Category: Carrot News

  • EP 474: From $615K to $1.3M by Befriending Agents w/ Paul Myers

    EP 474: From $615K to $1.3M by Befriending Agents w/ Paul Myers


    Paul is closing half of his deals from a lead source that requires no ad spend, is consistent & predictable, and provides highly motivated seller leads. We’re talking about real estate agent outreach, AKA agent referrals.

    Agents all over his market are bringing deals to him on a silver platter. It’s not a complicated strategy, but it requires you to step out and build relationships instead of outsourcing your lead generation.

    It’s worked extremely well for Paul and his team, and I think you’ll enjoy what he has to share in this episode, where we roleplay and teach you all the nitty-gritty details of how to close more deals with much less work. Listen in.

    Mentioned in this Episode:

    Paul’s Carrot Site: myershousebuyers.com

    Drive For Dollars with DealMachine

    Hone Your Negotiation Skills at Carrot.com/close

    Our Mastermind: CarrotCamp


  • EP 473: Motivated by Mortality

    EP 473: Motivated by Mortality


    “Time gives us options when we have it, but it demands urgency because we’re not guaranteed to get it.”

    Something has changed in my family’s life that’s caused me to pull back and evaluate what’s most important. At the same time, I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to build a business that allows me the flexibility to spend time away from the business when I need to.

    This episode is the start of diving into what that looks like in the hopes of inspiring you to build a business of freedom that makes a more significant impact.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Chasing Daylight by Eugene O’Kelly

    Follow me on Instagram


  • EP 472: Brent Daniels UNSCRIPTED: Skills to Build a Real Business, Seller Role Play & Fighting Distractions

    EP 472: Brent Daniels UNSCRIPTED: Skills to Build a Real Business, Seller Role Play & Fighting Distractions


    We went bananas on this one. Brady calls Brent Daniels’ acquisition team and pretends to be a seller. Brent tells a story of your possessions owning you & how he protects his focus. Brent shares 20 skills you need to develop to build a long-lasting business.

    We go deep on a few of them, like understanding personality differences & battling objections with empathy.

    Mentioned in this Episode:

    Get more sales negotiation content at Carrot.com/Close

    Connect with Brent at wholesalinginc.com

    Minimalism Netflix Documentary

    Start by Jon Acuff

    About Brent Daniels:

    Brent Daniels, creator of the advanced wholesale training, TTP, runs a multi-million dollar wholesaling business out of Phoenix, AZ.

    He has coached tons of people with a simple and effective strategy on how to get on the phone and talk to motivated sellers.

    A natural leader, Brent combines his passion for helping his students with his proactive, little sleep, high energy, “doesn’t-want-to-wait-around-for-business” attitude to help you make the most out of the wholesaling cash machine.


  • Real Estate Investor Websites | Our Top 10 Picks for 2025

    Real Estate Investor Websites | Our Top 10 Picks for 2025

    Real Estate Investor Websites | Our Top 10 Picks for 2023

    We recently surveyed over 7,000 of our members to pinpoint the primary real estate investor websites that investors depend on in their day-to-day operations.

    In this article, we will conduct an in-depth analysis of the top 10 real estate investor websites. We will shed light on why these real estate investor websites are indispensable resources for individuals currently engaged in real estate investing and those who are contemplating entering this field.

    Real Estate Investor Websites

    Top 10 Real Estate Investor Websites

    1. Carrot

    Carrot real estate investor websites

    At Carrot, we aim to enable real estate professionals with a high-performing website that acts as a Lead Generation Hub.

    Carrot websites are optimized for Google Core Web Vitals, page speed, and SEO best practices.

    But you don’t have to take our word for it. 

    Check out these Carrot reviews

    We also have data to back it up.

    On average, 7x higher lead to deal conversion AND $13,930.15 in EXTRA profit per deal.

    Carrot member lead to deal conversion rate

    Leads generated through Carrot real estate investor websites experience a remarkable 7x higher conversion rate and yield 2.5x greater profitability than leads from non-Carrot sources (discover more about this here).

    We wholeheartedly embrace our core values, and when it comes to our members’ success, we take “Adapt, Evolve, & Always Improve” and “Add Humanity To Business” very seriously.

