Does anyone have a program/database that they would recommend and easy to use? I use Excel right now but there has to be something better to save time and more professional. How do you guys keep your leads organized? Thanks in advanced.
Martini,
This is a program I used when I first started and it worked well. It’s called ACT. I had I believe ACT 7. Plug it into Google because I forgot their website. Anyway the cool thing about it once you install it onto your computer, you can do things like set appointments, record you call, set up sales stages for each lead, do graphs, write notes on the calls, set alarms, check your database remotely with devices that give you internet access. You get the picture. So maybe this might work for you. You can also try getting it on Ebay as they have deals on their for this program too.
I have looked at a number of these programs. I have tried 3-4. I believe ACT to be a good program as well. You can also use Zoho CRM for free…
But, with that said, I sometimes find them to cost you more effort than they are worth. You can spend more time entering them into the system than actually making a deal. If you speak with someone and there is no deal, then trash the lead. If you can forward it on (to agent, mortgage person, shortsale guy, etc.) then do so and don’t invest more personal time in it.
So, after trying multiple products, I am still using excel (google docs rather) and find it to still be the best way — at least for me!!
I use SugarCRM, it free and it works pretty well.
The only downside is you need to install it on a remote server.
It’s really not that hard.
Larry
I’ve tried the excel thing and quickly got lost in the multiple excel files. It would take me upwards of 30 minutes sometimes just to find a lead that called 6 months after getting one of my letters. Drove me crazy!
I’ve never used Act or other pay for CRM products because they were all to expensive. So I decided to develop my own. It’s still a work in progress and definitely doesn’t have all the features of a professional product but it’s getting there.
If you go over to my blog you can download a copy of it for free. It’s a windows application and unfortunately doesn’t work on Macs.
I’d capture them online and save the data in a CSV file which yo can them import into Excel.
I feel your frustration about finding a good contact management system to go with. I tested a bunch myself including writing a custom one from scratch myself but ultimately I ended up going with Highrise.
Here is why I use them in my real estate business (maybe it will help you):
- It is web based and accessible for any computer with internet (or my iPad) including a free app for my iPhone
- It is able to be used by multiple people at the same time - especially helpful when you have an Acquisitions Manager, bird dogs, wholesalers and administrative assistants all working from the same contacts and same properties
- You can lock or finely control who can access which contacts, deals and individual notes even to keep certain stuff private or just between certain key staff
- You can use “Deals” to keep track of properties. Keep all your conversations about a property there (especially between multiple people).
- It works great with EVERY email program that can use BCC to keep track of emails that are related to individual contacts. Just BCC your special email address for your Highrise account it attaches the email to the contact that you just emailed. All your bird dogs, wholesalers, acquisition managers, property managers can all use their own email and just BCC their individually assigned emails and it takes care of it all
- You can use tags to organize your contacts super easily… for example… you can tag where you find people, what their follow status and what their profession is and much more.
- They do have a free account you can use and upgrade if you decide you need the extra features. Even the highest plans are reasonably priced compared to buying Act, Outlook or others.
- Can use the “To Do” system to keep track of people to follow up with.
- Integrated nicely with email broadcast services like MailChimp for doing email blasts (your investor buyers list for wholesaling and so on)
- Data is backed up online (and you can export it if you want to store a local backup) so you don’t have to worry about your hard drive crashing and losing all your leads.
Highrise, combined with Dropbox for managing Seller Property Information Files, is really the ultimate combo for running your real estate business in my opinion (and I’ve looked at a lot). I
Dropbox allows you to share files across multiple computers (and makes a really great backup service as well). For example, bird dogs can do research on properties and put all the necessary research files in folders that are organized by Seller Status (Initial Call Back, Research, Make Offer, Offer Made Follow Up, Under Contract, Bought It, Dead). Makes life much easier.
Hope that helps.
Sincerely,
James