Real Estate CRM software helps agents, teams and brokerages manage their contacts to nurture leads, and get more referrals from their sphere. We looked at the most popular options and rising stars and decided to review Contactually, Top Producer, and REthink. These companies cover the range of options for Realtors in terms of pricing, features and integrations.
Best CRM For Relationship Building & Referrals: Contactually
Of all the real estate CRMs we tested, Contactually offered the best features for building and maintaining relationships to get more referrals. It has great lead segmenting, automated outreach, follow up reminders, the ability to create custom programs for different leads and segments, and a unique letter grade system that ranks your outreach efforts with each lead. Best of all Contactually is not only easy to use, but somehow manages to make keeping in touch with your leads fun.
Contactually vs. Top Producer vs. REthink
| www.Contactually.com | www.TopProducer.com | www.REthink.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Agents focused on relationship & referral building. | Agents looking for a well rounded CRM with MLS integration. | Agents or teams and brokerages looking for advanced MLS integration. |
| Starting Price (per user, per month) Learn More | $39 per agent per month (billed annually) No agent minimum | $40 per per agent per month (billed annually) No agent minimum Free onboarding | $79 per agent per month (billed annually) 4 agent minimum + One time onboarding fee starting at ~$2500 |
| Ease of Use & Set Up Learn More | Very Easy | Moderate | Easy |
| Unique Features Learn More | Integrates with calendar to log appointments and with smartphone to automatically log calls and texts. Content library Pulls in social media info for leads | Collect leads from over 100 lead sources | Advanced MLS integration - Automatically selects properties for leads Commercial real estate CRM Salesforce App Exchange |
| Number of Lead Sources w/ Direct Integration Learn More | Top dozen lead providers (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.) | Over 100 (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.) | Top lead providers (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.) |
| MLS Integration Learn More | Not Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Version Learn More | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Service & Onboarding Learn More | Phone and chat M-F 8am-6pm EST Email 24/7 Free Onboarding with some plans | Phone and email M-F 9am-8pm EST Email only Sa-Su 10am-6:30pm EST Free onboarding | Phone and email 9am-5pm CT One time onboarding fee starting ~$2500 |
Contactually
Top Producer
REthink CRMBest CRM for Relationship Building & Referrals: Contactually
If you’re a realtor who already has a way that you like to search the MLS and send properties to clients, Contactually should be at the top of your list. Contactually is a true relationship manager and somehow manages to make the process of staying in touch with clients fun. Here’s how they pull it off.
Organize Your Leads with Buckets
When you first fire up Contactually, there are (friendly, easy to understand) prompts to help guide you in setting up the system and organizing your leads. Contactually’s lead organization system is called buckets. You create different buckets with different rules and put each lead in the appropriate bucket. From there you can create intricate rules for how and when you follow up with the leads in each bucket. Even better, you can create rules to change when a lead takes a specific action.
For example, you might create a bucket for Zillow leads, a bucket for current clients, and a bucket for former clients who are likely to give you a referral. You can set up rules (called programs) to determine the frequency and way you need to follow up with leads in each bucket. You may want to call current clients once a week, put Zillow leads on a drip campaign, and only reach out to former clients on holidays. Every day you log into Contactually, they remind you of who you should reach out to that day and how you should reach out to them.
Easy Automated Outreach with Programs
In Contactually, automated actions are called programs. You can set up programs to automatically send drip emails after a certain period of time, send reminders, tasks, or even follow someone on social media. Once saved, you can pick and choose which lead or bucket of leads gets put on which program and when. You can also easily change the program certain leads are on if you feel like you’re not getting the results you want.
Since Contactually can monitor your emails and even texts/phone calls on Android, you can create programs that automatically change when you reach out to a client.
Letter Grades for Outreach Efforts
Being reminded of who you need to reach out to every day is great, but Contactually takes it a step further. By assessing your outreach efforts, Contactually assigns you a letter grade to show just how well you’re doing with nurturing your relationships. They call this your RPA, or Relationship Point Average. Most people logging in every day and seeing a B- will want to work harder to bring their RPA up to an A. A small feature, but very helpful to keep you motivated and on task.
Contactually Makes Keeping in Touch with Leads Fun
Let’s face it, reaching out to former clients can be a chore when you have a million other tasks to finish yesterday. Here is where Contactually really shines. They actually make keeping in touch with leads, former clients, and your sphere fun. It almost feels like a video game sometimes…
In fact, there actually IS a video game built into Contactually. Since they realized that data entry is about as fun as root canal, they designed a quick little game to help you organize and bucket contacts quickly and easily. Very thoughtful, and little touches like this make Contactually a joy to use. Here’s a GIF of “The Bucket Game” in action:
Disadvantages
The only real disadvantage to choosing Contactually over Top Producer or REthink is the lack of MLS integration. This makes it harder to keep track of what homes your leads are interested in as well as any changes in the status of those homes. Instead of being able to review this data and search for and send listings directly from your CRM, you would need to log in to your MLS. Not the end of the world, but it would be cool if say, you could search your MLS from Contactually to send custom listing updates to your contacts in a specific bucket.