    Our commitment extends to staying ahead of factors that impact lead generation. This includes activities like developing new lead generation templates, staying abreast of Google’s algorithm updates, and relentless testing. Our goal is to continually uncover fresh and inventive methods to enhance the performance of our members’ websites.

    Carrot continues to be an excellent option for real estate investors in 2025 for several compelling reasons:

    High-Quality Real Estate Investor Websites: Carrot provides investors the tools to create professional and high-converting real estate websites. These websites are designed to attract motivated sellers, cash buyers, and other potential leads. The platform offers a range of customizable templates to suit various investment strategies.

    SEO Optimization: Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for online visibility. Carrot websites are SEO-optimized, helping investors rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract organic traffic. This can significantly reduce marketing costs and increase quality lead generation.

    Content Marketing: Carrot offers content marketing features that enable investors to publish valuable, relevant, and engaging content on their websites. This content helps establish credibility, build trust with potential leads, and position investors as industry experts.

    Lead Generation Tools: The platform provides lead generation tools and lead capture forms that prompt visitors to take action. Investors can capture contact information and other relevant details from potential sellers and buyers, allowing for personalized follow-up.

    Conversion Optimization: Carrot is known for its focus on conversion rate optimization (CRO). The platform employs best practices and A/B testing to improve the conversion rates of websites continually. This means more leads and potential deals for investors.

    Mobile Responsiveness: With an increasing number of users accessing websites via mobile devices, Carrot ensures that its websites are mobile-responsive. This enhances the user experience and ensures investors don’t miss out on mobile traffic.

    Educational Resources: Carrot provides investors with a wealth of educational resources, including blog posts, webinars, and guides. These resources help investors stay informed about industry trends, marketing strategies, and best practices.

    Community and Support: Carrot has an active community of real estate investors who share insights, tips, and success stories. Additionally, the platform offers customer support to assist users with any technical or platform-related issues.

    Integrated CRM: Carrot integrates with various customer relationship management (CRM) systems, making it easier for investors to manage and nurture their leads effectively.

    Performance Tracking: Carrot provides analytics and tracking tools that allow investors to monitor website performance, lead generation, and conversion metrics. This data-driven approach helps investors make informed decisions and refine their marketing strategies.

    Customization Options: Carrot allows for extensive customization of websites, ensuring that they align with an investor’s unique brand and message. Investors can tailor their websites to specific niches and markets.

    Competitive Pricing: Carrot offers pricing plans suitable for investors with various budgets, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Investors can choose plans that match their needs and scale as their business grows.

    Carrot is a top choice for real estate investors due to its user-friendly website builder, SEO capabilities, content marketing tools, and commitment to conversion optimization.

    The platform’s emphasis on education, community support, and mobile responsiveness makes it a valuable asset for investors looking to establish a strong online presence and generate motivated seller leads in a competitive real estate market.

    Visit testcarrot.xyz

    2. Roofstock

    roofshock.com

    Roofstock is a compelling option for investors that already have a real estate investor websites, especially those interested in single-family rental properties, due to its unique features and investor-focused approach. Here are some reasons why Roofstock is a good option:

    Exclusive Marketplace for Single-Family Rental Properties: Roofstock offers single-family rental properties in various markets across the United States. Investors can browse through a wide selection of properties in different locations and find opportunities that align with their investment goals.

    Certified Pre-Owned Homes: Roofstock’s properties are “certified pre-owned,” meaning they have undergone a thorough inspection and evaluation process to ensure they are in good condition and rent-ready. This gives investors peace of mind, knowing they are investing in well-maintained properties.

    Tenant-Occupied Properties: One of the significant advantages of Roofstock is that many of its properties are already tenant-occupied. This allows investors to start earning rental income from day one without the need to find and screen tenants themselves.

    Transparent Property Information: Roofstock provides detailed property information, including financial projections, rental history, property reports, and inspection details. Investors can access all the essential data they need to make informed investment decisions.

    Property Management Services: For investors who prefer a hands-off approach, Roofstock offers property management services through its network of vetted property managers. This service helps investors efficiently manage their rental properties and optimize rental income.

