- What is real estate software?
- Things to consider when choosing real estate software
- Top paid and free real estate software to check out 2024
- Other top real estate software tools
- What’s the best real estate software?
In the dynamic world of real estate, staying ahead of the curve means leveraging the best technology available. With an ever-expanding array of software solutions, real estate businesses have unprecedented opportunities to streamline operations, enhance client relationships, and boost productivity. From innovative database management to advanced website builders, real estate software tools are offering cutting-edge solutions to meet every need.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at real estate software, including what it is, how it works, and the best solutions to use in 2024.
What is real estate software?
Real estate software refers to digital tools and applications designed to streamline, automate, and enhance the processes involved in buying, selling, managing, and investing in real estate. This software can help with everything, from property listing and client relationship management, to lead generation, sales, marketing, transaction management, and more.
At the basic level, there are spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel, but their functionality is limited for more complex real estate operations. Then there are no-code databases like Baserow that are easy to use and customize, making them ideal for real estate. For more specialized needs, all-in-one real estate platforms integrate website creation, CRM, and lead generation, although their expense and myriad features can be overkill for some agencies.
When selecting real estate software for your business, it’s crucial to assess key factors to ensure the tool meets your specific needs and goals. This includes determining things like its scalability to accommodate business growth, its integration capabilities with your existing tools (like email, marketing platforms, and financial software), and ensuring it’s easy to use and customize to your needs, even for non-technical teams.
All options offer their own advantages, however, no-code platforms provide greater accessibility and flexibility, making them increasingly popular among real estate businesses. No-code databases make it easier for non-technical users to create custom real estate software without coding, making them ideal for those who may have previously used spreadsheets and are looking for a more advanced solution.
Things to consider when choosing real estate software
- Identify your needs: Assess the specific challenges and requirements of your real estate business. Determine whether you need property listing, a real estate CRM, transaction management, reporting tools, or a combination of different functionalities.
- Ease of use: Look for software with an intuitive interface. It should be user-friendly so that you and your team can adapt to it quickly without extensive training.
- Customization and flexibility: Opt for software that offers customization. No-code database tools like Baserow are ideal, as they allow you to build bespoke real estate applications and tailor the database according to your specific needs without requiring technical expertise.
- Integration capabilities: Ensure the software can integrate seamlessly with other tools you already use, such as email services, marketing platforms, and transaction management software. This integration is crucial for streamlined workflows and data synchronization.
- Scalability: Choose software that can grow with your business. It should be able to handle increased workloads and additional users as your business expands.
- Security and compliance: Ensure it adheres to industry standards for data security and privacy, especially if it will handle sensitive client information and financial data.
- Pricing: Assess the cost-effectiveness of the software. Consider both the initial cost and any ongoing fees (like subscription or maintenance costs), and weigh them against the features and benefits it offers. Look out for free pricing plans and trials.
- Reviews and feedback: Research user reviews, feedback, and industry awards to gauge the software’s performance and reliability. User experiences can provide valuable insights into the software’s practicality and efficiency.
- Open source and self-hosted options: Opt for software that offers open source and self-hosted versions. Open-source software provides the flexibility to customize the tool to your specific business needs. While self-hosting gives you full ownership of your data and reduces dependency on third-party hosting services.
Top paid and free real estate software to check out 2024
Baserow
Baserow is a no-code open-source database that can be perfectly tailored for the real estate sector. It blends the simplicity of spreadsheets with the robustness of a database, all accessible through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It’s ideal for users who don’t have coding skills but require a powerful tool to manage everything, from property listings with photos and details, to a full-fledged real estate CRM housing all your customer information.
With Baserow, you can build a custom real estate management system from the ground up, or adapt one of the many customizable templates to fit your specific needs. Whether it’s for tracking property showings or listings, managing marketing, overseeing transactions, or creating digital forms for things like open-house sign-ins or collecting reviews.
