Since so many leads (especially millennials) prefer to be contacted via email, writing effective real estate email templates will help you close more deals in 2018.
The only problem is that for many agents, writing effective emails can be challenging.
In order to help level the playing field, we put together this list of 17 effective real estate email templates you can use for inspiration to help create your own templates.
After the templates, make sure to stick around and check out my 10 rules for writing effective emails at the end of this article
1.Redfin/Discount Broker Objection Handler Email Response
Tom Ferry
Originally a phone script, Tom’s excellent discount broker rebuttal is perfect to use on leads who prefer email.
“As a full service brokerage we use all the available tools to showcase your home
in the best way possible to the largest consumer base. Being exposed at that level
allows us to reach the greatest amount of buyers causing you to sell at the best
terms and price.
As a discount brokerage, they must be selective with the tools they use because
they have to save money somehow. Too often we find it is at the cost of your
exposure and that this lower exposure often causing sellers to receive lower price
offers. Buyers know discount brokerages are occasionally used so they tend to try
and low bid the homes because they know the seller opted for less services. Does
this make sense to you?
With the market conditions still not as solid as we would all like, I think you deserve
the very best exposure, would you agree?”
Want to learn more about email marketing mistakes to avoid from Tom? Check out Episode 54 of the Tom Ferry Show here.
2.One Year Follow up Email
Zvi Band, Contactually
Subject: Happy 1 Year in Your Home!“Hi {{ first_name | fallback: “there” }},
Happy anniversary on the purchase of your home! I would imagine you’ve settled in nicely at your place now; however, if there is anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Also, as you know, real estate is strongly based on relationships. If you know of anyone who is searching for a realtor, I’d be honored to have you pass along my information, or reply with their name and contact info.
Hope to hear from you soon and thank you so much!
Best!”
3.Seller Lead Email
Tyler Zey, Founder EasyagentPRO
Subject: Like hotcakes“Hey John,
Every house in your neighborhood has sold for more than you’d expect this last year. Buyers are finally submitting offers like hotcakes.
Does 5pm tomorrow at the Starbucks by your house work to show you this report I’ve drawn up? I think you’re going to like LOVE the numbers.
Best,
TylerPS: Have you seen my client success stories?”
Looking for an IDX website designed to generate and convert leads? Check out our buyer’s guide comparing EasyagentPRO, Chime, Boomtown, and Real Geeks Here.
4. Lender Referral Email
Stacie Staub, Founder West + Main Homes
Subject: Lenders I know and trust“Hi!
Here is the lender info that I promised….I recommend that you talk with a couple of them to see what programs that they offer and to make sure that their communication style works for you.
This is really the first step in your home-buying journey…once you are pre-approved and have a solid idea of what your purchasing power will be, then we can set up a home search and start looking for some homes!
West + Main Homes has a video discussing the pre-approval process that you might also find helpful.
Let me know how it goes, and who you decide to work with!
[Insert contact details for your 3 preferred lenders, including links to their website, active links to their email, and a link to their pre-approval form if they have one.]
10 Questions to ask a Lender
10 Things a Lender will Probably Need From You
As always, hit me up with questions or concerns any time!
Thanks!
[insert your full signature, which I recommend you include on EVERY email.]
Next, let’s check out an example of a listing feedback template from Market Leader
5. Listing Feedback Email
Market Leader
Subject: Checking-In
“Just a note to make sure you received the listing information I sent and were able to view it. If you did have any problems, I can resend the information, send it via postal mail, or deliver it to you personally.
I am interested in getting your thoughts on the homes. Did any of them appeal to you? Did you enjoy viewing the listings? Did it give you a good idea of what is available?
If you would like to see any of these homes in person, I would be happy to set a time to get together and tour them along with any others that come on the market. Please feel free to call or email me for any further help or questions.
In the meantime, I will continue to send you valuable information about searching for a home, the buying
process, and packing and moving. I welcome the opportunity to represent you and help you find the home of your dreams!”
Need a quick infusion of leads without the hassle? Market Leader sells buyer and seller leads directly which means you can start working leads right away.
Click Here to Check if Your Zip Code is Available
6. Reconnecting With Past Clients Email
Rich Gaasenbeek IxactContact (this is a phone script, but works great as an email)
“Hi Susan, this is Candace Green from ABC Realty. It’s been a while since we worked together on selling your home on Maple Street.