    In-Depth Neighborhood Data: Roofstock provides extensive neighborhood data, including crime rates, school ratings, and other essential statistics. This information helps investors assess the desirability and potential for rental demand in specific locations.

    Visit roofstock.com

    3. Mashvisor

    Mashvisor

    Mashvisor is a fantastic option for real estate investors for several reasons:

    Comprehensive Property Analytics: Mashvisor provides in-depth property analytics and data for traditional and Airbnb investment properties. Investors can access key metrics such as rental income, occupancy rates, cash flow, cap rate, and more, helping them make informed decisions about potential investments.

    AI-Powered Investment Tools: The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to offer predictive analytics and investment insights. Mashvisor’s algorithms analyze vast amounts of real estate data to identify lucrative investment opportunities and forecast property performance.

    Property Search and Analysis: Investors can easily search for properties that match their investment criteria using Mashvisor’s intuitive interface. The platform streamlines property analysis, saving investors time and effort in finding the best investment deals.

    Neighborhood Analysis: Mashvisor provides comprehensive neighborhood analysis, including data on property prices, rental demand, and investment potential. This information helps investors identify high-growth areas and pinpoint locations that align with their investment goals.

    Heatmap Feature: The platform’s heatmap feature allows investors to visualize the potential rental income and Airbnb occupancy rates across different neighborhoods. This visual representation aids in comparing and selecting the most lucrative locations for investment.

    Investment Property Financing: Mashvisor offers tools to estimate mortgage payments and financing options for investment properties. This feature helps investors assess the financial feasibility of their investments accurately.

    Property Management Insights: Investors can access data on property management fees, enabling them to factor in these costs while calculating potential returns. This information is particularly useful for investors who are considering hiring property management services.

    Historical and Forecasted Data: Mashvisor provides historical and forecasted data on property performance, giving investors a long-term perspective on their investments’ potential appreciation and cash flow.

    Property Comparisons: The platform allows investors to compare multiple investment properties side by side, facilitating quick and effective decision-making based on data-driven insights.

    Investment Strategies: The platform caters to different investment strategies, including traditional rentals, Airbnb rentals, and short-term rentals. Investors can tailor their searches and analyses based on their preferred investment approach.

    Visit mashvisor.com

    4. Stessa

    Stessa

    Stessa is an excellent option for real estate investors due to its comprehensive suite of tools and features designed specifically for property management and real estate portfolio tracking. Here are some reasons why Stessa is a valuable platform for investors:

    Portfolio Management Made Easy: Stessa simplifies the management of real estate portfolios by providing a centralized platform to track and monitor all properties in one place. Investors can easily view the performance of their entire portfolio at a glance, making it convenient to assess overall financial health.

    Automated Income and Expense Tracking: Stessa automates the process of tracking income and expenses for each property. The platform integrates with bank accounts and property management software, automatically categorizing transactions and generating detailed financial reports. This feature saves investors significant time and effort on manual bookkeeping.

    Property Performance Analytics: Stessa offers in-depth analytics and performance insights for each property. Investors can access metrics such as cash flow, net operating income (NOI), cap rate, and return on investment (ROI), enabling them to make data-driven decisions to optimize their portfolio’s profitability.

    Document Management: Stessa provides secure cloud storage for all property-related documents, including leases, vendor contracts, and property photos. This organized document management system ensures essential paperwork is readily accessible when needed.

    Tax Reporting Made Simple: With Stessa’s accurate income and expense tracking, tax reporting becomes seamless for real estate investors. The platform generates detailed tax-ready reports, simplifying the tax preparation process and potentially reducing accounting costs.

    Property Insights and Alerts: Stessa’s platform includes AI-powered insights and alerts that notify investors about potential issues or opportunities within their portfolios. These proactive alerts help investors stay on top of maintenance needs, rent collection, lease expirations, and more.

    Integration with Other Tools: Stessa seamlessly integrates with various popular property management and accounting software, allowing users to connect their existing tools and consolidate data for a more holistic portfolio view.