Baserow makes it easy to import your real estate data from multiple sources. You can easily add files, perform calculations, and connect data between tables. Tools for filtering, sorting, and sharing data, make it easy to manage large volumes of real estate data efficiently. While views like Gallery, Calendar, and Grid give you a clear overview of things like property images, appointments, and sales data.
As an API-first platform, Baserow seamlessly integrates with other applications and automation tools, which is vital for agencies using various real estate software. In just a few clicks, you can automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and collaborate with your teams wherever they are.
Baserow’s open-source nature is ideal for real estate firms that require custom functionality. Developers can create custom plugins and integrations to meet specific real estate needs, adding even more value to the platform. The software is also available in a self-hosted version with unlimited databases, rows, and storage.
Baserow offers free pricing plans that cater to the needs of smaller real estate firms or individual agents. For larger brokerages, the Enterprise plan offers direct priority support, enterprise-grade deployment, and advanced security and data governance. This makes Baserow a versatile and scalable solution for real estate businesses of all sizes.
Top features
- No-code relational database with user-friendly features
- Open source with self-hosting options
- No vendor lock-in
- Unlimited databases, rows, and storage
- Build plugins and your own software with Baserow’s permissive MIT license
- API-first platform integrates easily with other software
- Real-time collaboration, comments, and notifications
- Grid, Calendar, Gallery, Kanban, Calendar, and Form views
- Exceptionally fast, even with huge volumes of data
- Industry-specific templates for a quick start
- Advanced features like role-based access control, admin panel, SSO, and priority support with Baserow Enterprise
- Competitive pricing. Professional plans start from $5 per user/month
Propertybase
Propertybase is an all-in-one real estate software platform that covers all aspects of the industry. It comes in two versions: Propertybase GO and Propertybase Salesforce Edition, both offering a feature-rich set of tools for agents, teams and brokerages looking to increase their productivity.
Propertybase GO is a ready-to-use solution ideal for agencies seeking easy adoption and a straightforward user experience. It includes a comprehensive suite of real estate CRM tools, including website integration, analysis and reporting tools, lead management and automation, contact management, and back-office integration. Being cloud-based, it facilitates remote access and updating of documents and forms.
Propertybase Salesforce Edition, on the other hand, is a customizable platform that is more suited to complex agencies, especially those with an international presence. It requires more time to personalize and set up but offers deeper data analysis and more tailored features such as advanced CRM capabilities and deep data analysis. This edition is ideal for agencies that need a complex system specifically designed for their unique operations and are willing to invest time and money in customization and training.
Propertybase GO is priced at a starting rate of $399 per month for 5 users. It includes features like drip campaigns, mass emails, website-building capabilities, and social ad listing boosts. Propertybase Salesforce Edition starts at $799 per month for 10 users and includes features like commission summaries, customized dashboards, and leaderboards, missed lead notifications, and language & currency customization.
Top features
- Advanced CRM capabilities
- Customizable websites integrated with the CRM system.
- Lead generation and management tools
- Multiple Listing Services (MLS) integration for up-to-date property listings and information.
- Email marketing automation
- Transaction management tools for managing real estate transactions from start to finish
- Mobile access allows agents to access and manage their work on the go
- Marketplace integrations with various third-party applications and services
Realty Juggler
RealtyJuggler is a cloud-based real estate CRM designed to help agents and brokers manage their day-to-day business. Positioning itself as a virtual assistant, it stands out for its ease of use, helpful features, and free 90-day trial.
The software offers a range of tools that can be used without the complexity or need for special training sometimes associated with other CRM products. Its main functionalities include tracking prospects, scheduling follow-ups, managing contacts and appointments, and integrating leads from various sources. It allows for the easy import of contacts from other organizers, making it a versatile tool for agents transitioning from different systems.
In addition to its core real estate CRM features, RealtyJuggler provides tools for transaction management, sending drip email sequences, creating flyers, managing rentals, and tracking commissions and expenses. It includes a library of real estate-specific content like letters, eCards, and custom activity plans. The software is also designed for team collaboration, offering multi-user support and mobile access.
