These days, it’s hard to think of an industry that isn’t being disrupted by technology.
For many business owners, words like “blockchain”, “automation” and “AI” can cause them to break out in a cold sweat. But for those of us in real estate, keeping up with the latest tech trends is simply business as usual.
From the earliest days of MLS listings, SEO and of course, Zillow, real estate’s early adopters have always been the first ones to profit from new technologies. Whether you’re looking for a way to optimize your backend systems or increase conversions by using video in your email marketing, these 12 transformative tools will help you take your business to the next level.
Brokermint is real estate back office management software that promises to take the admin headaches off your plate. It covers everything from CRM and MLS integrations to signing your documents electronically and tracking submissions to make sure you and your team are completely compliant.
One of the biggest reasons agents love Brokermint is for its ability to track agent commissions and expenses. Brokermint helps you track, manage and distribute all office expenses and commissions and easily syncs up with QuickBooks.
Cost: Plans start at $79/month.
Best for: Agents or teams with multiple players on commission.
2.dotloop
Even if you’re brand new to real estate, you’ve probably heard of dotloop.
The online transaction management platform is probably one of the most popular tools in the business. According to the dotloop website, “Over 3,500 businesses – including 40 of the top 100 largest brokerages and over 85 state and regional associations – use dotloop.” So, yeah. If you haven’t encountered it yet, you probably will soon.
dotloop auto-populates your offers and contracts so that you can spend less time paper-wrangling and more time closing deals. But there is a learning curve. If you’re used to a simpler (think: pen, paper and fax machine) way of life, you may find dotloop a bit tough in the beginning. Don’t give up. The more time you put in upfront, the more you’ll get back as you keep using it.
Cost: Free version available. Basic plan starts at $29/month.
Best for: Realtors who have had enough of the paper trail.
3.PieSync
If you’re like most Realtors, you probably use a bunch of different apps and tools every day. The problem with that is that it’s easy for important things to fall through the cracks. Enter, PieSync.
PieSync’s smart two-way syncing matches customer data across all your connected apps. It literally plugs the gaps between your CRM and other tools, helping to prevent double entries and ensure that both you and your leads have the most relevant experience possible.
Cost: Free trial available. Pricing starts at $9/month.
Best for: Time saving. With PieSync there’s NO manual updating!
Fun fact: Structurely rose to real estate tech fame when it created Aisa, which stands for Artificial Inside Sales Agent (ISA). Cool, huh?
Aisa Holmes is a smart bot who engages and qualifies your real estate leads 24/7. No matter where your leads come from, Aisa will woo them. The bot has empathetic qualities and can maintain human-like conversations to provide outstanding customer service while you’re at home eating dinner with your family, or catching up on some well-needed Z’s. Aisa is so impressive it earned Structurely a place as a finalist for the Inman Innovator Awards in 2016.
Cost: $179/month.
Best for: Agents who don’t want to give up their leads, or their personal lives.
5.First.io
First uses AI to track over 700 signals across 214 million people in order to tell you who in your sphere, database and social networks is looking to sell.
Not only that, the tool actually helps you predict when they’re going to sell so you can plan your follow ups and be there when the time is right. The company boasts clients like Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, RE/MAX and more.
Cost: Pricing is customizable based on contract terms.
Best for: Great for agents looking to double down on listings.
Never let a raining day or cluttered countertop ruin your chances of closing a deal.
Box Brownie uses advanced image enhancement to make all your listings look great. From virtual staging to day-to-dusk editing services, this tool really is “your secret weapon for property marketing.”
Cost: Free trial available.
Best for: Sparkling images for every listing!
7.DocuSign
DocuSign is e-signature and transaction management software that makes it a breeze to get final sign-off. According to its website, it’s also the only e-signature platform that offers an edition especially for Realtors, including Realtor-specific branding and ZipForm Plus integration.
Cost: 30-day free trial. Business Pro plan starts at $33/month.
Best for: Agents who want to keep track of all documents from agency disclosure to contracts.
8.LiveTour
LiveTour is one of those fancy next-level VR tools most agents are still just talking about.
The 360° virtual tour platform claims to be the only one that lets you to capture professional-quality VR tours of any space with your smartphone. For agents who can’t afford expensive equipment of marketing firms, it’s a total game-changer.
Cost: Basic package is free!
Best for: Any agent who wants to offer an unforgettable viewing experience.
9.BombBomb
Everyone loves video.
In fact, 85% of consumers say they want to see more of it. And in real estate, putting a face to a name really matters. BombBomb helps you do that without having to physically shake hands with everyone you meet (or, e-meet).
This simple digital tool lets you create personalized videos and insert them directly into the text of your emails. You can even track them to see who watches your videos and follow up accordingly. From sending a celebratory closing email to onboarding a future rockstar onto your team, there are so many ways real estate bosses can use video to make their marketing more effective. One of our favorites is to use it after the close to ask for a review — works like a charm!
Cost: 14-day free trial.
Best for: Adding a personal touch to your emails!
10.Cloud MLX
Cloud MLX set out to answer the question, “What would an MLS system look like if it were built for today’s real estate agent?”. And wow, did they answer it!
This amazing tool lets you easily navigate all your MLS listings in one beautifully simple user-friendly platform. It also lets you save searches to help you find the perfect property for your clients the next time you go in to search your listings. And of course, it works on mobile, which is pretty much a must for any agent with a booked out calendar.
Cost: Free trial available. Plans start at $149/mo.
Best for: Any agent who’s done wasting time down the MLS rabbit hole!
11.Zapier
If you’re using any of the tools listed here and you’re still rushing to fit it all in every day, Zapier could be the automation tool you’ve been dreaming of.
Rockstar brokers like Barry Jenkins of Friend in Realty (the Better Homes and Gardens #2 real estate team in the US for 2018!), use Zapier to connect all their tech tools and streamline their real estate workflows from A to Z.
Zapier unites all your apps and lead channels with your central database or CRM to create a seamless, automated process that can save you and your team dozens of hours per week.
Cost: Free option available. Premium plans start at $20 per month.
Best for: Any current or aspiring systems guru.
Choosing a CRM for your real estate business is hard — really hard.
There are so many options (and so many opinions!). For agents who are starting or leading their own teams, Follow Up Boss helps keep it simple. Built on the belief that your focus is one of the biggest assets in business, Follow Up Boss eliminates the noise and keeps your team’s eyes on the ball.
Agents always know which leads need follow up and when, and can easily reach out via text, email or phone — all from right within Follow Up Boss. Team leaders can easily see their teams latest follow up progress and make sure no lead ever falls through the cracks.
Cost: 14-day free trial, plans start at $149/month.
Best for: Agents who want to close more deals in less time.