    Visit stessa.com

    5. BatchLeads

    BatchLeads

    BatchLeads remains a strong option for real estate investors in 2025 due to its robust lead generation capabilities, customization options, and integrated tools for marketing and lead management. Its focus on data accuracy and off-market opportunities makes it a valuable asset for investors seeking to identify and capitalize on motivated seller leads in a competitive real estate market.

    High-Quality Leads: BatchLeads provides access to a vast database of high-quality real estate leads. Investors can target motivated sellers, distressed properties, vacant homes, and more. The platform’s extensive data coverage ensures that investors have a wide range of lead options to explore.

    Customized List Building: Investors can create customized marketing lists tailored to their specific investment criteria. This customization allows for precise targeting, enabling investors to focus on properties that align with their strategies.

    Off-Market Opportunities: BatchLeads offers access to off-market leads, which are properties not actively listed on the MLS. This gives investors a competitive advantage, as they can identify opportunities before they become widely available to other buyers.

    Skip Tracing: The platform includes skip tracing services, helping investors locate and contact property owners efficiently. Skip tracing can be a valuable tool for contacting motivated sellers and negotiating deals.

    Integrated CRM: BatchLeads has a built-in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Investors can manage their leads, track interactions, and streamline communication, improving efficiency in lead management.

    Direct Mail and Marketing Tools: The platform offers integrated direct mail and marketing features, allowing investors to create and send targeted marketing campaigns. This feature simplifies the process of reaching out to potential sellers and engaging with leads.

    Property Details and Analytics: BatchLeads provides comprehensive property details, ownership history, transaction history, and more. Investors can access valuable property insights to make informed investment decisions.

    Data Accuracy: Data accuracy is crucial in real estate investing. BatchLeads places a strong emphasis on data quality, helping investors avoid wasting time and resources on inaccurate or outdated information.

    Integration Capabilities: The platform may offer integrations with other real estate software and tools, enhancing its functionality and compatibility with an investor’s existing toolkit.

    Visit batchleads.io

    6. DealMachine

    DealMachine

    DealMachine is a valuable tool and platform that can greatly benefit real estate investors for several reasons:

    Driving for Dollars Technology: DealMachine’s unique “Driving for Dollars” technology enables investors to find distressed or off-market properties by simply driving around neighborhoods. The app uses the phone’s GPS to identify properties and provides immediate access to property owner information for follow-up.

    Direct Mail Marketing: DealMachine specializes in direct mail marketing for real estate investors. The platform allows investors to easily create and send personalized postcards to property owners in targeted areas. This direct mail approach can be highly effective in generating leads and identifying potential investment opportunities.

    Lead Generation and Acquisition: With DealMachine, investors can use the platform’s built-in property research tools to find properties with investment potential. The app’s features, such as property information, owner contact details, and property history, help investors assess the viability of each lead and make informed decisions.

    CRM Integration: DealMachine seamlessly integrates with popular customer relationship management (CRM) systems, allowing investors to manage leads, track progress, and streamline their workflow efficiently.

    In-App Communication: The platform offers a built-in messaging system that enables investors to connect directly with property owners through text messaging or direct mail. This direct communication feature can help establish a rapport with potential sellers and increase the chances of successful negotiations.

    Lead Scoring and Tracking: DealMachine provides lead-scoring tools to prioritize potential deals based on specified criteria. This feature helps investors focus on the most promising opportunities and manage their time effectively.

    Property Analysis: DealMachine offers property analysis tools to help investors evaluate potential deals. By accessing property details and historical data, investors can make informed decisions and assess a property’s potential return on investment.

    Mobile Accessibility: As a mobile app, DealMachine provides the flexibility and convenience for investors to manage their real estate activities on the go. Whether driving for dollars, analyzing properties, or communicating with owners, investors can access the platform from their smartphones or tablets.

    Visit dealmachine.com

    7. BiggerPockets

    BiggerPockets

    BiggerPockets is a highly regarded and valuable resource for real estate investors for the following reasons:

    Knowledge Hub: BiggerPockets serves as a vast knowledge hub for real estate investors at all experience levels. The platform offers a wide range of educational content, including articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos, and forums, covering various aspects of real estate investing.

    Community and Networking: BiggerPockets boasts one of the largest and most active real estate investing communities. Investors can connect with like-minded individuals, network with experienced professionals, and participate in discussions to gain insights and valuable advice.