RealtyJuggler offers a 90-day free trial without requiring a credit card. The annual membership costs $179. Its cloud-based nature means it can be accessed from any internet-equipped device, and it includes features like SMS texting, showing feedback, and call capture.
Top features
- Organizes and tracks all client and lead information, including contact details and interaction history.
- Transaction management tools including document storage and tracking of various stages of deals.
- Drip email campaigns
- Task and activity tracking for daily tasks, appointments, and important activities.
- Securely stores and manages essential documents related to transactions and clients.
- Commission and expense tracking
- SMS texting and call capture tools
- Printed letters and mailing labels
BoomTown
BoomTown is an integrated real estate CRM software designed to help you generate new prospects, manage a growing database, and increase agent productivity. It offers a range of tools for streamlining customer relationship monitoring, lead generation, and deal closing, all within a single platform, using predictive analytics to enhance sales success.
Key features include customizable websites for agents, tools for generating and distributing leads, and a predictive CRM system that helps you identify which leads are most likely to engage in a transaction. Tools like Smart Prospecting keep you informed about market trends and best-fit leads. It also includes features to create targeted lists for automated emails, texts, and scheduled tasks.
The software offers an array of native integrations, including BombBomb, Mojo Dialer, Spaciom Vulcan7, and more. It also has a Zapier integration, which includes Zapier’s entire directory of integration partners. In addition, it runs a concierge program designed to nurture your leads for you. This is ideal if you want the lead-generating power of BoomTown without all the work of chasing leads.
BoomTown’s main plan, Grow, has a $1700 setup fee and costs $1300/month, not including paid leads. This makes it one of the more expensive real estate software platforms. The purpose of BoomTown is converting paid leads, so you need to budget for those leads from the start.
Top features
- Advanced tools for generating leads through various online channels
- Predictive CRM uses predictive analytics to help agents identify and focus on the most promising leads
- Automated lead distribution
- Customizable websites fully integrated with the CRM
- Marketing automation
- Provides insights into lead activities and behaviors
- Mobile app (NOW app)
- Features to track and manage transactions
- Integration with multiple MLS
Airtable
Airtable is a no-code database platform that can be tailored to specific needs and workflows, making it a useful tool for those in the real estate industry. Unlike traditional spreadsheets, it offers the flexibility and functionality of a database and can serve as a central hub for all property-related data.
With Airtable, you can store and access a wide range of data, from detailed property descriptions and photos to transaction records and client information. This data centralization makes it easier to track multiple properties in the pipeline and maintain comprehensive client records. Its interface is intuitive, making it accessible even to those who are not tech-savvy.
Beyond just data storage, the platform can integrate and automate various real estate processes and support collaborative work, allowing multiple team members to access and update information in real-time. Additionally, it can be integrated with other tools and real estate software, such as scheduling apps or marketing tools, reducing the manual effort required in managing various tasks.
Airtable isn’t open source, so you’re more limited with customizing the software to unique requirements. And it can’t be self-hosted, restricting the level of data control for users. If these aspects are an issue, it’s worth looking at similar no-code databases like Baserow that are open source and offer the option to self-host.
In terms of Airtable’s pricing, it offers a free plan for individuals and small teams that comes with unlimited databases, up to 5 editors, and 1 GB of attachment space. Its Business plan is priced at $45 per user/month, while the Enterprise plan has pricing on request and offers up to 500,000 records per base. Before signing up, check out this recent Airtable review.
Top features
- Customizable databases with a variety of pre-built templates
- User-friendly interface
- Integrates with a wide range of apps and services
- Real-time collaboration and sharing capabilities
- Grid, Kanban, and Calendar views
- Supports the storage of various file types, including images, documents, and links.
- In-built automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks and processes.
- Has a limited free version. Paid plans start from $45 user/month (can be expensive for teams)
- May not be suitable for very large datasets or complex database needs.
