For realtors, managing clients is one of the most important, yet time-consuming, job tasks. Managing multiple spreadsheets to keep track of not only the names and contact information of every client, but what each client is looking for in real estate and where each client is in the sales funnel can quickly become overwhelming.
That’s where a CRM comes in handy. CRMs are customer relationship management tools that assist users in doing just that – managing customer relationships. They allow users to break away from transferring information between multiple spreadsheets to keeping all data in one centralized location.
A CRM can help a busy realtor maintain and improve client relationships by allowing you to stay connected to customers and create efficiencies in business processes. And you don’t have to break the bank to invest in such a tool. In fact, there are some great free CRM tools that realtors can use to improve their business.
Here are three of the most popular free CRM tools.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot CRM is a cloud-based platform targeted to small- and medium-sized businesses that are juggling spreadsheets, which makes it perfect for realtors. This free tool allows users to input one million contacts and assign unlimited users for managing contacts. The tool is easy to use and offers tutorials to help users learn the ropes of the software.
Some of the key features of the HubSpot CRM are lead and contact management; drag-and-drop pipeline; and live chat bots. It integrates with Gmail and Outlook, which simplifies the distribution of email campaigns. The tool also offers phone integration options that allow users to make and log phone calls to clients.
One of the key features that would help realtors is the ability to get real-time notifications when a prospective client opens an email or downloads an attachment. This facilitates the follow-up process and allows you to reach out to clients when you are top of mind.
Freshsales
Freshsales CRM is a cloud- or premise-based platform that offers a free basic version and paid upgrade options. It is designed for startups, small, and mid-market businesses that are focused on attracting and preserving leads, which makes it a good fit for realtors.
Freshsales’ “freemium” plan offers users options for contact management, lead management, email marketing, and interaction management. It also supports an unlimited number of users and contacts. The tool integrates with Mailchimp for email marketing and Google Apps, which helps facilitate business communications processes.
The paid versions allow you to upgrade to features such as pipeline management, built-in phone and a mobile app. If you are looking for a tool to simply manage leads, Freshsales is a great option.
Really Simple Systems
Really Simple Systems CRM is built for small businesses and includes up to two users and 100 MB of document storage on its free plan for small businesses, which provides pipeline, document and contact management, as well as various reporting functionalities. It is simple to use and there are how-to articles and video tutorials to help you learn your way around the tool.
The unique selling feature for this tool is its API integration, allowing users to connect to other business applications. So, this tool is more suited to realtors that are already using various software tools to run other aspects of the business.
A CRM tool can make a significant difference in how efficiently you are able to manage your contacts database. Any one of these free tools can have a transformative effect on your lead management and pipeline development processes, freeing you up to do more of what you do best – selling real estate.