    Forums and Q&A: The platform’s forums and Q&A sections allow investors to ask questions and seek guidance on specific real estate investment topics. Users can receive input from experienced investors, mentors, and industry experts.

    Real Estate Calculators: BiggerPockets offers a suite of real estate investment calculators, enabling investors to perform in-depth financial analysis on potential properties. These calculators help users evaluate cash flow, return on investment, and other crucial metrics.

    Marketplace: The BiggerPockets Marketplace provides a platform for buying, selling, and finding investment properties. Investors can access a wide range of real estate deals, including off-market properties and opportunities from other community members.

    Supportive Community Culture: The platform fosters a positive and supportive community culture, encouraging investors to share their successes, failures, and lessons learned, creating a space for continuous learning and growth.

    Visit biggerpockets.com

    8. SparkRental

    SparkRental

    SparkRental is a good option for real estate investors for several reasons:

    Tenant Screening Services: SparkRental provides comprehensive tenant screening services, allowing investors to make informed decisions when selecting tenants for their rental properties. This feature helps minimize the risk of rental income loss and potential property damage.

    Rent Collection and Payment Services: The platform offers rent collection and payment services, streamlining the rental management process for landlords. This feature ensures timely and hassle-free rent payments for both landlords and tenants.

    Rental Property Analysis Tools: SparkRental provides advanced rental property analysis tools that help investors assess the potential profitability of prospective investments. These tools include cash flow calculators, cap rate calculators, and investment property analysis reports.

    Landlord Forms and Documents: The website offers a collection of landlord forms and documents, such as lease agreements and rental applications, saving investors valuable time and effort in creating these documents from scratch.

    Focus on Passive Income: The platform emphasizes passive income strategies, guiding investors on how to build a portfolio that generates reliable and consistent rental income over time.

    Personal Finance Tools: In addition to real estate-specific tools, SparkRental also offers personal finance resources and budgeting tools, allowing investors to manage their finances more effectively and make informed investment decisions.

    Visit sparkrental.com

    9. PropStream

    PropStream

    PropStream empowers investors to rapidly create precise leads and marketing lists by leveraging over 120 property search filters and statuses. Whether you prefer customizing your filters or opting for pre-defined quick lists, our platform is your gateway to identifying motivated sellers, whether their properties are currently on the market or off-market.

    PropStream remains a great choice for real estate investors in 2025 due to several key reasons:

    Motivated Seller Leads: PropStream provides access to both on-market and off-market property listings. This is particularly valuable for investors seeking motivated sellers who might not actively advertise their properties. Access to off-market listings can give investors a competitive edge in finding lucrative deals.

    Comprehensive Property Details: PropStream provides comprehensive property details, including ownership history, transaction history, tax information, and more. This wealth of information equips investors with the knowledge needed to negotiate favorable deals.

    Integration Capabilities: It offers integration options with various real estate tools and software, enhancing its versatility and compatibility with an investor’s existing toolkit.

    Extensive Data: PropStream offers access to an extensive database of real estate information. With over 120 property search filters, investors can narrow down their leads to target specific properties that match their investment criteria. This wealth of data enables investors to make well-informed decisions.

    Customization: The platform allows users to set their own filters and criteria, tailoring their searches to their unique investment strategies. Whether you’re looking for distressed properties, foreclosures, or specific property types, PropStream can be customized to meet your needs.

    Market Insights: PropStream offers valuable market insights and analytics. Investors can analyze property trends, neighborhood data, and market statistics to identify emerging opportunities and make informed decisions.

    Time and Cost Efficiency: By streamlining the lead generation process, PropStream helps investors save time and resources. It eliminates the need for manual research and allows investors to focus on deal analysis and negotiation.

    Visit propstream.com

    10. RealtyMogul

    RealtyMogul

    RealtyMogul is an excellent real estate investor websites option due to its innovative approach to crowdfunding and investment opportunities. Here are several reasons why RealtyMogul.com is a standout choice for investors:

    Diverse Investment Opportunities: RealtyMogul offers a broad range of real estate investment opportunities, including commercial properties, residential assets, and specialized real estate projects. Investors can choose from various deals, allowing them to tailor their portfolio to their specific investment preferences.