Best Real Estate CRM for Integrations: Top Producer
Founded in 1993, Top Producer has been the go-to CRM for the real estate industry for more than two decades now. They offer a lot of functionality for the price and if you don’t mind a dated interface and slightly steep learning curve, Top Producer is a great option.
MLS Integration
A good real estate CRM should help you organize, track, and follow up with leads. In order to get this done properly, you ideally want to keep track of what homes your leads are interested in, as well as any changes in the status of those homes. Imagine trying to follow up with a lead from 6 months ago. Wouldn’t you want to know the status of the property they contacted you about without switching over to your MLS? Or, if you’re reaching out to an active client, wouldn’t you want to search for and send properties right from your CRM?
This is why MLS integration is so important for a real estate CRM. Since Top Producer directly integrates with over 500 MLS databases throughout the country, the vast majority of agents will be able to add MLS data to their CRM with Top Producer. Best of all, since it has a direct integration, MLS data updates either every 15 minutes or as quickly as your local MLS updates.
Direct Integration with More Lead Sources
Since real estate CRMs are all about streamlining your workflow and eliminating mundane tasks, direct integration with lead sources is a huge help. Instead of manually adding lead information, a direct integration automatically pulls the lead data into your CRM. Typing information from lead sources into your CRM is pretty high on most realtors’ lists of annoying mundane tasks. Top Producer integrates with more lead sources than any other real estate CRM we know of.
Disadvantages
The only problem we found with Top Producer is one users have been griping about online for a long time now: the interface. While the functionality is there, the interface looks and feels VERY dated. Though we found the layout to be fairly intuitive, many users complained that the learning curve was steeper than they would have liked. If you absolutely need a sleek, minimal, Apple style interface, Top Producer is not the CRM for you.
Best CRM for Teams and Boutique Brokerages: REthink
REthink wants to be your everything. For some teams and boutique brokerages without sophisticated ways to access the MLS, REthink just might be the perfect solution. Their MLS integration is so powerful you can pretty much use REthink as an ad-hoc listings database in addition to a CRM.
With REthink, you can easily generate listings pages to send to buyers via email and include detail like nearby amenities. Their “match” tool automatically finds and updates listings that fit customer preferences (e.g. price, number of bedrooms) based on what you have saved in the CRM. You can also generate plotted buyer tour maps and sign up for alerts when new listings appear that match certain criteria.
Some realtors at bigger tech savvy brokerages might yawn at these features, but for cash- strapped startups and small boutique firms, REthink could be the answer to their prayers. Brokerages that manage a large number of rentals will particularly like using REthink.
In addition to its advanced MLS features, REthink also allows agents to categorize contacts, send automated emails, and set follow up reminders.
Disadvantages
The only real disadvantage of REthink is the price. While a system that can be used as a listing database, CRM, and even for basic transaction management is pretty amazing, $79 per month per agent is a steep price to pay. On top of that, you need to have three other agents to purchase the software with you, bringing your total monthly bill to $316, as well as spend upwards of $2500 on onboarding fees.
In-Depth Comparison: Top Producer vs. Contactually vs. REthink
Pricing
While pricing for CRMs can run the gamut all the way from free (Zillow Premier Agent App or Hubspot) to $100 or more for custom builds, generally speaking, a good real estate specific CRM should cost around $30-$80 per agent per month. Keep in mind that these prices are generally for one year contracts paid in full. Expect to pay a bit more for month-month plans.
Contactually
| Basic | $39 per month ($45/mo billed monthly) |
| Profesional | $59 per month ($69/mo billed monthly) |
| Accelerator | $99 per month ($119 billed monthly) |
| Enterprise | $199 per month ($229/mo billed monthly) |
| Keller Williams Sphere Accelerator | $99 per month (KW agents only) |
| RE/MAX Referral Accelerator | $99 per month (RE/MAX agents only) |
Contactually offers a three tiered pricing plan that’s available on a month-to-month or annual basis. Their basic plan offers the ability to connect unlimited email accounts, follow up reminders, bulk messaging (up to 50 per day), and app integrations for $39 per agent billed annually, or $45 per agent billed monthly.
