Special offer

4 Ways You’ll Fail Your Real Estate CRM

By
Real Estate Technology with IXACT Contact Real Estate CRM

So many REALTORS recognize the value of a good real estate CRM, but openly admit that they aren’t using one effectively. Some agents aren’t using one at all!

You’ve heard it before: the best real estate CRM is the one that you use. Find the system that offers the features that are most important to you and watch your business flourish.

Maybe you’ve tried several different solutions and haven’t found one that works for you. Or maybe you currently subscribe to a real estate CRM and feel guilty for not making the most of it.

Here are the 4 main ways that real estate agents fail their CRM systems and prevent them from working well.  And most importantly, I’ll outline some solutions so your real estate CRM will work for YOU, rather than you working for it!

1- You’re not getting started.

It’s a story I hear often. A Realtor understands they need a real estate CRM to stay organized, they research options and choose a solution… and then they never log in!

Even the best CRM in the world can’t work unless you give it a chance.

Some real estate agents feel intimidated by starting a new system. But once you get started, you’ll be amazed by how easy the startup process is, and how much time you save!

Success step: Choose a real estate CRM that offers unlimited customer support with an emphasis on helping you get set up.  Even tech-savvy Realtors appreciate a hand in getting started.  There are some key support items that your CRM team should offer you. When you’re researching for a CRM, ask these questions:

  • How do I add my contacts into the CRM?
  • Is support available both over the phone and via email?
  • Are tutorial videos available to help me learn specific features?
  • Who will assist me with setting up automated lead nurture, drip marketing campaigns, my Monthly e-Newsletter and any other features I am interested in?

2- You aren’t going mobile.

The second way you might be failing your real estate CRM is by resisting the mobile transition.  Since Realtors are so often on the road, it’s crucial for you to be connected to your contacts at all times. If you aren’t using a CRM mobile App, you may not be staying as organized as you could be.

When you try to catch up on tasks later in the day at your laptop, it’s possible that you’re forgetting tasks, allowing quality leads to fall through the cracks.

Success step: Once you’ve chosen a real estate CRM and opened an account, download the CRM App or mobile version and start exploring.

For many of us, our mobile phone is practically an extension of our arm. With your CRM App installed, you’ll be able to stay on top of tasks quickly and conveniently. Embrace the freedom and flexibility that comes with your real estate CRM App!

3- You aren’t nurturing your leads.

It’s relatively easy to keep in touch with your contacts when most of them are close friends and family members. But as your contact list begins to grow, it becomes more challenging to regularly communicate with your prospects and leads.

Leveraging the power of email lead nurturing is one of the first steps to success. It helps your leads and past clients remember your name and how to contact you. So when they are ready to move, they know who to call.

Some Realtors neglect to set up drip nurture campaigns simply because they assume it’s a complicated process. The truth is that it’s both easy and effective.

Success step: If you are still shopping around for a real estate CRM, choose one that includes pre-written, real estate specific lead nurture emails that you can easily use. Some robust CRM systems will even include many different plans depending on the lead you are nurturing. These plans could include campaigns for buyers, sellers, renters, FSBOs, and hot leads.

If you’re already using a real estate CRM and not yet nurturing your leads by email, contact the customer support department and ask them to help you get started.

4- You aren’t using an integrated solution.

One of the challenges of our time is finding a way to remember the seemingly hundreds of passwords for all our online accounts. different passwords we need for each online account we have.  Maybe you have an account for a CRM, a separate program for email marketing, and yet another subscription for your real estate website. That’s a lot of different invoices each month and a lot of different passwords!

Success step: Choose an integrated solution that includes your real estate CRM, email marketing AND your Realtor website all in one. This will streamline your workflow, your invoices and the same support team can assist with all your different questions!

Key takeaway:

If you don’t feel like you’re making the most of your real estate CRM, you may be failing the system in one of these key ways.  Take advantage of the support team to help you get started, make sure you go mobile, nurture your leads effectively and use an integrated solution.

IXACT Contact is a real estate CRM and email marketing solution that includes Realtor websites. Try it now FREE for 5 weeks and find success with your real estate CRM!

Posted by

 

IXACT Contact - Real Estate CRM and Marketing Made Easy

Call us at 1-866-665-0018 or email us at info@ixactcontact.com.

 

Follow us on Facebook     

Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Rich. Great review of how to use a system correctly. Enjoy your day!

May 10, 2016 02:39 AM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Thank you Wayne Martin, have a great day too. 

May 18, 2016 12:18 AM
Ann Wilkins
Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty - Oakland, CA
Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont CA

I personally use RealtyJuggler for my  CRM as it has a great mail merge for end of year letter and mid year - state of the market letter.  I use it all the time...but haven't used it for email purposes.  For $99 a year, it provides quite a bit.  My brokerage supplies Top Producer which I use for the lead nurturing but have to start doing a bit more nurturing!!!  This might be warped thinking on my part but...I like to have one really clean SOI CRM where everyone is my friend or aquaintence.  I don't want it muddied up with tentative online prospects that go by the wayside.  

May 25, 2016 12:16 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Thanks for commenting, Ann Wilkins! I like that you've come up with a system that works for you by using the features that you like from the two platforms. 

