This is part 2 from 100 Real Estate Lead Generation Strategies for 2025 – you can read part 1 and part 3 here and here.
31. Use a Strong CRM System
A good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system helps keep all your leads, phone calls, and notes in one place, ensuring that nothing gets lost.
There are specialized CRMs designed for real estate, such as Top Producer, Referral Maker, Follow Up Boss, and BoomTown, which include tools tailored explicitly for agents.
Small teams can also do well using general CRMs like HubSpot or Zoho. These systems often allow you to set reminders, rate leads based on interest, and automatically bring in new contacts from your website. According to HubSpot, nearly half of companies report increased revenue after implementing a CRM.
32. Use AI to Improve How You Follow Up with Leads
Today, many CRMs use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help you follow up with people. AI watches how visitors use your website and open your emails. It examines factors such as clicks and responses to help you identify which individuals are the most interested.
This way, you can focus on those who are ready to take action. Tools like SmartZip and Remine even analyze public information to identify homeowners who may be considering a sale soon. Some CRMs also feature AI assistants that can schedule meetings for you, saving you time.
33. Add a 24/7 Chatbot to Your Website
Many people search for homes late at night or on weekends. If you have a chatbot on your website, it can interact with users, answer basic questions, and collect their contact information even when you’re not online. Tools like Drift and Structurally can be added to your site and help keep new leads coming in all day and night.
34. Get Help from Virtual Assistants
Doing everything by yourself can get stressful. That’s why hiring a virtual assistant (VA) can make your work easier. Companies like MyOutDesk and TaskBullet offer trained virtual assistants (VAs) who can assist by making calls, updating your CRM, or sending emails. If you provide them with clear instructions and check in frequently, they can work effectively with your brand, allowing you to focus on larger priorities.
35. Use Automation to Keep Your Marketing Going
You don’t need to be online all day to stay in front of people. Tools like Zapier and IFTTT can connect your ads and CRM, so when you get a new lead, the system sends an email automatically. You can also use apps like Hootsuite and Buffer to plan your social media posts for the whole week in just one sitting. This helps you stay active online without having to post every day.
36. Find Out Where Your Best Leads Come From
It’s essential to identify which websites or ads generate the most leads. Google Analytics can show where your visitors come from, and your CRM or ad tools can tell you what’s working. If you review this information monthly, you can focus on what yields the most results and eliminate time spent on what doesn’t.
37. Use Mobile Apps to Reply Fast
In real estate, answering quickly can make a big difference. Many CRMs have phone apps that notify you immediately when someone is interested. You can also use apps like Zillow Premier Agent, Realtor.com, or Homesnap Pro to receive alerts when a new lead is generated. If you answer within five minutes, you’re much more likely to turn that lead into a client.
38. Send Direct Mail to the Right Neighborhoods
Sending postcards or flyers in the mail still works well, especially if you plan it carefully. Services like USPS Every Door Direct Mail or Canada Post Neighborhood Mail let you send messages to entire neighborhoods without needing a list of names and addresses. If you include a special phone number or website link in your mail, you can track who responds. Sending mail regularly helps people remember you.
39. Knock on Doors in Your Area
It might seem old-fashioned, but knocking on doors in your neighborhood can still get results. Bring a short market report or a flyer, and always be polite, don’t knock where “No Soliciting” signs are posted. Try to be helpful instead of just selling something. When people see your face and interact with you in person, they tend to trust you over time.
40. Make Cold Calling More Helpful
Calling people you don’t know, such as owners of expired listings or for-sale-by-owner homes can still be effective if you offer genuine value. Use a script that includes information such as market updates or buyer demand in the area. Keep track of every call in your CRM so you’ll know when to follow up again.
41. Use Flyers and Door Hangers to Get Noticed
Flyers and door hangers are still great tools, especially in small, focused neighborhoods. Make them look professional and include something eye-catching, such as a QR code to a virtual home tour or a complimentary home value estimate. Services like Vistaprint can help design and print your materials.
42. Advertise in Local Media to Build Your Brand
People trust local news. That’s why advertising in newspapers, on the radio, or bus stop benches can be a great way to get noticed. Use a unique phone number or web link for each ad to track which ones are effective. Sites like LocalMedia.org can help you find the best places to run your ads.
43. Make Yard Signs Do More
Yard signs aren’t just for showing a house is for sale, they can help you find new leads, too. Add extra signs with info like “Text HOME to 555-1234” or include a QR code that links to an online home tour. Every text or scan is a chance to follow up with someone new.
44. Turn Listings into New Leads
When you sell or list a home, don’t stop there. Contact 100–200 people who live nearby using postcards, phone calls, or in-person visits. This method, called circle prospecting, helps you leverage the buzz from one sale to initiate conversations with other homeowners who may be considering selling as well.
45. Ask Your Network for Referrals
Stay in touch with people you already know, such as friends, family, and past clients. You can send a quick text, email a newsletter, or give a small token of appreciation. These simple actions remind them that you’re the person to go to when someone they know wants to buy or sell a home.
46. Keep in Touch with Past Clients
Just because the deal is done doesn’t mean the relationship is over. Send notes on their home anniversaries, invite them to special events, or share a list of helpful local businesses. These thoughtful gestures show you still care and keep you in their minds for the next time they need a realtor or want to refer a friend.