I’m sorry that I haven’t been in touch more since you’ve moved. How have you and your family been?
Now that we’re back in touch, is there anything I can help you with? I’d be happy to offer you a home appraisal if you’re interested. If you’ve been thinking of making any changes around your home I’d be happy to recommend some reputable contractors/landscapers/decorators.
If you know of anyone who is considering buying or selling, feel free to share my contact information with them. I really appreciate referrals from past clients.
Thanks for taking the time to chat today; it was really nice reconnecting with you. I’ll be in touch every so often. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any real estate or home-related questions.”
Here’s another great email template from Zillow that you can use for your second contact with a seller.
7. Second contact with seller
Zillow
Subject line: [Contact name], let’s chat about selling your home
Hi, [Contact name]:
Thanks again for taking a minute to chat with me on [conversation date] about selling your home. I strive to make the selling experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Is [previously discussed date range] still your timeline for selling your home?
I will create a custom home valuation report for your property and get in touch with you shortly with the finished report. In the meantime, please visit my website [website link] or, if you have any questions, feel free to email or call me at [your number].
Thanks again for your time!
[Agent signature]
Let’s face it. Every single lead you talk to will visit Zillow for some part of their search. If you want to get leads before other agents do, try advertising for buyer and seller leads on Zillow.
8. Testimonial Email
Megan Swanson, Boomtown
Subject: Varies
Hi Cindy,
I hope you have been able to browse some of the market updates I sent over in my last email. If not, I have a blog post here explaining the current market and how to position yourself as the best buyer in the lot.
However, in this market it oftentimes comes down to negotiations between agents in order to close the deal on a home. And I wanted you to hear a few stories about how I’ve helped some locals find their perfect properties over the past few months.
“Annie worked magic in a market where I never thought I would be able to afford my dream home. She managed the process from start to finish and my family and I could not be happier.” -The Jones Family
“My home search was full of ups and downs, but Annie never stopped in the search for our home. After helping us sell our current home and find the new place, we could not have asked for a better experience.” -Matthew Trice
Browse more testimonials on my website here.
Starting the search is the first step in finding your perfect property, and I am here to help!
I’ll talk to you soon,
Annie Agent
Since referrals will become the lifeblood of your business as you progress, here’s a great email script from NAR for referrals:
9. Referral Request
National Association of Realtors
Subject: Varies
Hello <first name>,
I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and spirits. As you know, I greatly value the business and personal relationship that I have with you. I write today to ask a favor: I am looking to expand my business and work for more good people, like you. Do you have any friends, family, or colleagues in need of real estate brokerage services?
As you may already know, my services include:
Real estate sales
Real estate purchases
Real estate home staging
Local real estate market reports
Local real estate market expertise and guidance
Real estate professional referrals (for those moving to another state or country)
Real estate leasing (commercial, industrial, retail, residential)
Other: do you have a unique real estate issue that you need assistance with? I am happy to work with you to find solutions.
Again, thank you for supporting me and my business endeavors. I hope to hear from you soon!
Best Wishes,
<first name>
Now on to a listing request follow up from Point2:
10. Listing Request Follow up
Point2
Subject: Follow Up
“Just a note to make sure you were able to view the listing information you requested. If you had any problems, I would be happy to resend it another way or deliver it to you personally.
I’d love to get your thoughts on the home(s). Did it/any of them appeal to you? Did you get a good idea of what is available?
If you would like to see any home in person, let me know and we can set up a tour. I can get us access to new listings as soon as they come on the market.
Please feel free to call, email or text me for any further help or with questions about the buying process. Helping you find the home of your dreams is what I do!”
Here’s another great email from Contactually’s email script vault:
11. New Agent Recruiting Email
Contactually
Subject line: Before you delete this …
Hi [first name]
I know I’ve reached out a few times, and you may have put the messages aside
because you weren’t interested in making a move at this point in time.
I’m not looking to only talk to you about recruiting, however. I’d like to meet to
connect on a professional level – a meeting I hope will be mutually beneficial for
both of us.
I’m sure you know from your own experience that expanding your network is
always valuable. What I’m asking is simply just to get to know each other and
Chat.
No strings attached!
I promise you’ll leave our meeting with something worth your time. I’ve been in
real estate for {INSERT NUMBER} years, and I can at a minimum share with you
some foolproof ways to grow your business.
Would you be open to an informal conversation?
