make you a more effective REALTOR®, there are several common issues real estate sales professionals frequently struggle with. Certainly not a workable, consolidated database by any stretch of the imagination. Even if these Realtors® do have a consolidated database, the contact information is often inaccurate and incomplete. Agents often feel overwhelmed and unable to manage their business proactively. As a result, they work in a reactive manner and often feel two steps behind the game instead of ahead of it. They’re losing valuable business that they could have otherwise easily had. It’s understandable that it is a little bit (or very) awkward when calling up a past client that you’ve lost touch with years ago. As time goes by, and as you develop more connections and meet new people, a real estate CRM system will allow you to keep contact profiles in one consolidated database. If you’re a new REALTOR® just starting out, this is especially important. By keeping this level of detailed information on your contacts, you’re making it easy to communicate with people in a personalized and relevant way. For example, prospect, client, personal, or business-to-business. For example, a “Tennis team leads” group. So you can communicate with each group in a way that’s relevant to them. You’ll keep track of your current listing and buyer preference information. The ability to manage your real estate transactions is why it’s so important that your CRM be real estate specific. You can make certain you’re reminded when birthdays and anniversaries arise, and you can plan out important activities like client appreciation nights or quarterly keep in touch calls. And because a good CRM system has drip email capability, you can automate a lot of your “keep in touch” communication. Let’s say you’re a new real estate sales professional who needs to build up a loyal client base (and market to leads and prospects) but doesn’t know how. Or conversely, maybe you’re a seasoned professional but would like help managing and organizing all the steps involved in listing and/ or closing a home. It’s like a full time assistant that ensures you’re constantly keeping in touch with your database, always organized and one step ahead of the game, and building a business that you’ll find will be largely based on referrals and returning clients. You’ll look forward to chatting with a client, and they’ll look forward to hearing from you, because you’re developing genuine relationships. And you’ll be known as a top-notch real estate sales professional who never misses an appointment or commitment and always seems to remember “the little things” that often make such a difference in business and in relationships. If you make this investment, you can expect a 13% return on your database, meaning 13 transactions for every 100 people to which you market to. I can say with complete confidence that adopting the contact management approach and using a real estate CRM system will pay off big time with more repeat business and more referrals. Realtors