47. Go to Local Events to Meet People
One of the most effective ways to grow your real estate business is by attending community events. You can meet people at places like Chamber of Commerce meetings, school events, or farmers markets. Joining local groups, such as the Chamber or a BNI (Business Network International) group, helps you connect with others naturally outside of social media or ads.
48. Connect with Other Professionals for Referrals
Make friends with professionals like accountants, financial planners, contractors, or lawyers. These individuals often work with clients undergoing significant life changes, such as divorce, inheritance, or relocation and may refer those clients to you. You can use websites like HG.org to find these professionals in your area.
49. Host Fun Events to Thank Your Clients
Throwing a small event like a movie night, pie giveaway, or wine tasting is a fun way to stay in touch with your past clients. These events let people know you appreciate them. They also give you a chance to remind them to send referrals your way in a gentle manner. A thank-you gift or handwritten note afterward makes a big impression.
50. Team Up with Local Businesses
You don’t have to do everything on your own partner with local shops for shared promotions. For example, you could host a home-staging event with a furniture store, split a mailer with a house painter, or leave flyers at a popular coffee shop. These partnerships help you save money and reach a broader audience in your area.
51. Sponsor Local Events to Build Trust
When you support local events, people start to recognize and trust your name. You could sponsor a youth sports team, help fund a local 5K race, or have your business name in a school play program. These kinds of sponsorships show that you care about your community and people remember that.
52. Volunteer to Become More Relatable
Volunteering is another excellent way to meet people and show you care. You can help out at places like food banks, park cleanups, or neighborhood builds. Try websites like VolunteerMatch to find opportunities near you. When people see you giving back, they may naturally start to refer others to you even if you never talk about real estate.
53. Teach Workshops to Build Trust
Host free workshops to teach people about buying or selling homes. You could hold a first-time buyer night at the library or run a Zoom class for sellers. Ask people to sign up ahead of time, provide them with helpful information, and follow up afterward. These events help people see you as someone they can trust and learn from.
54. Plan Fun Events That Bring People Together
Simple, fun events like yard sales, holiday photo spots, or document-shredding days bring people together and create goodwill in your community. They’re not just fun they also give you incredible pictures to post on your social media to show you’re active and involved.
55. Make Open Houses More Enjoyable
Don’t just let people walk through a home make your open houses stand out. Offer drinks and snacks, give out raffle prizes for signing in, and be sure to follow up quickly afterward. Use a digital sign-in app to collect contact information without slowing things down.
56. Give Free Help Up Front
Offer things like free home value estimates or 30-minute buyer meetings with no pressure to commit. Let people book these through your website or a scheduling tool like Calendly. Providing this kind of value early builds trust and helps you continue to generate new leads.
57. Go to Home Shows and Expos to Meet New People
Home shows, and community expos are great places to meet people who are already thinking about buying or selling a home. Rent a booth, show your listings on a screen, and offer a fun giveaway. This helps you collect email addresses from visitors and start building relationships.
58. Reach Out to FSBO Sellers by Being Helpful First
Some homeowners attempt to sell their homes without using an agent these are known as FSBO (For Sale By Owner) listings. Many will end up hiring an agent later if they see the value you bring. Share helpful information, such as recent home sale prices or the number of buyers in their area. You could also offer to work together if you have a buyer. Keep checking in so they remember you.
59. Follow Up with Expired or Removed Listings
Sometimes, homes don’t sell, and the listing either expires or is removed. These sellers might feel disappointed. Reach out kindly and show them how your plan differs from what they’ve tried before. Let them know you’re there to help with a fresh approach.
60. Contact Owners Who Don’t Live in the Home
Some people own homes but don’t live in them, they might rent them out or leave them empty. Use tools like PropStream to find these owners. You can send them a letter about how home prices are going up or how you can help if they’re tired of dealing with renters. This could be the push they need to make a sale.
61. Help Owners Facing Tough Times
Look for signs that homeowners might be struggling, like public notices of foreclosure or unpaid taxes. Approach them with care and offer real help, such as a quick sale, selling to an investor, or saving their equity. Being kind and helpful in challenging times builds trust and shows you’re not just trying to make a sale.
62. Choose a Real Estate Niche
Focusing on a specialized area, such as luxury homes, eco-friendly houses, or helping seniors downsize makes it easier for people to remember and trust you. Ensure your website and social media platforms align with your specialty so people know exactly what you offer.
63. Build Strong Connections with Legal and Financial Experts
Lawyers and financial advisors often recognize when someone may need to buy or sell a home soon, such as during a divorce or when handling an estate. Stay in touch with these professionals by providing them with functional materials, such as market updates or home value letters. That way, they think of you when their clients need help.
64. Look Into Commercial Real Estate Leads
If you’re ready to grow beyond homes, consider helping businesses. You can join groups like BOMA or receive specialized training, such as the CCIM certification. Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to identify companies that may need to relocate or find new office space.
65. Help People Who Are Relocating
Many people relocate for work or other reasons. Sign up with relocation companies like Cartus or Brookfield Global Relocation Services. Join referral groups, such as Facebook’s “Relocation Referrals,” and team up with moving companies. You can also run Google Ads with phrases like “moving to [Your City]?” Offering a free relocation guide or using ads in cities where people move from (like “Tired of Boston winters? Florida is calling.”) can help you get noticed.
Click here to read Part 1
Click here to read Part 3
