Real Estate
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February 1, 2023
Freedom Trail Realty School Review 2023: Pricing & Features
Freedom Trail Realty School is an online real estate school located in Boston, Massachusetts, providing prelicensing, broker licensing, state reciprocity, and continuing education courses. It offers livestream and on-demand classes in various packages that include access to materials and exam preparation questions.
Freedom Trail Realty reviews show that students are happy with the quality and convenience of its education. It’s best for students who live in the New England region and want to complete their education quickly.
Freedom Trail Realty School Reviews: What Users Think
reviews were limited because it’s only available to a few New England states. Students thought the classes were easy to follow, and the materials helped them pass the exam on the first try. Some Freedom Trail Real Estate reviews mentioned students were able to complete the course in two weeks and get their licenses within a month. Students also liked working at their own pace and having access to the instructors via livestream classes.
Indeed: 4.8 out of 5 based on 18 reviews
Google Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 based on 97 reviews
Yelp: 4.5 out of 5 based on 26 reviews
Most Freedom Trail Realty School reviews were positive, but one student said he felt the livestream course was too long, not engaging, and the instructors spent too much time answering questions in the chat. A few students reported that the classes were boring for them. Students who prefer self-study courses instead of livestream classes should consider .
Would Our Expert Use Freedom Trail Realty School?
Our favorite feature of is the depth of experience of the instructors. We like that the salesperson licensing course offered by the school can be split into both livestream and on-demand videos and can be completed within a month. This allows flexibility to complete the course and meets the Massachusetts requirement for classroom-based learning.
However, available continuing education (CE) classes are limited and only available for MA licensees. For a greater variety of continuing education classes available in nearly every state, we’d choose , which offers both CE packages and a wider variety of individual CE classes.
Types of Education Available at Freedom Trail Realty School
offers quality real estate education to new students who want to obtain a Massachusetts or New Hampshire real estate salesperson license. In addition, it offers brokers prelicensing and continuing education in MA. It also provides reciprocity classes in NH, MA, RI, and CT.
Prelicensing
includes 24/7 access to on-demand courses that can be combined with livestream classes. E-books are included with each package. The livestream classes are available on days, nights, and weekends to accommodate busy schedules. Combining livestream with on-demand classes gives students maximum flexibility and meets the MA state requirement for 20 hours of in-person class time.
The Base package is suitable for students with real estate experience and can work independently. Students who prefer taking the total 40 hours in a live classroom format should look at the Ridgeline package. The Peak package is best for students who are brand-new to real estate and want access to all of the available course features. The Summit package is suited to students who want private tutoring and extra test prep.
*Available in MA only
All prelicensing options are self-paced and can be completed on any device. Depending on the plan purchased, students are capped at the number of livestreaming hours they can take. Prelicensing options vary for MA and NH. There are only three prelicensing packages for RI and NH, and with fewer features for reciprocity and prelicensing.
The reciprocal classes for CT are similar to the MA prelicensing packages. MA and NH reciprocity is a non-credit course for students who are licensed in another state and want to understand the process of getting a MA salesperson license.
Freedom Trail Realty School Alternatives
Freedom Trail Realty School focuses exclusively on MA, NH, RI, and CT prelicensing and reciprocity. For students needing courses outside of that area, many alternative real estate schools cover more states.
Freedom Trail Realty School Pricing & Plans
pricing varies by package and type of licensing. Classes include livestream and on-demand format in every package. Continuing education for MA licensees can be purchased as a package or as individual classes. The package is much less expensive than buying individual classes, but if a student only needs filler classes to complement classes they’ve already taken, individual classes are inexpensive.
*Features only available in some packages and for some states
General Freedom Trail Realty School Features
is the first real estate school to create an online licensing course in Massachusetts. The features offer students flexibility and the option to either take the full course in livestream classes or combine half on-demand and half live online.
Freedom Trail Realty School key features include the following:
These options give students the flexibility to tailor their education with either livestream classes or a combination of livestream and on-demand classes. Both options are tracked directly on the platform dashboard so students can keep apprised of their progress. The Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee allows students to retake the course if they don’t pass the exam.
Most students pass their exams on the first try because of the education from professional and experienced real estate instructors. When they’ve passed their exam, they have access to a real estate job board to explore careers available to licensees.
Ease of Use
reviews showed that the platform is easy to use. Students purchase a package or CE classes and get instant access to their course information. The dashboard has a progress bar so they know how close they are to completion. Course materials are also easy to view online. Every livestream class session students attend is recorded and accessible on their accounts if they want to review the information before an exam.
Bottom Line
reviews show that its livestream and on-demand classes are a good option for students who want a MA or NH real estate salesperson’s license. It’s also an excellent choice for RI and CT licensed students who want a reciprocal MA license. With day, evening, and weekend livestream classes, combined with on-demand classes, students can finish their course quickly. Freedom Trail Realty School has everything NH and MA prospective licensees need to ace their exams.
January 31, 2023
12 Free Open House Sign-in Sheet Templates (+ Tips)
Collecting contact information from attendees of an open house is essential for real estate agents to promote and sell their current listing and build their client base. An open house sign-in sheet lets you passively capture each visitor’s information so you can spend more time and effort hosting. Sign-in sheets differ by the type of information you gather, ranging from basic contact information to mailing addresses to detailed questionnaires.
Download our open house sign-in sheet templates below. Customize the templates as needed to match your branding and choose the specific information you’d like to gather from your leads.
Digital sign-in sheets are also an efficient option for collecting open house leads as an alternative to physical sheets. Digital forms allow agents to collect additional data points that may be too tedious to handwrite. makes it easy to launch digital forms on a tablet or mobile device. As contact information is collected, the information can be integrated with a client relationship manager (CRM) for easy follow-up.
Here are the four types of open house sign-in sheets and templates you can use at your next open house:
1. Basic Information Open House Sign-in Sheet
Basic sign-in sheets for open houses should be titled with the address of the property along with “Sign-in Sheet'' so open house visitors can easily find and complete the form. Include the date for your own reference, especially if you are conducting multiple open houses at the same address. Most importantly, ask for essential contact information like the attendee’s name, phone number, and email address.
While this information will not give you deeper insight into the buyer or seller, it will provide you with all you’ll need to contact them in the future. Also, asking for simple contact information on a real estate sign-in sheet allows visitors to fill out the form quickly. A form that is too long and asks for too much may discourage them from leaving such contact information.
This type of realtor open house sign-in sheet is best when you expect a high number of visitors. A short, simple sign-in sheet won’t create a line at the sign-in table and will help with the flow of the open house tour. This allows real estate agents to maximize their real estate lead generation efforts.
Basic signs are great for agents who have pre-existing workflows in their CRM focusing on email marketing, phone, and SMS follow-ups. Instead of asking for phone numbers on your sign-in sheet, try asking for mobile numbers. CRMs like have integrations that allow for SMS texting through Textline. It also offers user-friendly marketing automation tools with list segmentation, marketing analytics, and premade professional templates.
Additional available templates for you to use to gather basic information from your open house visitors:
2. Physical Address Sign-in Sheet
The sign-in sheet collecting physical address information is similar to the basic sign-in sheet for open houses but has space to input a visitor’s mailing address. Remember that some clients may not want to leave such personal information and will skip this section, but if they are willing to add it, it can be useful for your business.
This information helps determine the location they currently live in and the properties they might be interested in purchasing. It also informs agents whether they are current homeowners or are renting and ready to make their first home purchase.
With a physical mailing address, agents can conduct real estate farming. Real estate farming, through direct mail, like postcards, flyers, and letters, can generate real estate leads and promote brand awareness. Platforms like allow agents to create digital mailer campaigns with premade templates that will be mailed out in chosen increments. Agents can upload their own designs if they choose or stop and start campaigns as they see fit. ProspectsPLUS! even offers Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) to send postcards along a mail route using the collected ZIP codes collected at the open houses.