Follow ups for home valuation requests are another email you need to nail right away:
12. Home Valuation Request Follow up Email
Followup Boss
Subject: How much is your home worth?
“Hello NAME,
Are you still interested in knowing how much your home is worth?
I think you’ll be surprised what I uncovered in my market analysis. Want to grab a coffee and walk through it?
How’s Tuesday afternoon?
Joe Agent
P.S. Getting homes sold above asking price is kinda my superpower. Wanna see how I do it? Grab my free guide on How to Get Max ROI out of Your Houston Home.”
Sometimes the second contact is more important than the first!
13. Second Contact With a Passive Buyer
Realty Executives, Santa Clarita
Subject: Your Interest in [city, neighborhood]
Thanks again for taking a minute to chat with me on [date]. I understand not feeling ready to look at properties: it’s a big decision and there is a lot to think about.
After we spoke, I set you up to receive and occasional email with listings similar to what we discussed. I’m hoping they piqued your interest, so shoot me an email or give me a call at [your number] to chat; I want to make sure I’m sending you what you need.
Thanks again for your time. If you have any questions please let me know!
[Agent signature]
Even your emails to your list offering up a home sale report are important to get right.
14. Annual Home Sales Report Email
Placester
Subject: Agency Name Annual Home Sales Report
Hi [name]
Want to see how the [market name] housing market is performed in [last year] and what lies ahead for [upcoming year]?
Discover statistics that show home sales, prices, values and other key data during the 12 month period here in my in-depth report.
Of course there is nothing worse than a non responsive lead! Use this script to get a response from them.
5x Your Open Rates by Sending Your Leads Personalized Video Emails
Since the vast majority of people would rather listen and watch than slog through long emails, it’s no surprise that studies have shown that video can increase email open rates by as much as 5x.
Luckily for Realtors, we have a dedicated (and awesome) app that makes recording, sending, and tracking quick videos a snap.
Just think, instead of sending a wall of text, you can just record some of these email templates and put them in a video drip campaign. Check out BombBomb below for a free trial.
15. Non Responsive Leads Email
Ryan Stewman, hardcloser.com
Subject: Have you stopped looking for [insert result]?
[First name], recently we received your information in regards to [offer]. I’ve personally attempted to reach you several times via phone, email and text. I believe you may have accidentally signed up for the wrong offer because most people who reach out to us end up taking advantage of our offer within 10-15 minutes.
I’ll be removing your contact information and never contacting you again if I don’t hear from you in the next 48 hours. If you are no longer interested in our product, I surely don’t want to continue taking up space in your inbox. We clean our email lists up often so we are in compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act.
If you are still interested and want to take advantage of our offer, I’ll give you an additional 10 percent off the price but ONLY if you respond to this email in the next 48 hours. Two days from now the offer and my emails go away forever.
Have a great day,
[agent]
Do you have a script for following up with your open house visitors?
16. Open House Follow Up Email (Neighborhood Expert)
Jon Yourkin, Realvolve
Subject: I know [neighborhood] is my dream locale too…
Hi [first name],
Thanks so much for stopping by the open house for [address] last Sunday, it was great to meet you!
If you’re interested in seeing more homes in this neighborhood, there are a few I’d like to show you. It’s a competitive area, but my expertise buying and selling in [neighborhood] is unparalleled.
But before we jump into anything serious, I’d love to learn more about what you’re looking for in a new home. I also want to share my approach to the homebuying process, to make sure I’m the right fit for you.
If you’d like to set up a time to meet, click this link to book time on my calendar. [link to meeting tool]
Talk to you soon,
[agent signature]
No one can resist coming soon listings!
17. Coming Soon Preview Email for Cold Buyer Leads
Jeff Manson, Real Geeks
Subject: Still looking in Lanikai?
Hi John,
Are you still interested in Lanikai? I’ve got a new listing coming up (not yet on the market) and I wanted you to be one of the first to know about it!
Please let me know if you’re interested in more details.
Sincerely,
Rockstar AgentLooking for an IDX website designed to generate and convert leads? Check out our buyer’s guide comparing EasyagentPRO, Chime, Boomtown, and Real Geeks Here.
BONUS: Learn How CRM Companies Pitch YOU
Let’s face it, people who design CRMs for a living know a thing or two about writing a persuasive email. Over at Chime, they actually use the very product they sell to help them pitch agents more effectively.
Here’s an example email that Chime uses. Note how they integrate images, videos, and persuasive language into their email.