    Access to Institutional-Quality Deals: The platform curates investment opportunities from reputable real estate sponsors and partners. These projects undergo rigorous due diligence, providing investors access to high-quality deals that are typically associated with institutional-grade investments.

    Passive Real Estate Investing: RealtyMogul enables investors to participate in real estate deals passively. Investors can co-invest with experienced real estate professionals, leaving the day-to-day management and operational responsibilities to the experts.

    Investor Protection: RealtyMogul places a strong emphasis on investor protection. The platform conducts thorough underwriting and risk assessment for each deal, aiming to align investor interests with the success of the projects.

    Low Minimum Investments: RealtyMogul offers relatively low minimum investment amounts, making it accessible to a broader range of investors. This feature allows individuals to diversify their investments across multiple projects, even with a modest initial capital.

    Streamlined Investment Process: RealtyMogul simplifies the investment process, making it convenient for investors to participate in projects that align with their investment goals. The platform handles administrative tasks, allowing investors to focus on building their portfolios.

    Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): In addition to individual property investments, RealtyMogul offers access to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). REITs allow investors to pool their funds with others to invest in a diverse portfolio of real estate assets, providing further diversification and liquidity.

    Visit realtymogul.com

    Closing Thoughts

    Exploring the extensive landscape of real estate investor websites can be overwhelming. Some websites focus on educating investors about the real estate industry and fostering peer connections.

    With these cutting-edge technology-driven platforms, you take charge of your investment choices, determining where your funds are allocated and the depth of your financial involvement. Some platforms prioritize lead generation, while others excel in market analysis, property selection, and simplifying the investment journey.

    We’re interested in hearing about the tools you rely on, too. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below; we’re eager to learn about your preferences and experiences.

  • Real Estate Testimonial Tips & Examples for 2025

    Real Estate Testimonial Tips & Examples for 2025

    “The only way to build authority is through content.”

    If you’re serious about generating leads, real estate testimonials can be a key content element because they are unbiased comments that prompt visitors to give you their contact information.

    A QUICK STUDY ON THE POWER OF PERSONALIZATION

    Key takeaway: 123% increase in leads for sites with personalization.

    We compared a batch of our CSU member’s motivated seller sites over 6 months to see the difference in the lead count.

    Now, there are, of course, other factors that play into site conversion. It’s also a great reminder that great-looking sites still need the personalization element to round out.

    We compared member sites WITHOUT personalization on the homepage (no testimonials, photos of the member, etc.) and homepages CONTAINING testimonials (1-3) and a personal photo in the about section.

    The result? 

    PROOF: 123% increase in leads for sites with personalization!

    Our most engaged members create the most content and get the most leads.

    Using real estate testimonials on your site in text or video, you introduce content that will authoritatively promote your business.

    Real Estate Testimonials: A Guide to Building Trust and Landing New Clients

    You should be using real estate testimonials to help establish credibility and authority. Quality testimonials increase conversions because they aren’t looked upon as sales pitches. If they come across in an unbiased voice, they will build trust. You’re using real people to show success in your service.

    In the end, your testimonials will convert more visitors into buyers and sellers if you use them correctly.

    According to a study… “Testimonials and case studies are considered the most effective content marketing tactics.” In short, in a crowded market like today, great testimonials for real estate agents and investors formatted correctly can boost your leads and deals. They help add credibility to an untrusting world.

    Additionally, as those values go vertical, many aspiring wholesalers start flipping houses, making for increasingly saturated online spaces.

    But before panic sets in, breathe. It’s not as bad as it sounds… well, but it’s also an opportunity. It’s a chance to flex your real estate muscles, to stand head and shoulders above that semi-debilitating clutter, to be the solution rather than contribute to the problem.

    What I will teach you will apply whether you’re an investor, buyer, seller, or agent.

    I will teach you how to build credibility by leveraging testimonials that shine.

    Before we dive into our list of top tips, here’s what you need to know about testimonials and why they’re essential.

    What is a Real Estate Testimonial?

    A real estate testimonial relays a story from a current to a potential client. The shorter, the better (unless you sacrifice quality). You don’t want an hour-long testimonial.