Professional and Enterprise Options
They also offer a professional package which offers everything the basic package does but adds on pre written email templates, team contact sharing, programs for scheduled workflows, pipelines for sales tracking, API access, and lead routing and team management. This costs $59 per agent per month billed annually, or $69 per agent per month billed monthly.
They also offer an Accelerator Plan for $99 per month billed annually or $125 per month billed monthly. The Accelerator plan offers all Professional features but adds advanced permissions, custom integrations, audit logging, more pre written content and programs, and a complimentary coaching session.
Top Producer
| Top Producer Only | $40 per month (annual contract) |
| Top Producer + Market Snapshot | $70 per month (annual contract) |
| Top Producer + market Snapshot +FiveStreet | $96 per month (annual contract) |
Top Producer had the most reasonable and upfront pricing of the four real estate CRMs we tested. They charge a simple and very reasonable $40 per month for their software. Unlike REthink, individual agents are free to purchase and use Top Producer, and you can pay by the month. Very friendly pricing for commitment-phobic newer agents.
A La Carte Upgrades
Since Top Producer is owned by NAR affiliated Move Inc, they also offer a whole suite of upgrades that you can buy to improve the functionality of Top Producer. For example, you can buy Market Snapshot, which offers incredible ready made market reports that you can use to nurture your leads. They also offer mobile responsive IDX websites, lead routing via Fivestreet, and transaction management with Reesio.
REthink
| Team and Office (10 or more users) | $79 per user, per month+ Onboarding fee |
| Enterprise | Varies |
Though REthink offers some pretty incredible features, the pricing may put it out of reach for newer agents, especially those who aren’t on teams. REthink not only charges a relatively eye watering $79 per month per agent, but they also require a minimum of four users which comes in at $316 per month. It’s also not available on a month-to-month plan. You need to pay the entire year up front. This is a huge commitment for newer agents who may not have even found their stride yet, but might work for brokerages looking for a listing database, CRM, and basic transaction management features.
Even more concerning for newer agents, let’s say you’re not on a team but manage to pull together three agents to join you in the purchase. What happens when one of you switches brokerages or decides to leave the industry? The logistical problems here make a great product pretty much unobtainable for the majority of newer agents.
Onboarding Fee
Another knock for REthink’s pricing is that they charge new customers an onboarding fee that starts around $2500 to help them get started with the software.
When I think of “onboarding fees” it makes me think two things. First, that the company is actively discouraging individual users and very small teams from becoming customers. Second, it makes me think that setting up their software is going to be a challenge for most non techie agents.
Ease of Use/Setup
Let’s face it. Realtors are generally not tech savvy people. Most of us are far better at creative tasks than navigating complicated software. This is why software for realtors, especially software that’s designed to be used everyday, such as CRM software, needs to be easy to use. Here’s how the three real estate CRM’s measured up in terms of ease of use and setup.
Key Features
In general, a good real estate CRM should help you complete the following tasks:
- Stay top of mind with your contacts
- Organize your contacts into buyers, sellers, etc
- Assign different actions to different contacts
- Send automatic emails and follow up reminders
- Track your outreach efforts with your contacts via email, phone etc
- Help keep track of which properties your contacts are interested in
A lot of real estate CRMS also integrate with lead sources, such as Zillow and Realtor.com. Direct lead integration means that client contact information, properties your clients are interested in, and other information is automatically sent to your CRM and added to your contact’s profile.
Number of Lead Sources with Direct Integration
Direct integration with lead sources is a great time saver for realtors. Instead of manually typing in contact information, a direct integration allows you to pull in all relevant details directly into your CRM. Here’s how the companies stacked up.
MLS Integration
MLS integration allows agents to associate their contacts with properties for sale. In more sophisticated integrations, you can search for properties, or even have the software recommend them based on criteria your contact has. Here’s how the three companies stacked up for MLS integration.
Mobile Version
Since so many realtors are on the go seemingly most of the time, a solid mobile option is essential for a great real estate CRM. Here’s how the three companies’ mobile options work.
Customer Service/Onboarding
If you get hung up with setting up the CRM or how to use it, these companies have various support options to get you going.