More templates that will allow you to collect open house visitor mailing addresses:
3. Sign-in Sheet With Detailed Questionnaire
Open house templates with questionnaires contain the same information as the basic and physical address forms, but also ask visitors detailed questions about their home search. This can include questions about their prequalification status, agent representation, and properties they’re interested in, to name a few.
Other qualifying questions on an open house sign-in sheet may include the following:
How did you find out about the open house?
What real estate sites do you use to look for properties?
What is your budget?
What is your ideal property layout and location?
How long have they been a homeowner?
Are you pre-approved for a loan?
What is your preferred method of contact?
Any property feedback?
Agents can use this information to focus their immediate efforts on the most motivated buyers. Also, adding additional screening questions to your open house sign-ins lets you get more insight into your visitor, allowing you to tailor your marketing strategy to their needs. It will also assist in segmenting your email follow-ups based on the questions asked. For example, if you have several first-time homebuyers, send them an informative packet regarding the sales process. Or if some visitors were soon-to-be sellers researching the competition, offer them a free, comparative market analysis.
Since these open house sign-in forms typically take extra time to fill out, be strategic when using them. Real estate agents typically don’t use open-ended questions and opt for multiple-choice responses instead. This will ensure you won’t only get detailed responses but also visitors through the sign-in to focus on the open house.
More downloadable open house templates collecting detailed information:
4. Digital Sign-in Sheet
A digital sign-in sheet for an open house is listed as one of our top open house ideas. It offers a lot of benefits that paper sign-in sheets do not. Mainly, it can integrate with your CRM, so you don't have to manually add contacts after open house events. Additionally, you don't have to decipher handwriting, so you’re likely to get the most accurate contact information.
Digital open house sign-in sheets are easily customizable for each event, but it’s still best to have a standard template with questions for basic visitor information and add to it as needed for each property. With the added technology, digital open house sign-in sheets also have the ability to mark question fields as required or optional. This way, you can ask more questions without it feeling too overwhelming for those who don't want to list specific information and can skip to the next question. Digital sign-in sheets are also completed faster than manual sign-in sheets. Use this added time with prospective leads to connect and make a good impression.
Any open house event can use a digital sign-in sheet. Consider your demographic before using the digital sheets. Less tech-savvy visitors may have difficulties with the QR code or using the tablet provided, which means you will collect fewer leads in the long run. However, if your listing is modern and considered a smart home, you should match the tech-forward environment.
Software platforms like offer powerful digital marketing tools for real estate agents. Its free sign-in sheet for an open house can be converted into a touchless sign-in sheet through a quick response (QR) code. Thus, open house visitors can use their own mobile phones to fill out the form. Agents can use the platform for marketing their listing with individual listing websites and branded social media content.
How to Convert Open House Leads Into Clients
Collecting prospective client information at open houses is half the battle—now you must convert leads into opportunities. This data should be used to not only sell the listing they visited but also as opportunities for you to represent buyer clients and obtain new listings. With the contact information at hand, you’ll have different tactics to connect and approach prospective clients after the event.
Here are four proven ways to convert open house leads into clients:
Bottom Line
Creating the right sign-in sheet for an open house is only part of what makes it a successful real estate event. Not only will the open house sign-in sheets help with marketing the available listing, but there are many additional benefits to collecting attendee information, like increasing your contact lists, nurturing future opportunities, and gaining insights into your efforts.
January 31, 2023
AHIT Review 2023: Pricing, Features & Pros & Cons
American Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) offers comprehensive home inspection courses taught by skilled industry professionals, with courses ranging from $15 to $3,195. AHIT students are given unlimited instructor support, real-world examples, and insights to help them succeed in this career path as they learn how to establish and market their businesses. Our AHIT review found it is best for aspiring home inspectors thanks to its comprehensive in-person and online self-guided courses.
AHIT Reviews: What Users Think
Based on online reviews, students said it is a great and easy-to-follow program. Aside from these, students shared that AHIT home inspection courses are an excellent career preparation that will give you everything you need. They also praised the instructors for their engaging classes and teaching styles.
Facebook: 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 117 American Home Inspectors Training reviews
Indeed: 5 out 5 based on 5 AHIT reviews
The only complaint students had about AHIT classes was the cost. For more affordable home inspector training courses, consider the , which offers prelicensing courses for around $200 less than most other home inspector training providers.
Would Our Expert Use AHIT?
Based on our review, it is ideal for aspiring and experienced home inspectors seeking schedule flexibility through online and in-person learning formats. Our favorite AHIT feature is it provides extensive student resources like National Home Inspector Exam prep books, training to properly market your business and services, instructor support, and a home inspector reference guide.
We also love that AHIT provides extensive instructor support. Whether you're taking in-person or live classes or online self-paced courses, if you need help understanding the material or have questions about your career path, highly experienced instructors are available for advice.
However, AHIT's cost for its prelicensing courses is not ideal for students on a tight budget. It will refund the purchase price of any course if the refund request is submitted within 30 days of purchase, prior to course expiration, and the course is not more than 50% completed. Try for its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Types of Education Available at AHIT
provides aspiring and experienced home inspectors with various AHIT training and home inspection course offerings at all stages of their careers. It is the home inspector’s one-stop shop for beginners and those who are growing their team and keeping their licenses active.
Prelicensing
offers prelicensing courses to those seeking their home inspector license for the first time. Its prelicensing courses can be purchased online, and self-paced classes are accessible via any device—accommodating each student’s unique schedule and needs. The entire home inspection process is discussed in detail using instructor videos and GoPro footage of actual inspections. It includes e-books, a 12-month course subscription, and Home Inspector Pro software.
Furthermore, live and in-person learning formats are available for students who want firsthand experience and training in home systems, such as electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and plumbing. Industry experts will walk you through the steps of conducting professional home inspections and producing exceptional reports that stand out.
AHIT offers 15 bonus classes, including 16 hours of business marketing, 12 hours of advanced technical skills, and 14 hours of add-on inspection services.
If you’re looking for additional education, such as continuing education, exam prep, commercial building inspector training, or professional development, AHIT can be an option for you to launch a successful career. Page through the tabs below to see if AHIT offers the required education in your state.
AHIT Alternatives
If you would like to compare home inspection reviews to other home inspector training schools, here are a few alternatives that provide high-quality home inspection education nationwide:
Not what you’re looking for? Head to the best accredited real estate schools for online learners to find options that cater to your requirements.
AHIT Pricing & Plans
offers prelicensing, continuing education, professional development, commercial building inspection, and exam prep courses starting at $9. All courses include online self-paced and on-demand learning on all devices and a downloadable e-book to help you along the way.
In addition, real-life inspection scenarios, narration, and interactivity are provided in all courses to help increase student comprehension. On the other hand, the deluxe and premium plans include unlimited practice exams that provide hints and feedback—helping you feel confident before taking your exam.
General AHIT Features
students have unlimited access to instructors and industry experts to help with their academic difficulties and questions. Students can access exam preparation materials, free webinars, and extra tutorials, including online exercises, practice questions, and exams to help them grasp and retain the lessons.
Additionally, AHIT provides aspiring home inspectors with business booster training. For those students who prefer to observe actual home inspections firsthand, live and in-person courses are also an option. GoPro videos are made available by AHIT to online course students as an addition to their text-based resources.
Ease of Use for AHIT
Enrolling in and completing an course is simple and convenient. When enrolling in a course, you must select a program in your state and a package, and then proceed to checkout and pay using your preferred payment method.