- Not open source
- No ability to self-host
Other top real estate software tools
Zillow Premier Agent
- Best for: Agents seeking enhanced online exposure.
- Main features: Advertisements on Zillow and Trulia, advanced CRM capabilities, tracking leads, and analyzing buyer behavior.
- Suitable for real estate agents looking to boost their visibility and lead generation on two of the largest real estate platforms.
- Price point: Pricing varies based on the zip code and market conditions. Agents should contact Zillow for specific pricing in their area.
Real Geeks
- Best for: Real estate agents and teams focused on efficient marketing and lead conversion.
- Main features: Integrated tools for lead generation, CRM, and marketing automation, customizable websites, and automated marketing tools.
- Suitable for agents and teams needing a comprehensive solution for managing and converting leads, along with enhancing their online marketing efforts.
- Price: Starting around $249 per month, with additional costs for add-ons and marketing services.
HubSpot
- Best for: Agents who need CRM functionality and tools to support various business processes.
- Main features: Can be used as a real estate CRM, with tools for inbound marketing, transaction management, content management, marketing automation, analytics and reporting, and integrations with a wide range of other tools and platforms.
- Suitable for realtors, agencies, and teams who need more than just a basic CRM. It’s particularly well-suited for those who are looking to not only manage client relationships but also engage in inbound marketing and sales strategies.
- Price. HubSpot offers a free version with basic functionalities. For more advanced features, it has several paid plans starting from a few hundred dollars per month.
Wise Agent Real Estate CRM
- Best for: Realtors looking for a comprehensive CRM with a wide range of features.
- Main features: Contact and transaction management, marketing tools, integrations with various real estate platforms, and workflow automation.
- Suitable for individuals and teams who want an all-in-one CRM solution with robust features and integrations.
- Price: Plans start around $29 per month, with options for additional features and services.
Salesmate
- Best for: Estate agents needing a sales-focused CRM.
- Main Features: Sales pipeline management, communication tracking, automation tools, and analytics.
- Suitable for estate agents focusing on sales processes and needing detailed tracking and management of sales interactions.
- Price: Starting at $12 per user/month, with advanced features available in higher-tier plans.
Area Pulse
- Best for: Agents and brokers seeking market data insights.
- Main features: Market data analysis, automated reports, and client communication tools to visualize real estate trends.
- Suitable for real estate professionals who need in-depth market analytics to advise clients and position themselves as market experts.
- Price: Pricing details are not publicly listed. Interested agents should contact Area Pulse for specific pricing.
ShowingTime
- Best for: Agents, sellers, and buyers involved in scheduling property showings.
- Main features: Online scheduling for property showings, automated notifications, feedback collection, and reporting tools.
- Suitable for realtors who manage a high volume of property showings and seek an efficient way to schedule and track these appointments.
- Price: Pricing varies based on the services and scale of operations. Agents and brokerages should contact ShowingTime for detailed pricing information.
What’s the best real estate software?
Selecting the best real estate software depends on your specific needs and the scale of your operations.
If you want to create customized real estate databases without needing technical expertise, manage large amounts of property data, and adhere to strict data governance and security policies, Baserow is the best choice. Baserow is open source and it can be self-hosted, adding even more value to the platform. It offers free software for smaller teams, making it an accessible choice for small agencies. For larger organizations, its Enterprise plan provides the necessary scale and support, ensuring that even the most complex data management needs are met.
On the other hand, if you’re in search of an end-to-end real estate CRM solution that encompasses website creation and advanced CRM features, Propertybase is an ideal solution. It caters to those seeking a ready-to-use solution and also offers advanced solutions for agencies that require a complex system that aligns with their unique business processes and is ready to invest in customization and training.
Whether you choose Baserow for its open source no-code flexibility and scalability or any of the other solutions in this list, the decision ultimately hinges on identifying which software aligns best with your specific business requirements and growth aspirations.
Ready to get started? Create an account with Baserow today!
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