May 25, 2016 11:13 PM
Anonymous
kendall

HI Rick. What system are you using? I have searched for 9 years for an all inclusive CRM for teams linked to website with reverse prospecting / linked to MLS. Impossible to find. I have customized a proprietary system that is still better than anything I can find but is costly and is more powerful than most of my team members need. My system takes contacts to leads to closing and follow up after closing for future seller status. I can log in and see all passed leads with status updates to my team members. I have drip campaigns that are not used effectively and I have dash boards / operations management / closing process included.I currently use a separate website with reverse prospecting but have to double enter contacts.... as the website version doesn't offer the detail I need to manage my team. I have reviewed boomtown but my website developer can do everything boomtown does.Do you have anything to recommend that might be better?

May 25, 2016 12:44 PM
#3
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

OK - I know what the concept means, but every time I get curious about CRM I have to go look up what the letters stand for. For some reason, it just won't stick!

I would caution agents buying into a system that offers pre-written prospecting letters. Some are great, and some are really awful. Don't assume that the writer knows something about marketing. Instead, evaluate each letter yourself and decide whether it will capture a prospect or send them running to your competitors. 

One hint: If the letter starts with "I" or "We," don't use it! 

May 25, 2016 01:01 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Hi Marte Cliff, you're right! It's a good idea to read over pre-written content to make sure you like it before you send it out.  It's important to use a system that offers you pre-written content AND the ability to edit it! 

May 25, 2016 11:18 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Yes Rich, CRM, something that has been on the wish list for some time now, maybe this summer I will make the time to get into one of these.

May 25, 2016 01:08 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

That sounds like a good plan, Bob Crane.  I would recommend IXACT Contact's CRM!  To learn more about us, check out https://www.ixactcontact.com/ or call us directly and talk to our friendly support team! 1-866-665-0018  

May 26, 2016 05:15 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Rich Gaasenbeek These are very good tips to avoid for real estate CRM.

May 25, 2016 01:57 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Thank you, John Pusa

May 26, 2016 05:17 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Rich Gaasenbeek - the CRM has a simple purpose - stay in touch with clients. And as long as my mobile app of this CRM tells me what to do and who to pop-by (who is in next 5 mile radius) I am fine.

Failing to follow up is the biggest culprit, I guess.

May 25, 2016 02:00 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Praful Thakkar It's good that you're aware of where you need improvement.  You seem to have no trouble using your CRM and are benefitting from its efficiency!  Thanks for commenting!

May 26, 2016 05:20 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I will be reviewing this in more detail ... and see how I can improve on my present system.  Thanks for the wealth of information.

May 25, 2016 04:06 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

You're welcome, Diana Dahlberg

May 26, 2016 05:20 AM
Terry McCarley
Coastal Real Estate - Cape Coral FL - Cape Coral, FL
REALTOR, SRES, CDPE - Cape Coral, FL

I use RealtyJuggler as well as our in house program but I still feel the need to improve.

May 25, 2016 09:44 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Terry McCarley Thanks for commenting! If you would like to try a different system, IXACT Contact offers a 5-week free trial for its real estate CRM.  To learn more about IXACT, check out our website! https://www.ixactcontact.com/

May 26, 2016 05:23 AM
Debra B Albert, PA - Keyes Realty
Keyes Realty Treasure Coast, 34986 - Port St Lucie, FL
Ron and Debbie 772.708.3292

I LOVE my KW eEdge system.  Clients, Marketing and Transaction management under one roof.  I actually keep my most promising (likely to take action soon) people in my Leads list because that keeps them on the first page and top of mind for me.  We all have many CRM's - how about the list in your MLS where you have set people up for auto listings, and Listingbook, where you have a list since you were in business since day 1?  Past clients are ripe for referrals!!

May 25, 2016 10:28 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Very good strategy, Ron and Debbie Albert - Team Albert KW Treasure Coast Serving Martin and St Lucie Counties !  I'm glad you're finding your contact management system effective! 

May 26, 2016 05:27 AM
Rick Frissell
HomeXpress Realty - Valrico, FL
aka "The Red Baron of Real Estate"

Terry McCarley I use RJ as well. Perhaps all CRM's provide data that indicates which recipients open the email, but this azure tells me a lot about my audience.

May 25, 2016 10:38 PM
Chris Lima
Turtle Reef Realty - Port St Lucie, FL
Local or Global-Allow me to open doors for you.

Great post and the most important take away is this.....it is just a database until it's nurtured.  Nurturing produces income!

May 25, 2016 10:55 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek

Great point, Chris Lima

May 26, 2016 05:27 AM
Theresa Akin
CORPUS CHRISTI REALTY GROUP - Corpus Christi, TX

I signed on with RealtyJuggler and it's coming along. The one thing is they have more than one letter for the different situations. I look at the letters as a guide to write one of my own if I feel the need to edit to my specifications. No one has to use the letters verbatim. There is a tutorial for just about every thing under the sun. These tutorials help the not-so-tech-savvy person become a little more savvy.

May 26, 2016 02:31 AM
Rich Gaasenbeek

I agree, Theresa Akin, the interent is quite handy! Thanks for commenting! 

May 26, 2016 05:29 AM
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

The finer tuned the CRM is, the more time I'll have available to focus on lead generation activities. A fine tuned CRM also reduces the dependency on any specific administrative assistant because the next admin can just continue using the system.

Jun 17, 2017 07:59 PM
Rich Gaasenbeek
IXACT Contact Real Estate CRM - Toronto, ON
Real Estate CRM & Marketing Made Easy!

Very well put Dave Halpern !

Jun 18, 2017 08:48 AM