Additionally, the course materials are organized well on the AHIT website, making it easy for students to find their way through their courses. Once you log in to your account dashboard, you can quickly access your course materials. The website instantly scores your practice examinations with in-depth answer explanations to help you better comprehend the lectures.
Bottom Line
makes it easy to obtain your home inspector license in your state. American Home Inspectors Training online reviews show that the school's hybrid training enables students to mix self-paced and in-person learning, keeps students engaged, and allows for the opportunity to have live interaction with instructors. The add-ons give students control over their learning needs. Additionally, the supplemental tutorials and GoPro videos of actual inspections boost each student's confidence in passing the final state exam.
January 27, 2023
California Real Estate License Renewal in 5 Steps
Real estate agents and brokers in California are required to renew their license every four years. Renewal requirements include 45 hours of approved continuing education (CE) courses, passing an exam to verify course completion, and submitting an application with the correct license renewal fee. Follow our five-step guide to complete your California real estate license renewal efficiently.
1. Determine Coursework Requirements
Learning how to renew your real estate license in California is somewhat unique compared to some other states because first-time renewals have different coursework requirements than subsequent renewals. For example, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) requires you to complete 45 hours of coursework to renew your real estate license in California for the first renewal, but subsequent renewals only require 35 hours of CE.
In addition, real estate license renewal requirements in California also specify that 41 of the required 45 hours for first-time renewal are spent covering mandatory topics. However, for subsequent renewals, only 26 of the 35 required hours must include mandatory topics. These mandatory classes are required so that agents are aware of changes to laws and regulations and cover everything from ethics to risk management and consumer protection.
These are the details of the real estate license renewal requirements in California:
2. Choose a Real Estate School
To complete your California real estate license renewal, you’ll need to take CE courses from an approved education provider. There are many different real estate schools and course formats to choose from, including in-person, self-paced online, livestreamed, and on-demand video. Choosing a real estate school that fits your learning style and schedule helps you stay engaged, pass your exam, and enhance your real estate career.
A few of the best online real estate schools in California include the following:
3. Take Continuing Education Courses & Pass Tests
Once you know what courses you need for your California realtor license renewal and decide on a school, sign up for your classes online. Depending on which real estate school you select, you’ll have a certain period of time to complete your coursework, usually ranging from six months to one year. With the right planning, this should be sufficient to complete the course requirements for either first-time or second-time license renewal.
Keep in mind that all online real estate license renewal courses end with a final exam, similar to the process of becoming a real estate agent. Final exams are proctored with a unique time limit; each one offers only one minute per question. If your final test has 30 questions, for example, the allotted time for the test will be 30 minutes. If you fail the test, then you are allowed to retake it one time. If you fail the exam to renew your real estate license in California a second time, you will be required to take the course a second time.
4. Gather & Submit Necessary Forms
After passing the test from your education provider, you’re almost ready to submit your license renewal application to the DRE. You will need to gather and complete all of the appropriate forms and fees and submit them through the eLicensing system.
These are the requirements when renewing your real estate license in California:
California real estate license renewal fee: The salesperson renewal fee is $245, and the broker fee is $300.
Application form: This form can be completed online and asks questions about your residency, real estate activity, felony convictions, and purpose for the license. Make sure to complete the correct application, either the Salesperson Renewal Application or Broker Renewal Application.
Continuing Education Course Verification: On this form, you’ll add your CE certificate numbers to verify the completion of the required coursework.
If you miss the deadline, there is no California real estate license renewal grace period. Your license will immediately expire, and you will be unable to participate in real estate transactions. However, the California real estate license renewal process after expiration doesn’t change. You can renew your license anytime by completing your CE requirements and submitting the correct paperwork. However, the fee for renewing an expired real estate license in California increases to $367 for sales agents and $450 for brokers.
After submitting the necessary forms and fees, you will have to wait up to six weeks to receive application acceptance and a new license. You can, however, see the current processing times for renewal applications on the website or check the status of your real estate license renewal application.
5. Keep Track of License Renewal Dates
California real estate licenses are active for four years, and the expiration date is listed on your license. As a courtesy, the state of California will send you a letter or email 60 days before your next renewal date. However, it isn’t wise to rely on these notices. Instead, track your renewal dates and plan for your coursework ahead of time.
Allowing yourself extra time can keep you from paying extra fees, filing more paperwork, and interrupting your real estate transactions if your real estate license expires in California. In fact, you can submit your California license renewal fees and coursework up to 90 days before your license expiration date.
Bottom Line
Learning how to renew your real estate license in California is relatively simple. You must complete 45 hours of CE coursework, with required courses for first-time license renewals. Then you must pass the final exam from your education provider and submit the correct paperwork and fees to the DRE eLicensing system. Planning ahead and choosing the right real estate school will help you renew your California real estate license without any unnecessary stress.
January 26, 2023
24 Best Curb Appeal Ideas to Increase the Sale Price
Curb appeal refers to the first impression a house makes when viewed from the street. Increasing a property’s curb appeal attracts more homebuyers and interest, with studies showing that curb appeal can add 7% to a home’s sale price. Many of the best curb appeal tips are simple and affordable, like landscaping and adding decor. We’ve gathered some of the best ideas to help you and your listing clients make strategic improvements to increase the value of each property you are trying to sell.
Once you improve the curb appeal of your properties, show off the property's exterior in your marketing strategies. Make a property landing page using to gain exposure for the listing. With Placester, you can create and customize beautiful websites and landing pages easily with its real estate templates, customization options, and marketplace of professional services. Plus, you can try it free for 30 days.
Here are 24 of the best curb appeal ideas, divided into categories like landscaping, feature updates, decor, and lighting:
Landscaping Ideas That Add Curb Appeal
Landscaping doesn’t have to be extremely difficult, expensive, or over the top to make a big difference. A house with curb appeal, thanks to its clean and updated landscaping, will make a huge impact, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, agents who are successful in real estate know when it comes to landscaping, less is often more.
1. Add Edging to the Flower Beds
Edging is one of the best curb appeal ideas because it is straightforward and effective. Adding edging defines spaces and makes your flower beds and shrubs look intentional and complete. It also makes lawn maintenance easier, which can be appealing to prospective homebuyers. Plus, edging can be as simple, unique, or creative as you want it to be. Purchase rubber or brick edging from any nursery, a local hardware store, or .
2. Clean Up All Landscaping
Having established landscaping is a great home feature, but homeowners often fall behind on maintaining the landscaping by trimming bushes and shrubs. Where greenery has become overgrown and blocks the view of the home or impedes the approach, it’s time to get out the shears. Clean landscaping is incredibly important for increasing curb appeal, so make sure this step is an integral part of your real estate listing checklist.
3. Create a Path to the Front Door
Another simple yet essential curb appeal tip is to establish a path to the entry of the home from the road or driveway. This adds a more welcoming touch to the home and visually improves the first impression of any home. This path can be made of concrete, pavers, or brick. You can also line the path with trees, hedges, and flowers.
If your listing already has a pathway to the front door, consider how to create curb appeal by enhancing it. This could mean adding edging, river rocks, mulch, or simply lining it with potted plants or solar lights.
4. Add Fresh Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch comes in various colors and frames your home and planting areas, making the landscaping pop. Mulch can be purchased at most major home improvement stores year-round, like or , and keeps plants healthier longer and fungus and weeds in check. This makes it one of the best tools for an easy curb appeal update.
5. Update Flower Beds With River Rocks
If you or your listing clients want to try something different to increase the curb appeal for selling a house, consider updating flower beds with landscaping rocks instead of mulch. River rocks, lava rocks, and other stones give houses a modern look that can be customized with different colors and sizes. Plus, landscaping stones can prevent weeds, which is a big bonus for buyers who want low-maintenance landscaping, including homes in arid climates.
