5 Smart Tips to choose the best CRM for real estate agents and investors

Choosing the best CRM for real estate agents and investors
 
Article By: Mark Cirillo

Here, we are going to look at a few times on how to select the right CRM platform for you. We will take a closer look at the factors you have to consider as well as examples of how different platforms perform regarding them. Leadsbridge helps implement over 70 varieties of customer relationship management tools for businesses of all kinds. So, using this guide alongside our range of services is certain to help you find the best CRM for real estate investors.

Know your needs and why you need them

The best CRM for real estate investors provide a plethora of different functions and services to the business using them. They aren’t necessarily a “one-size-fits-all” solution. For that reason, it’s a good idea to know your aims in advance. Are you hoping to centralize the business and standardize lead building? Are you hoping to create insights that can better inform your team? Is it simply a matter of wanting a full detailed history of clients, leads, and conversations? Your needs are what truly define the best CRM for real estate investors.

Most platforms can provide those services. Choosing the best CRM for real estate agents, however, means getting specific with which goals apply most to you. Salesforce, for instance, is one of the platforms with the single greatest implementation of insights tools. Meanwhile, Zoho’s accessible design might make it a better platform for integrating and connecting the whole team.

 

You also need to consider how well the team can adapt to the CRM system itself. Thebest CRM for real estate agents should have a 100% user adoption rate so that data and information are easily shared across the whole team. Your needs are not necessarily the needs of the other individual members of the team. For that reason, take a bottom-up approach and ask what they need. Take a look at the user experience before committing to a platform. If it looks like it is going to create friction, choose another alternative. Thebest CRM for real estate investors is that which is easiest for the whole team to use.

Consider how long it is going to take you to implement the best CRM for real estate agents

At Leadsbridge, implementing the best CRM for real estate agents becomes a lot easier. As much as we can help the process, however, it will also depend on other factors. For instance, you have to consider the size of your team. Some CRMs, like Less Annoying CRM, are much better suited to very small teams, for instance. Whereas, implementing such a solution for a larger group of agents might take even more time and effort. The best CRM for real estate investors shouldn’t be a chore for your team to start using.

The longer is takes to implement a solution based on the needs and size of the team, the more time it takes to see the results. Similarly, you have to also consider the costs of thebest CRM for real estate agents. Most platforms offer different packages based on both the extra features included and how many people are going to be using it. When looking at different software, ensure you are looking only at the best CRM for real estate investors with the packages most relevant to you. Otherwise, you might be shocked when implementing it costs more than you initially expected.

In terms of the features you want to ensure your CRM platform has, few are more important than that customization. Finding the best CRM for real estate investorsmeans finding those that have the options to fit your sales cycle. A CRM tool built for a creative agency, for instance, won’t work. It will have all the sales stages and data fields most relevant to them. While you might be able to customize it, this will take even more time. Choose the best CRM for real estate agents that allows you to find a relevant setup as soon as possible.

The best CRM for real estate investors is already compatible with you

Implementing the best CRM for real estate agents also means looking at which tools you are already using. The better that CRM can work with current devices and software, the more efficiently it can work for the whole team.

For instance, let’s take a look at your hardware. Some CRM systems have to be directly installed on your devices, so they might not work for a team that works on a BYOD basis. Salesforce, on the other hand, works as a Cloud CRM solution. This means that it can easily be used from any device. Accessibility to suit your hardware is one of the key signs of the best CRM for real estate investors. You just need to ensure that all users have the right credentials to access the data stored in your CRM systems.

Similarly, for some agents and investors, mobility is crucial. While you’re on the road to meet with a client or a lead, you need the information your CRM system contains on them. If that’s the case, then you need to think of the best CRM for real estate agentsthat include mobile integration.

Finally, there’s the software that you might need to consider working with your chosen platform too. The best CRM for real estate investors works with software you already use. Instead of you having to find new software to work with the platform. This includes your email tools, Cloud storage tools, and your social media networks.

The best CRM for real estate investors improve productivity and efficiency

The best CRM for real estate agents makes it easier to do your job, not harder. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to try before you buy. Before you partner up with Leadsbridge to implement the platform of your choice, look at software on a smaller scale. Many companies overlook the limited free trials that many platforms offer. To find the best CRM for real estate investors, be willing spend some time learning both the ins-and-outs of the platform. There are also completely free options like HubSpot that are easy to test out.

 

The best CRM for real agents should be accessible, above all else. Ensure that you are comfortable with the UX and that you can quickly customize it to your needs. Try using it amongst a small team, first, with maybe two or three users. Measure how long it takes you update lead profiles and complete processes the old, manual way. Compare that to how long it takes with the CRM platform you are trying out. If you come up against any major limitations or roadblocks, note them down. Even the best CRM for real estate investors have some weaknesses, so it’s all about prioritizing the ups and downs of each platform you try.

If you really want the best CRM for real estate investors, look for those with features that maximize efficiency. Some CRM platforms automate tasks, taking them off your hands entirely. Others will push reminders to your smartphone, letting you focus on other tasks without forgetting important tasks.

You want to make sure that the best CRM for real estate agents integrates evenly regardless of what device you’re using and where. Don’t use platforms that force you to go “double duty”. If you update a customer profile on the mobile phone, you shouldn’t have to do it again when you’re back in the office.

If your chosen software is making it harder to complete certain tasks, it is not the best CRM for real estate investors. Try before you buy, know the limitations, and ensure that it helps you.

The best CRM for real estate agents include reporting and insights functions

The right software will help you manage clients every day. Updating profiles and pulling up relevant data will become easier than ever. You can foster better relationships without as much effort from the team. However, the difference between any old CRM platform and the best CRM for real estate investors is the reporting functions.

When test driving the platform that interests you, look at which reporting functions are available. In particular, consider which data you are able to visualize, and which matters the most to your business model. The best CRM for real estate agents will offer a plethora of tools to help visualize and better present the data on the system.

Platforms like ExactTarget allow you to generate all kinds of reports based on different data. You can look at the efficiency of your sales funnel. You can generate reports on how many deals you won in a specific period and which team members were involved. You can see the total value of all the deals currently in the pipeline. The best CRM for real estate agents depends on what data your team needs and whether or not the platform of your choice can provide it.

The insights provided by the best CRM for real estate investors help you create long-term strategies. It helps you find your best team members. It helps you find inefficiencies in your current process. Overall, it informs and enhances your decision making across the whole team. The best CRM for real estate agents is more than just an everyday tool, it is a platform that allows for data-driven strategy. The data doesn’t lie, so choose a platform that provides plenty.

Helping you implement the best CRM for real estate investors

As mentioned, Leadsbridge provides easy implementation of over 70 CRM software suites for a wide range of clients. Though we can help you find exactly the platform you need, the more informed you are as to your choice, the better. For that reason, stick to the tips above and ensure you spend a little time finding the best CRM for real estate agents based on your exact needs.