[Subject line] You’ve got a lot on your plate…
[body] …but you don’t need a fork for every bite!
#lead_first_name# —
As a busy real estate agent, you have to track leads, contact sellers, please buyers, manage calls, send emails, dispatch texts, run Facebook ads…and about a million and one other things. You don’t need to complicate things by running six different systems to manage it all, when you could simply work with one platform for everything, right?
Taking care of the back-end of your growing business shouldn’t bleed over into your front-end time. Chime, the first fully-integrated real estate operating system, empowers you to do what you do best, while leaving us the rest. Top-notch CRM, lead generation, IDX website, artificially intelligent dialer, open house drone…we have it all — and it’s all built for mobile first so you don’t ever have to slow down.
Listen to what one of our top agents, Wilson Leung, has to say…
Taking charge of your future can be a lot to swallow, but we can break it down into bite-sized chunks for you. Let’s schedule some time in the next several days so you can see for yourself how Chime can transform your business. What does your calendar look like early next week?
Chime on,
#signature#
12 Tips for Writing Your Own Killer Real Estate Email Template
1. Avoid Long Paragraphs & Confusing Words
In order to keep your mobile leads interested in your email, try and keep your paragraphs to no more than two or three lines each.
A three line paragraph will be six line or even more on small phone screens. This makes your email seem much longer than it is.2. Don’t use HTML email templates
Email templates might look great for your email newsletter, but they will do nothing but distract your reader for follow up emails to your leads. You want them to focus on your message, not fancy layouts.
3. Also, HTML templates won’t work on all devices all the time. Better to err on the side of brevity and simplicity.
4. Avoid using too much jargon, simple direct language works better
While many Realtors think industry jargon will impress their leads, in reality, real estate jargon can confuse your leads and make your message less clear.
5. Create an outline before you start writing
One of the best ways to make sure you hit the right points in the right order in your email is to make an outline before you start writing.Figure out what you want to say and when ‘and then flesh out the email and work on language.
6. Use the slide to keep readers engaged
In copywriting, “the slide” is language you use specifically to make sure your reader reads the entire message.Best practices include starting off with very short sentences. Building intrigue or asking a question at the beginning of the email, and using bucket brigades— linking words and phrases like “How can you beat that?” “It gets better” “think about it.” “here’s the deal” “let’s face facts” etc.
7. Use playful language sparingly
While you may be tempted to use playful, informal language in your email to seem more personable, you should only use it sparingly.While it will help you and your message seem more personal, it can also very easily sound unprofessional.
8. Pay special attention to your subject line
If you want people to actually read your email, you need to pay special attention to the subject line. This is the hook that will get your leads to open your email.
9. Read your emails out loud before sending
In order to give your message the most impact, your language needs to flow smoothly. If your lead is stumbling with your language it will muddle your message and lower its emotional impact.One of the best ways to ensure your language flows smoothly in your email is to try reading it out loud before sending it. If you can read it easily without stumbling or unnatural pauses that’s a good indication your leads will read it that way too.
10. Send emails at the right time
Since your leads probably gets tons of emails every day, you need to make sure your message doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.That means scheduling your emails to be sent when they’re most likely to read them. Early morning, mid afternoon, and late evening are all good times to send your emails.Even better, a relationship focused CRM like Contactually will actually asses your lead’s engagement and automatically send emails at the times they’re most likely to open them and engage.
11. Remember to follow up
Since you’ll likely be competing with hundreds of other emails in your lead’s inbox, chances are you won’t reach every lead with the first message.That means that following up is crucial if you want to maximize your potential conversions. Schedule follow ups for leads who don’t open your emails, and schedule more targeted follow ups for leads that opened your email but didn’t respond.
12. Track your progress
Typing up and email and crossing your fingers won’t cut it these days. Instead, use a good CRM or email marketing program to track your open rates and response rates to continually tweak your subject like and message.
Bonus Tip: A/B Test Your “From” Line
Here’s a great tip from our friends over at Agent Inner Circle. Don’t forget to A/B test your “from” line in order to increase your open rates. Does “Joe” work better than “Joe Realtor” or “Joe Smith: Realtor”? You won’t really know until you test it.
The Bottom Line
In order to write great real estate email templates to engage your leads, check out what other agents are sending, then create an outline, write your email and subject line, send and track your message, then tweak until you get high open and response rates.
Real Estate email layouts that modernize the way you converse with prospects. Good Work!