6. Incorporate Rainscaping
If you’re looking for unique curb appeal ideas to give your listing clients, rainscaping might be a perfect solution. Rainscaping is a modern landscaping trend that collects and directs water runoff, producing both environmental and economic benefits. By redirecting runoff using rocks, rain barrels, rain chains, and other elements, rainwater is prevented from puddling and from polluting drains. Instead, it’s saved and directed to flower beds, gardens, lawns, and other areas.
Curb Appeal Ideas to Update or Upgrade the Home’s Exterior
Some of the best curb appeal tips are relatively simple tasks most homeowners don’t think about or complete on a regular basis. By paying attention to home features that are easily forgotten by homeowners, you can suggest simple updates and upgrades that transform the house’s appearance from the street view.
7. Pressure Wash the Driveway
Driveways and sidewalks are designed to be low-maintenance, so they usually don’t get much attention from homeowners. However, driveways are usually clearly visible in listing photos and can even take up a significant part of the photos.
By pressure washing the driveway, pathway, deck, fence, and siding, the home will look brighter and fresher. It’s incredibly impactful for such a small cost, so power washing the home (or hiring someone to power wash exterior areas) could be something you suggest or even a service you provide as a seller’s agent.
If you plan to host open houses for your listings, keep in mind that guests will notice any home features related to parking. Make sure you develop an open house checklist and include cleaning the driveway or adding parking signs as needed.
8. Clean the Roof
Just like a driveway, a house’s roof is clearly visible in real estate photography and heavily impacts the way the house looks. While home inspectors will look closely at the functionality of a home’s roof, homebuyers who are forming a first impression of a house will primarily be thinking about its appearance. Cleaning the roof can improve the entire home’s exterior curb appeal and prevent deterioration. You may not even realize how much dirt is visible on the home’s roof until it has been cleaned.
If you’re a new real estate agent, one of the best tips for your career is to develop a list of trustworthy home professionals to recommend. Create relationships and partnerships with contractors, handymen and women, home painters, roofers, plumbers, electricians, and other home service professionals. This is a great way to build your network and build trust with your clients.
9. Bring New Life to an Old Fence
Fences are a great feature for any home, but they also require significant time and money to maintain. When you visit your listing for the first time, pay attention to the fence’s condition. If any repairs or maintenance work needs to be done, make sure to include this in your suggestions for listing clients. Specify whether the fence needs to be pressure washed, repaired, repainted, or restained. Make sure you clarify with the homeowner whether they want to hire a professional or make the improvements themselves.
10. Update the Front Door
When considering how to update the front of your house, painting the front door is arguably one of the most common curb appeal ideas discussed. The front door has a major impact on the way a house looks, and improvements are usually extremely easy to make.
For instance, a quick refresh with paint or even replacing the front door or the door’s hardware can instantly refresh the whole look of a home’s exterior. If you want to generate real estate leads who are tech-friendly, consider upgrading the hardware to include electronic entry and smart hardware.
11. Refresh the Garage Door
For homes with garages, make sure you evaluate the visual appeal of the garage doors. Garage doors take up a lot of visual space and undeniably play a big part in a buyer’s first impression of the home. Luckily, there are many ways to give a makeover to a garage door without spending much money. While there are cases when homeowners may need to replace them, most garage doors can be transformed with paint, a gel stain, or garage door cover panels.
12. Disguise Unsightly Trash Cans & Utility Boxes
All homes have essential items that just don’t look pretty―like trash cans, air conditioning (A/C) units, water meters, or electrical boxes. Instead of leaving these eyesores out in the open, there are various ways to disguise or hide them.
For example, many utility boxes can be painted to blend in with the house. On the other hand, trash cans can be hidden away using wood panels, lattice enclosures, and portable storage units. The homeowner could hire a local carpenter or handyman to build them or purchase them from Amazon or local hardware stores.
13. Repaint the Home’s Exterior
All houses experience environmental wear and tear that requires periodic maintenance. Over time, the color and condition of a house’s exterior will become faded or damaged, and a new coat of paint can bring it back to life. While painting a home’s exterior isn’t the most simple or easy way to increase curb appeal, it is arguably the most impactful.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Remodeling Impact Report shows that homeowners who painted their houses claimed it improved the functionality and livability of their homes by 52%. They also rated exterior siding as their favorite home improvement project. When it comes to curb appeal, impact equals increased return on investment (ROI).
14. Add Faux Brick or Stone Panels
Homes with stone exteriors are extremely popular. In fact, it is estimated that homes with stone veneer improve ROI by about 80%. If your listing doesn’t have brick or stone, consider installing panels to create visual appeal and increase the home’s value. Stone panels are ideal for covering cinder brick foundations or accenting existing siding.
15. Stencil a Concrete Porch
Concrete patios and porches aren’t necessarily an eyesore, but they don’t contribute to a home’s overall curb appeal. An extremely affordable way to change this is by painting a pattern on it with stencils. Stencils mimic the look of tile or brick and instantly add personality to the home. This is one of the most affordable curb appeal tips you can offer to homesellers, which can significantly increase buyers’ interest in the home.
16. Spruce Up Your Mailbox
Since mailboxes are placed closer to the road where people walk or drive, it is a notable feature of the home. If it’s damaged or dated, you have an opportunity to capture potential buyers’ attention by making some simple upgrades. Encourage the seller to get creative by adding stone and brick facades, brick platforms, and flowers to complement the rest of the home’s curb appeal updates. It’s a small-cost project that can make a big first impression on prospective buyers.
Exterior Home Decor Ideas to Improve Curb Appeal
Most people think that all curb appeal upgrades require labor-intensive maintenance or permanent changes to the home. However, you can enhance the attractiveness of any house by simply adding a few decor items, like planters or window boxes. Here are five of our best curb appeal tips for adding products to improve the house's look.
17. Install Window Boxes
Windows are a critical feature for curb appeal. If the windows look dated or plain, adding window boxes is a simple and affordable way to add depth to the home and incorporate a pop of color and design. Window boxes and installation hardware is available at most hardware stores, although many homeowners with just a few simple power tools could easily build their own. Fill them with colorful, flowering plants for the current season to maximize curb appeal to potential homebuyers.
18. Add a Decorative House Number
House numbers might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to curb appeal ideas, but it’s almost always something that buyers and visitors notice as they are looking for the home. House numbers help visitors identify the home, and decorative house number signs are an easy way to impress anyone who passes by.
There are many ways to make your house number pop without making a large dent in your budget. There are many beautiful DIY house number ideas online, or you can buy custom house number signs from artists on . This is another example of a low-cost value-add you could offer during your prelisting presentation as a benefit for homesellers who choose to work with you.
While you are marketing your listing, take extra care to make the property easily identifiable to visitors and potential buyers with at least one real estate sign. Buyers expect a sign in the yard of a house for sale, but making a custom sign for your properties brings a level of professionalism to the showing or open house to make the home feel more special. Plus, it’s easy to create custom designs and signs with . Simply upload your premade design, choose a VistaPrint template, or collaborate with a designer. See how VistaPrint can improve your real estate marketing today.
19. Hang Wind Chimes
The sound of wind chimes in a gentle breeze is calming to many people, appealing to the homebuyer’s senses through sound and sight. To keep the sound pleasant and relaxing, choose wind chimes that provide a softer rather than loud or clanging sound.
Placement is also important since homebuyers usually want to hear wind chimes when sitting outside but not necessarily when they wake up in the morning. Hang wind chimes a bit away from the home’s bedrooms, ideally in an outdoor seating or garden area.
20. Add a Doormat
Doormats instantly make a home feel cozy and welcoming. If the homeowners have had the same doormat out for some time, it probably looks worn and faded. Before prospective buyers come to the home, put down a new doormat to make it look fresh.
