Managing current and potential customers can be quite a task especially in real estate. It does not help that the property buying process takes time and keeping track of leads already converted to customers can be difficult. Thankfully, with good CRM software, you can automate customer management. An automatic system will make maintaining existing customers easy and help in capturing more leads that can be converted into customers the future. So how do you choose good CRM software for real estate?
Identify your needs
Your first course of action should be to determine what you want from your real estate CRM software. For some people, all-inclusive software that takes care of all sales and marketing aspects is ideal. Others feel that inclusive software does not perform as great in all areas and the functions will just be average. Your choice should not be dependent on your opinion alone. Consider your business needs and get software that will meet most if not all your needs.
Take advantage of freebies when testing different software. Most developers offer free trials of up to 90days and this would be adequate time to test how the software is working.
Check Usability
Aside from meeting your needs, good CRM software should also be user-friendly. Check the user interface and see what it has to offer. Ideally, the software you choose should come with all the valuable features, but it should also be easy to navigate. Current versions come with mobile apps and devices designed to make them friendlier to the end users. If you have to choose between software with mobile apps and one without, you should go with the option with mobile apps.
Consider Compatibility
Technology in the real estate industry has been nothing but a nightmare, and this all boils down to compatibility. Get a CRM that is compatible with the tools you are using. This way, you will not need to copy your data multiple times.
Is it cloud-based?
You should only get a CRM software that is cloud-based. Such software will allow you to work from multiple locations. Getting the latest information is also made easy. This is in addition to streamlining communication lines so you have an easy time keeping in touch with your customers.
Read the reviews
There is no better way to know how any product works than to see what users have to say about it. Read the reviews of different software and go with the one that comes with favorable reviews. Often times, the more positive the reviews, the better the software.
Cost
Cost should be the last thing you consider, but it is an important factor nonetheless. Ensure that the price of the software you choose is affordable to you. Fortunately, there are free CRM software designed for startups and businesses looking for basic CRM functions. Though you may have to upgrade to a paid software over time, it does not hurt start with a free one if you do not have an existing budget for a CRM software.