All Real Estate CRM Options
Here are some more options that you may want to consider when choosing a real estate CRM.
| Real estate CRM | Best For: | Quick Description |
|---|---|---|
| Contactually | Realtors who want a fun, easy-to-use relationship manager. | Contactually offers complex contact organization, automated follow up, and a unique letter grade system to let you know how well you’re doing keeping up with your contacts. |
| Top Producer | Realtors who want a great value CRM that offers MLS integration | Top Producer offers automatic emails, follow up reminders, and has MLS integration. |
| REthink CRM | Small brokerages who want sophisticated MLS integration. | REthink offers sophisticated MLS integration, contact management, automated emails, and basic transaction management features. |
| Insightly | Realtors who just need a simple, affordable CRM. | Excellent and affordable ($12 per month) basic all purpose CRM |
| PropertyBase | Brokerages that want an advanced CRM with sophisticated MLS integration. | Propertybase is a Salesforce-based real estate CRM that is very similar to REthink. Great MLS integration with listing matching. Also includes direct mail and financial management tools. |
| RealSpace | Agent, teams, brokerages, and property managers that want an all in one real estate CRM. | CRM, marketing, transactions, MLS, IDX feeds, real estate websites, property portal syndication, workflow automation and property management features. |
| Zoho | Realtors on a budget who need a bit more features than Insightly. | Zoho is another general use CRM that offers great features like lead follow up reminders and drip campaigns. |
| Zillow Premier Agent | Zillow Premier Agent members - Realtors on a budget | Along with your Zillow Premier agent account, Zillow offers a totally FREE basic CRM. |
| Boomtown ROI | Realtors looking for a turn key lead generation and CRM system. | Boomtown includes a “predictive” CRM that offers email templates, drip campaigns, and MLS integration. |
| WiseAgent | Bulk text messaging | WiseAgent offers drip campaigns, pre-written emails, bulk texting, automated responses, and team integrations. |
| Followup Boss | Realtors who want something simple and lightweight | Great CRM with action plans and social media lookup. |
| Ixact Contact | Realtors who want a lot of real estate specific features on a budget | Mobile friendly CRM that includes a free website. |
| Hubspot | Realtors who need a free CRM | Free basic CRM that works great for agents |
| RealtyJuggler | Realtors on a budget | Bare bones real estate CRM w/ drip emails, expense tracking and more for only $99 per year. |
Bottom Line
While no CRM is going to be perfect for everyone, there are enough options on the market today that we’re sure you’ll find something you love. We found Top Producer to offer great MLS integration for the price, but it had a very dated interface. REthink had excellent MLS integration, but was pricey and only available for groups. Contactually was amazing at relationship building, but lacked MLS integration.
For a deep dive into how agents are using our top pick real estate CRM Contactually to close more deals in 2017, check out our guide How Realtors Use Contactually to Close More Deals.
May
Thank you so much for helping me navigate the sea of CRM options out there with a more simple, to the point approach.
Great article!
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mabosmail
I think that what you published made a lot of sense. But, consider this, suppose you typed a
catchier post title? I ain’t suggesting your information is not solid,
however suppose you added something that grabbed
folk’s attention? I mean 3 Best Real Estate CRMs 2017 is
a little vanilla. You could look at Yahoo’s home page
and note how they create article headlines to get viewers
to click. You might add a video or a picture or two to grab
people interested about everything’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it could bring your blog a little livelier.
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Murrey Kehrlein
I am currently using realvolve and I love a lot of the features it has to offer. However, my only complaint is that they do not offer IDX but it’s only for your listings. No property searches for buyers like some of the products reviewed.
Any chance you could review Real Geeks & Commissions inc?
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Hey Murrey,
I’ve heard good things about Realvolve, but if we reviewed every CRM this article would be even longer… It’s 4,000 words already! That said, we do plan more in-depth reviews of other CRM platforms in the future. If you’re interested in Real Geeks, we reviewed them in a buyer’s guide on lead generation websites here. We also have a reviews page set up for Realvolve here if you’d like to leave a review.
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Loren
This article needs an update, ReThink CRM doesn’t even offer a residential product anymore…
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Hi Loren, we have an update currently in progress. Check back soon!
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Alonzo Luna
I have been researching CRM’s for the last 45 days. I signed up for free trials on the 3 I found to have the most features I was looking for…Wise agent, Liondesk and Ixact contact (all in the $27-35 monthly range). While all 3 had great features and user friendly interface I found Ixact to have the most features for the price ($33month). It’s a comprehensive CRM, but also includes automated lead importing, drip campaigns, mass emailing, 2,500 per month included, monthly newsletter, email marketing templates, mobile app, included basic agent website with optional idx ($33 extra monthly) and more I can’t remember. The only thing missing was a texting feature, the system sends new lead texts alerts but you can’t text clients from the program. Otherwise, for me its hands down the best value for what I needed.
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Hey Alanzo,
Great info here! We need to do an article ranking these three as well. Stay tuned. Coming in the next few weeks.
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Jmyers
Using a CRM is a great addition to your business. I currently use Podio and it has helped me keep everything nice and organized.
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Hi there,
I always thought that Podio was more of a project management tool? In any case, the best CRM is the one that you use consistently. Good luck.
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