For a unique addition to your real estate listing marketing plan, order a customized doormat with your logo for open houses and showings. Small things like this show your clients and potential buyers how you think of every detail. Alternatively, you could gift your listing clients a new doormat while you sell their home or as a closing gift.
21. Enhance Curb Appeal With Large Planters
Even if the property already has established landscaping, adding large planters with colorful flowers will enhance the curb appeal. Place planters near the garage doors, front doors, and outdoor living spaces, or line the pathway to the front door.
If you pay attention, professional home staging almost always incorporates greenery to bring a sense of life and pops of color to every space. Choose large planters that complement the home’s aesthetic and watch the space come to life.
If you want to leverage the power of home staging to attract a higher number of potential buyers, try virtual staging. With , you can get virtually staged images back in 48 hours. It’s a cost-efficient and time-saving method of displaying the full potential of a seller’s home for less money than physically staging the home. Plus, in today’s virtual first world, it can result in more showings and bring in offers quickly.
Exterior Lighting Ideas
Fifty-six percent of Americans said that creating outdoor living spaces was their highest priority in 2022. This shows that the curb appeal updates you make will be evaluated by potential buyers and appreciated by future homeowners even more. In addition, outdoor lighting is the number one feature Americans want to add to their outdoor spaces. Therefore, by adding outdoor lighting to your real estate listing, you’ll appeal to a large percentage of homebuyers who may be actively looking for it.
22. Update Exterior Lighting & Accents
Almost all houses have a few exterior lights built into the house, but they may be dim or limited to certain areas of the home. Evaluate the exterior lighting and suggest upgrades like brighter lights, adding lights in other areas, or even smart lighting. Although smart lighting often requires a professional to wire new fixtures, it also increases the home's value.
23. Update Light Fixtures
If the house’s light fixtures are functional but dim or dated, changing the light fixtures can solve both problems in just a few hours. Light fixtures can be purchased online or at hardware stores, and although they range in price, bright and modern fixtures can start at just $40 or $50. Alternatively, existing light fixtures that work well can be easily refinished with spray paint.
24. Install Solar Accent Lights
Solar lights are likely the cheapest and fastest way to add exterior lighting. They are also eco-friendly, easily accessible at home improvement stores or local nurseries, and can be installed in minutes without touching a wire. Adding solar-powered stick-up lights, string lights, fence lights, and lanterns along pathways and near outdoor seating areas adds drama and decor. They also improve curb appeal, especially during evening hours, since they turn on automatically at dusk and generally have enough power to stay lit until or even after midnight.
Bottom Line
Improving the curb appeal of a seller’s listing—even in small ways—can have a massive impact on the number of prospective buyers who view your listing, tour the home, and make offers. Although improving a home’s curb appeal can require some work and financial investment, use the tips above and your expertise in the local real estate market to make strategic improvements to increase the ROI. Ultimately, using the right curb appeal ideas will help you generate more leads for your business and for the property.
January 25, 2023
7 Open House Follow-up Emails + Templates for Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents can check in with clients, respond to inquiries, gather feedback, and develop connections with leads by sending open house follow-up emails. Follow-up emails are necessary for open houses, listing presentations, initial meetings, and networking events. To save you time and effort, we developed various open house follow-up email examples to organize your communication with clients. Download the templates below and customize them as you send follow-up emails to open house attendees, hot leads, and prospective sellers.
To maximize efficiency and lead generation, automate follow-up using these real estate email templates with a client relationship manager (CRM) like . Spacio integrates with your CRM to update your database with the contact information of each guest. Send emails from your CRM or utilize the editable real estate email templates from Spacio to automatically connect with attendees who are interested in the home. You can also nurture leads not interested in this home but may be interested in working with you.
1. Initial Open House Follow-up Email Template
Target audience: All attendees of an open house, typically potential buyer clients
As the open house host, you are responsible for indulging in conversation to introduce the property, gauge interest in it, and learn more about where your guests are in the buying process. As part of your open house checklist, you must send a real estate open house follow-up email to everyone who attended within 24 hours after the event. Your email should include a friendly greeting, the property's address, a link and/or picture of the property, and your contact information so they can reach you for questions or further information.
Since open houses can be bustling, you will likely send this email in bulk to all attendees. Consider using a digital open house sign-in sheet that connects to your client relationship manager (CRM). sorts your database and builds smart lists to create personalized follow-up plans to nurture each of your leads. It also gathers insights from your contact’s social media profiles, photos, locations, and interests so you can send more effective marketing messages.
2. Open House Hot Lead Email
Target audience: A buyer who attended the open house and was very interested in the home
The “hot leads” are the open house attendees showing significant interest in the home through their actions or words. They might stay longer during the open house to have a private conversation with you, or their agent may ask to speak to you separately. Send a thank-you email for attending the open house immediately to keep their interest, more details regarding your chat with them, highlight your expertise, and remind the buyer of the features they enjoyed.
3. Seller Open House Attendee Follow-up Email
Target audience: Potential sellers who stopped by your open house
During the open house, spend a few minutes with potential sellers to highlight your marketing materials, advertising platforms, and how you’ve brought value to the sellers with this current listing. Give your business card and collect contact information from potential seller leads so you can reach out afterward. Also, include a quick recap of your conversation, emphasize your expertise with sales listings, and offer to speak with them further about the sales process and how you can add value to them to the email.
Since sellers often attend open houses to glean market information and vet real estate agents, your real estate follow-up email can also include links to your website and real estate landing pages, especially pages offering a free market report or home valuation. Landing pages are essential to real estate lead generation, and you can get them up and running quickly using . They have tons of real estate-specific templates and provide reports so you can see where your leads are being generated.
4. After Home Tour With Client Follow-up
Target audience: Buyers you represented throughout the day while looking at homes and going to open houses
After a home tour, you should always sit down with your clients. But if it ends up being late when you finish, or clients want to speak privately first, you may have to follow up via email after the tour. Your follow-up email should include a request for an appointment to talk or meet up the next day, a reminder of homes they liked (including notes and links to listings, if applicable), and encouragement to consider submitting an offer before it’s too late if they want a particular home.
5. After Prelisting Package Check-in
Target audience: Sellers you want to represent and to whom you’ve sent an initial prelisting package
Sending clients a prelisting package gives them an overview of your services and explains how you can assist them in selling their house. This should be your first move after receiving a seller lead. In your follow-up email, include a reminder of when you sent the prelisting package, note the next steps in the process, and offer your availability to continue the discussion. Sending this type of follow-up email will remind clients about your prelisting package and show your enthusiasm for assisting them with the sales process.
Making sure the check-in email quickly gets to the right inbox is easy if you use a client relationship manager (CRM) to organize leads and automate pipeline communication. manages your sales pipeline with stages to categorize each of your leads. Assign actions to each stage to automate emails and marketing campaigns to convert more leads—try it for free today.
6. Listing Presentation Follow-up
Target audience: Seller leads you have met and to whom you’ve given a listing presentation to win their business as a real estate client
After giving your listing presentation to a potential seller client, send a thank-you email and attach the listing presentation. This allows your clients to review the materials at their own pace. Furthermore, show your clients that you understand how challenging the sales process is and that you and your real estate services can help them overcome any obstacles that may come up. Inform them of your availability to answer their questions so they know you are open to further contact before they make a decision.
7. Change in Listing Status Template
Target audience: Buyers you represent who wanted to move forward with a specific home, but another offer was accepted instead of theirs, and which has come back on the market
It is common for an offer to be rejected by a seller, especially in a hot market where sellers receive multiple listings. For this reason, agents must monitor the status of their clients' preferred listings. To inform clients of the property's listing status change and your availability to hop on a call to discuss, send a follow-up real estate email like the one below. Contact the seller's agent to learn as much information as possible about why the purchase fell through before you talk with your clients.
Tips for Creating Real Estate Email Templates
While the real estate email templates above are a great starting point, you should modify them to reflect the nuances of your personality and directly address your clients. In other words, the email recipient should hear you talking as they read your email.
Other tips for effective follow-up emails include:
Be concise: Make the email’s intent clear in the subject line and keep your email short and to the point. If you find yourself writing paragraphs, you either need to remove unnecessary information or pick up the phone to call.
Add a personal element: Include pieces of private conversations, such as remembering the name of their partner, kids, or pets, or mention specifics of the homes you visited together. You will build stronger relationships by demonstrating your attention to detail and treating prospects like people rather than transactions.
Keep it upbeat: Whether you are having a good or bad day, sending good news, or conveying something the prospect doesn’t want to hear, the language you use in your message should be upbeat and pleasant. This is a critical component of professional customer service every real estate agent needs to master.
Use appropriate language: Obviously, you want to avoid curse words, but you also want to use language that is appropriate and easily understood by your client. For instance, using real estate jargon like DOM (days on market) with an experienced investor might be acceptable, but not with a first-time homebuyer. You want to educate and build trust, so use language that suits your client’s experience.
Include an action item and request a response: Your goal is to continue the flow of communication. Ask the reader to follow up with you in a specific period by giving them a task to call, text, or email you. Prompt them with particular times and dates to encourage their response, and make it easy by sending a link where they can book an appointment that syncs to your calendar, such as through .
Employ proper grammar and spelling: Even if you’re sending an email from your phone, you should always stay away from abbreviations, check your spelling, and use proper punctuation. Clients will be unimpressed with your ability to communicate on their behalf if you cannot correctly communicate with them. Try using if your writing and grammar skills are shaky. It offers real-time suggestions, letting you quickly make corrections in documents and emails.
Top CRM Software to Manage Follow-up Real Estate Emails
CRMs are necessary if you’re going to effectively and efficiently follow up with and nurture hundreds, if not thousands, of leads and build a client base. There are many options, but make sure your chosen CRM fits your business needs and has the capabilities you require to communicate with your clients effectively.
Email automation, lead tracking, and pipeline management should all be at the top of your must-have requirements list for CRMs and other follow-up tools for real estate lead generation and nurturing. Here are some real estate CRM options that contain those features:
Bottom Line
As a successful real estate agent, you must always be proactive, and your ability to follow up will make or break the success or failure of your real estate business. Using the best open house follow-up email templates is easy to guarantee fast and effective communication with all your open house attendees. In addition, creating real estate email templates to follow up with other lead-nurturing situations is an effective way to save time and money to generate leads, convert clients, and nurture past clients.
January 25, 2023
6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Arkansas in 2023
The Arkansas Real Estate Commission (AREC) requires broker and salesperson pre-licensees to complete 60 hours of approved education to fulfill state licensing requirements. There are additional hours required for continuing education and post-licensing. Arkansas online real estate classes offer the flexibility to complete the education requirements at home or in the office through various learning formats.
We evaluated numerous Arkansas (AR) real estate schools and narrowed them down to the six best online real estate schools in Arkansas based on course features, pricing, learning formats, and customer reviews:
: Best for new and experienced agents seeking personal access to local real estate instructors
: Recommended for real estate professionals who thrive on engaging, interactive self-study
: Great choice for experienced agents looking to upgrade to a broker's license
: Best career development resources for students who want tools and support to jump-start their real estate careers
: Best Arkansas livestream classes for students who want to engage with the classroom virtually
: Best for affordable continuing education (CE) packages for students on a budget
Best Online Schools in Arkansas at a Glance
Colibri Real Estate: Best for Personal Access to Local Real Estate Instructors
(formerly Real Estate Express) is an online education platform offering comprehensive tools for new and current agents. The Arkansas real estate license courses are led by active local real estate experts. It offers prelicensing, post-education career support, and recruitment for new licensees. Its continuing education classes available to Arkansas residents are offered through its sister company, .
Aside from learning real-life experiences, access to local instructors is crucial for real estate agents to learn Arkansas-specific laws, documents, and processes. Colibri Real Estate tops the list as one of the best Arkansas real estate schools, with over 132 instructors across the United States. Licensees can connect directly with experienced local real estate professionals who aren’t affiliated with just one real estate agency, like and , giving students broader perspectives.
Additional Colibri Real Estate Features
Livestream Exam Crammer series: Exam Crammer includes six one-hour webinars led by real estate instructors. It also includes monthly 40-hour live instructor Q&A sessions with favorite instructors.
Readiness Indicator: Colibri’s unique exam readiness tool helps students track their progress and assess their overall test readiness, giving them the confidence and edge they need to excel on their exams.
Consistently high first-time pass rates: Though we could not verify the data, many websites report Colibri's 78% prelicensing exam pass rate. This is considered pretty high in the industry. Students who don’t pass can be reassured by Colibri’s “pass or don’t pay guarantee.”
Smart Bites learning methodology: In addition to the comprehensive tools and curriculum, Colibri offers its unique Smart Bites methodology that breaks down real estate concepts into smaller bite-sized pieces, which reinforces concepts and improves recall.
Colibri Real Estate Reviews
Colibri Real Estate has a customer satisfaction rating of 4.2 out of 5 on multiple review sites. Most reviewers love the convenience and 24/7 access to work at their pace. Exam prep is popular among students, stating that it helped them ace their exams. Licensees commented that the prelicensing course provides everything they need to pass the exam. A few students appreciate the positive experience and access to licensed instructors.
Some negative reviewers mentioned the curriculum could be more entertaining and offer more visual content instead of being too text-heavy. A few students wish for more classroom interaction instead of working independently since instructors are not available day and night. Colibri has added livestream courses in some states, but it’s not available in AR at this time. AR students who want more interaction should consider , which provides livestream and in-person courses.
Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Colibri Real Estate offers a variety of prelicensing packages with professional growth opportunities. It doesn’t offer prelicensing or post-licensing broker education but does offer continuing education through its partner school, .
The CE Shop: Best for Engaging Interactive Self Study
Taking online courses requires content to be engaging to help students learn and hold their interest. engaging curriculum surpasses that offered by , though they both are well-known national brands. Its vivid graphics, vibrant colors, and easy language keep it simple while ensuring students are able to learn and retain the content, thus making it an enjoyable learning experience.
The CE Shop is one of the most widely known and best online real estate schools in Arkansas and the country, providing real estate education to all 50 states. Upon enrollment, it gives students a full year to complete their education. It offers 30 CE classes, allowing students to pick courses they will enjoy. It also gives students a full year to complete the curriculum. This is among the lengthiest completion time for our top picks. It’s best for information retention to complete the classes close together and take the exam as soon as possible.
Additional The CE Shop Features
Referral program: The CE Shop has a unique referral program that allows students to earn $10 when their referral spends under $200 and $25 for referrals who purchase over $200.
Free trials: The CE Shop offers a five-day free trial, letting students see if the course or a career in real estate is right for them.
Agent Essentials: Offers free resources consisting of blogs, e-books, videos, podcasts, and webinars. They frequently add new content to further professional development for agents.
Exam Prep money-back guarantee: The Exam Prep Edge program offers a money-back guarantee if students demonstrate competency in all sections but don’t pass the exam.
The CE Shop Reviews
The CE shop has a customer happiness rating of 4 out of 5, with 83% of reviewers giving it 5 stars. Students say the courses are easy to navigate, enjoyable, and interactive. Many students report they tried other programs and returned to the CE Shop, claiming it’s the best.
Many of the unfavorable reviews cite technical difficulties with the site going down for hours to a few days. CE Shop uses a third-party company, PSI Online, to proctor the online exams, and there were technical difficulties with that site too. Some students say the length of time to complete the course was not transparent, so their courses closed before they were finished. Students who want a more reliable online experience may want to look at .
The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers a variety of individual classes and course packages at different prices. Students can choose the courses they need based on their budget or choose what they want out of a program. However, it doesn’t include broker prelicensing.
Lindsey School of Real Estate: Best for Broker Licensing Education
livestream courses are combined with in-person classes, so online students can enjoy the interaction with their peers from a remote location. It gives students the convenience of taking online Arkansas real estate classes from their homes or offices while giving them a live classroom experience.
It is located in Fayetteville, AR, giving students access to local real estate professionals who are active in the field. It is one of the only schools on the list to offer online livestream broker licensing education for students who want to advance their careers or start their own firms.
This real estate school is affiliated with Lindsey & Associates, allowing students to launch their careers with a company they’ve experienced through the courses. Students may prefer to have access to a variety of local real estate agents instead of just one firm. In that case, they should look at .
Additional Lindsey School of Real Estate Features
Private on-site classes: To accommodate different learning styles, Lindsey School of Real Estate offers private on-site classes in its Fayetteville, AR, office. The private classes require a minimum enrollment; contact Lindsey for details.
Materials included: Livestream and in-person courses include textbooks and print materials.
100% refund policy: Students have 10 days to cancel before classes begin and 72 hours from the start date to receive a full refund.
Lindsey School of Real Estate Reviews
Lindsey School of Real Estate has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 from online reviewers. AR students appreciate the instruction from local real estate professionals, stating it keeps the classes engaging with real, local examples and stories. They have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, making it a trustworthy business from which to receive Arkansas real estate education.
While Lindsey School of Real Estate receives 4.5 out of 5 stars, the lower star reviews have no comments to determine the reason for the less than stellar rating. Student testimonials say they feel comfortable with the instruction and the materials to help them pass their exams. However, it is limited in its livestream classes for post-licensing and broker education. It also gives students only six months to complete, unlike , which offers a full year.
Lindsey School of Real Estate Pricing
No matter where you’re at in your real estate career, the Lindsey School of Real Estate offers real estate education for nearly every licensee at various prices. However, except for CE, it doesn’t offer broker prelicensing or broker exam prep.
Kaplan: Best for Career Development Resources
is best for its career development resources with an extensive Career Toolbox containing articles, e-books, and a comprehensive YouTube series. Its content covers everything, including getting started in your career, industry trends and news, marketing resources, lead generation, and flipping houses. Additionally, its high-quality prelicensing and exam preparation courses support a variety of learning styles. The courses are offered via livestream, self-paced, and on-demand video.
Kaplan’s prelicensing packages include access to additional textbooks, exam preparation materials, and interactive study groups. Students can also purchase flashcards, a Math On Demand professional development course, an additional study package, and two apps to help them succeed. It’s a good option for first-time agents seeking a new real estate license.
Additional Kaplan Features
Toby Talks: Among Kaplan's vast video library is a series of short videos called “Toby Talks,” which features a loveable character named Toby who imparts real estate-specific information to help agents start and grow their real estate careers.
Real Estate Accelerator: This live eight-hour intensive course offers eight weeks of professional coaching to help students launch their real careers. It provides business-building skills and critical operating activities used by the most successful real estate agents. It prepares students to implement personal business, marketing, and income plans.
Professional development courses: In addition to continuing education and career development, Kaplan offers two additional packages—the eight-week live online coaching and sales training program for $399 and a business brokerage training for $499.
Tuition assistance: The website mentions tuition assistance under the “Student Support Services” tab, which leads to the customer support page. Though it doesn’t give specific details, it's worth reaching out to see what’s available.
Kaplan Reviews
Trustpilot gives Kaplan Real Estate a rating of 4.4 out of 5 in more than 1,000 reviews. Students raved about the available tools and resources and the quality and availability of their instructors. They also commended the study groups. A few also reported that they enjoyed Kaplan’s online real estate education so much that they eagerly looked forward to each session, making it one of the best online real estate schools in Arkansas.
Other less favorable reviews remarked that the six months to complete the program isn’t enough. Some reviewers said that the course could benefit from local instructors since it lacked Arkansas-specific experiences that they find helpful. If you need access to local real estate professionals, we recommend or .
Kaplan Pricing
Kaplan offers AR students prelicensing packages, exam preparation classes, salesperson, and broker continuing education. It has a limited number of packages and individual classes but meets students' educational needs.
Arkansas Real Estate School: Best for Arkansas Livestream Classes
, located in Little Rock, is a good choice for students who want a local experience. It offers both livestream and self-paced courses that include prelicensing, exam prep, and continuing education for license renewal. Livestream courses have a set schedule and include pre- and post-licensing education.
Exam prep can be purchased separately for livestream, and textbooks include exam practice tests. Learning directly from local experts gives students a keen insight into the Arkansas real estate market, helping them understand trends and what to expect upon entering the field.
Its pass guarantee allows students one full year to re-attend classes if they don’t pass the exam. If students switch between course types, they are charged an administration fee and a book fee. Unlike , career development is limited. Sometimes real estate firms visit the school and offer optional recruiting presentations. This benefits students considering which brokerage to choose from to start their careers.
Additional Arkansas Real Estate School Features
Generous tech support hours: Students can call, text, email, or chat with tech support seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central Time on Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time on weekends.
Classes in other locations: Arkansas Real Estate School offers courses in north-central AR and southern Missouri. Instructors also teach in Texarkana, El Dorado, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Camden, Sherwood, and Cabot. If there’s enough interest, staff are willing to set up courses in other locations.
VA Benefits: If you’re a veteran, Arkansas Real Estate School can accept your veteran’s benefits for in-person classes.
12-month course audit: Students can audit any portion of a course they completed for up to one year at no charge.
Arkansas Real Estate School Reviews
Since Arkansas Real Estate School is a smaller local school compared to the national schools in our evaluation, independent reviews are limited. There are 28 Google reviews, rating the school with 4.8 out of 5 stars. The school’s website has some impressive testimonials also. Across these reviews, students rave about their instructors' delivery of the content, the support they receive, and describe the information as thorough and entertaining.
While we didn’t find any negative reviews online, students should know it has limited CE classes and career development opportunities. Additionally, if students need to change course formats, such as switching from livestream to self-study, there are additional administration and textbook fees. For students looking for further career development opportunities, check out .
Arkansas Real Estate School Pricing
Arkansas Real Estate School offers pre- and post-licensing packages ranging from $395 to $480 in self-study and livestream formats. Students can also take individual CE credits for $25 to $70. There are three exam preparation options available: the state-only exam, national only, and a combination of these. Each option is $60.
McKissock Learning: Best for Continuing Education
offers Arkansas licensees continuing education courses to maintain their real estate licenses. While it only directly offers Arkansas continuing education for real estate, it is partnered with Colibri Real Estate to diversify its offerings. Its affordable CE packages and the option of taking individual classes instead of buying a whole package allow students to customize their continuing education while meeting state and national requirements.
It’s ideal for students who want a no-fluff continuing education. Students can learn at their own pace, and McKissock Learning also lets them customize courses in the packages they choose, giving them ultimate control over their learning. All courses are self-study, offering complete flexibility. If students want prelicensing courses and exam prep, they can hop over to its partner company and begin their education there.
Additional McKissock Learning Features
Colibri Real Estate Collaboration: McKissock, being the partner company of Colibri Real Estate, gives licensees access to all that Colibri offers for Arkansas real estate licensing courses.
Pro Series library: Includes webinars and an on-demand library with industry topics, insider tips, and expert advice.
Over 100 job aids: Including worksheets, scripts, and checklists to stay on track and grow a thriving real estate career.
McKissock Learning Reviews
McKissock Learning has an online rating of 4.5 out of 5. Students state that the platform is easy to use. They also say that the CE prepared them well in their careers, that the courses are affordable, and that they like the flexibility to take classes that fit their schedules.
Less favorable reviews state that McKissock Learning sends too many promotional emails once they sign up. Other reviewers say that customer service needs improvement. Two students reported that it isn’t clear upon signing up for the CE membership that they are agreeing to an annual subscription. Some of the smaller local schools, like , generally would be less inclined to send out a lot of promotional emails compared to a national company like McKissock Learning.
McKissock Learning Pricing
McKissock Learning offers four salesperson prelicensing packages, ranging from $352 to $582. Individual continuing education classes range from $19 to $44.95, depending on the number of credits. There are also three continuing education packages ranging from $96 to $99 for students who are ready to renew their licenses. The two options for exam preparation outside of what’s included in the prelicensing packages range from $99 to $219.
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools in Arkansas
Whether you’re renewing your Arkansas real estate license or becoming a real estate agent, to avoid pitfalls, you need a top-shelf education. And with so many options to find a decent real estate school in Arkansas, it can become overwhelming.
We’ve taken the guesswork out of it by comparing and evaluating the best online Arkansas real estate schools based on learning styles, quality, program features, and pricing. We also evaluated the expertise of the providers and customer reviews. Additionally, our top picks are all approved by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission.
Of these, is the best online real estate school in Arkansas. With our independent rating of 4.85 out of 5, it ranks as the top online real estate program. Its AR courses are led by local experts. Its user-friendly interface, money-back guarantee, and comprehensive post-licensing career development prepare students well for the state exams and for developing their careers.
We used the following criteria to evaluate Arkansas’ best online real estate schools:
January 23, 2023
REDX Review: Is It Right for Your Real Estate Business
REDX is real estate lead generation software specializing in curated lists of leads stemming from for sale by owner (FSBO), for rent by owner (FRBO), preforeclosure, and expired listings. Due to a combination of its niche leads and limited marketing features, it did not earn a spot on our list of best real estate lead generation websites.
However, based on 25 evaluation factors, REDX earned a reputable score of 4.38 out of 5 because of its general features, marketing and advertising features, REDX reviews, customer support, expert score, and ease of use. Read through our REDX review to determine if their system is right for your real estate business.
REDX Reviews: What Users Think of REDX
Is REDX worth it? Based on reviews, customers complimented the company’s responsive customer support. Additionally, one user said that the REDX leads are exactly what he was looking for as a realtor. The quality leads and the information provided through the PLUS upgrade helped him concentrate more on his niche market. Further, one REDX review commended REDX’s prospecting lead dialer and the fair pricing of its services.
Trustindex: 4.3 out of 5 based on 162 REDX reviews
Google Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 based on 149 REDX reviews
Most of the dissatisfied reviews complained about phone numbers that were incorrect or were no longer in service. Several customers also said they had difficulty canceling their accounts and asking for a refund. REDX’s costs may also add up if you subscribe to several products. If you are looking for an affordable customer relationship manager (CRM), is a good alternative although it doesn’t have lead generation sources integrated into it. You can also check for a free account with a CRM and lead generation tools.
Would Our Expert Use REDX?
REDX is a great marketplace for curated leads that go beyond the typical seller listings. We particularly like its multiple types of seller leads for FSBO, FRBO, preforeclosure, and expired listings, making REDX one of the best platforms to buy leads. We also recommend several REDX tools that make prospecting easy. Power Dialer and Mail Merge tools effectively contact as many leads as possible without wasting too much time. Phone scripts are available on your Vortex dashboard, so you communicate confidently with leads.
However, we wouldn’t recommend REDX to agents, teams, and brokerages looking for an all-in-one lead generation, CRM, and marketing solution. REDX offers limited marketing tools with no marketing automation or third-party CRM integration. Moreover, REDX doesn’t provide paid buyer leads, unlike , , and . For a more robust CRM, we recommend because of its wide range of essential tools like property insights, social insights, email marketing, and third-party integrations.
REDX Alternatives
If you’re looking for other lead generation, marketing, and CRM platforms, here are some of our recommended alternatives to REDX:
REDX Plans & Pricing
pricing currently doesn’t offer tiered plans for all its products. This means all REDX products—lead sources and tools—can be purchased a la carte. You can create your own subscription by choosing from different lead sources and tools with separate monthly costs:
Additional a la Carte REDX Tools
Aside from lead sources, REDX offers tools to help you contact leads faster and maximize your prospecting efforts. Here are REDX tools that you can purchase on a monthly subscription:
Preview Line Dialer ($59): Simplified single-line dialer with 1,500 minutes talk time; calls via computer or phone, usage log, time zone protection, and free support
Power Dialer ($99.99): Single-line dialer to make prospecting calls with unlimited talk time
Multi-line Dialer ($149.99): Single-line dialer for up to three lines to make prospecting calls with unlimited talk time
Brand Builder ($599): Managed social media marketing that includes four custom Video Projects (12 unique posts): four Facebook, four Instagram, four TikTok posts; prompt topics; posting to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok; access to Ad Builder; content library; and managed boosting to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Brand Builder PLUS ($999): Includes eight custom video projects (24 unique posts): eight Facebook, eight Instagram, eight TikTok posts, and everything in the Brand Builder package
General REDX Features
features support real estate agents in growing their listing portfolio. Its prospecting tools enable agents to set up as many listing appointments as possible. Choose from multiple lead sources, tools, and data insights to improve your lead conversions.
REDX stands out as one of the best platforms to find FSBO, FRBO, preforeclosure, and expired leads. Moreover, you can find tools to help you better communicate and engage with prospective clients. Its Power Dialer minimizes the hours needed to prospect by performing the dialing on your behalf. The customizable phone scripts also help tailor your calls based on your lead’s journey. Verified leads ensure that contact information in the Vortex system is valid, so agents can feel confident while prospecting.
Additional REDX Features
REDX features assist in helping agents to generate and nurture leads for niche markets. Read the details about each feature by clicking on the tabs below:
Ease of Use
REDX’s intuitive platform is easy to navigate. Once logged in, you can easily view all your subscribed leads and filter them by source by ticking the boxes on the sidebar navigation. On the top navigation bar, you will find buttons for Chat support, REDX Forum, Help Center, and your profile so you can easily access information about your account. You will also find the Power Dialer and Mail Merge buttons on the top menu so you can directly dial phone numbers or send emails to leads right on your dashboard.
As mentioned, leads are separated by source, which allows phone conversations to be tailored accordingly. However, for agents with multiple lead sources from third-party sites, there’s no integration of outside leads, so you’d need an additional CRM. Vortex also has limited marketing automation to prospect for business outside of phone dialing.
REDX’s website is also pretty straightforward. By simply navigating through the top menu on the website’s home page, you can find REDX success stories, customer support, and podcasts. You can also immediately find all the information about REDX products, along with their specific pricing and inclusions, on the home page.
How We Evaluated REDX
The best real estate lead generation websites provide real estate professionals with tools that assist in generating leads and converting them into clients. We researched lead gen websites based on the following criteria:
*Pricing was not included in our evaluation criteria because of the vast price difference between providers and services
Bottom Line
is an effective lead generation platform with an easy-to-use lead management system. Verified leads increase agents’ chances of finding high-quality prospects. The phone dialer and phone scripts available on the dashboard further ensure agents consistently set up listing meetings, thereby improving the chances for lead conversions. REDX reviews show users love its responsive customer support and quick delivery of verified leads, making the platform an affordable supplement to other prospecting practices.