    When a client has a great experience, let them share it. Get real testimonials. Potential clients experience shopping anxiety — you know, that feeling before buying something that says, “It costs too much. It’s not good enough. How do you know it’s what you want?” — and testimonials are one way of shooting down this discouraging devil.

    The testimonial says, “Other people have worked with this company and had a good experience. I probably will too.”

    Here are some examples from one of our member sites:

    real estate testimonial examples
    Example Real Estate Testimonials

    Why are high-quality testimonials such a big deal?

    If used correctly, testimonials for real estate agents and investors are important for website visitors (and your conversion rate).

    They can…

    1. Completely eradicate concerns that prospects had about working with your business.
    2. Build immediate trust for who you are and what you do.
    3. Convince prospects to give you their information via an opt-in form or call you on the phone directly).

    Consider that 88% of consumers claim that they read at least 10 reviews before deciding whether they can trust a company or not (and they have to trust you if they’re going to work with you) or that 88% of people trust online testimonials just as much as personal recommendations from a friend.

    To prove just how powerful testimonials can be (at least the conversion rate side of things), Unbounce reported on an A/B test. Ideal for testing, Version A and Version B are identical save for one difference: Version B includes a testimonial above the website’s opt-in form.

    testimonials increased conversions by 34%

    In the end, Version B increased the conversion rate by 34%.

    Let’s put that in perspective for a wholesaler’s website.

    Imagine you drive 1,000 website visits every month, generating 100 leads per month on your website (a 10% conversion rate — typical for Carrot websites), and you close 1 in 25 leads. That means you’re doing about 4 deals per month at, let’s assume, $10,000 profit per deal.

    Boom — you add a glowing testimonial to your website and increase your conversion rate by 34%, from 10% to 13.4%.

    Now, you will get more than 130 monthly leads with the same amount of traffic (1,000 website visits). And since you close 1 in 15 to 25 leads, you’ll now do more than 5 deals monthly with the same amount of website traffic.

    You added $10,000 in monthly wholesale fees (from $40,000 to $50,000 per month) by putting a testimonial on your website.

    And the same goes for real estate agents. You can increase your conversion rate and monthly income by adding excellent real estate testimonials to your website.

    example testimonial for real estate agents

    Of course, I’m not promising that you’ll get exactly those results. I’m just trying to illustrate how powerful a slight boost in your website’s conversion rate can be on your business revenue (at Carrot, we provide high-converting websites out-of-the-box for our members)… and that testimonials can help you achieve that slight, powerful boost.

    But… all of this depends on using high-quality testimonials.

    You Might Be Doing It Wrong

    Most people have testimonials helpful in taking up website canvas, but little else.

    To avoid spitting lousy devil killers, I will walk you through the four levels of a quality real estate testimonial. Unfortunately, most people are stuck in levels one and two.

    P.S. – If you learn better through video – check out this podcast episode we did with two of the top investors in the Carrot community, where we walk through how to get testimonials, what questions to ask, and how to leverage them on your site!

    Getting Better Testimonials: Increasing Trust & Conversion for Real Estate Investor Leads

    Level 1: The Basic Real Estate Testimonial

    creating effective real estate testimonials

    The first level is your most basic testimonial:

    “Hey, Mark was great to work with. – J.K.”

    If a level one testimonial is on your website, it’s best to take it down. It’s not helping. There are no specifics. It doesn’t say what Mark did for you that was so great. It doesn’t say how Mark did it.

    It doesn’t end there if this lack of context isn’t enough. The signature says, “J.K.,” the client’s initials. Although the testimonial is made a joke by the initials J.K. (if someone has these initials, don’t even get their testimonial…), initials, even without such inconvenient letters, are impersonal and potentially create distrust in the viewer.

    A testimonial doesn’t always help your reputation. Level one testimonials, particularly, can damage it.

    Level 2: Be Specific

    convincing real estate testimonials

    Level two is better, but still in the sad zone 😢

    Do not use painfully vague real estate testimonials.

    “Mark did what he said he’d do, closed on time, and I refer him to friends. – John Kennedy”

    It says Mark is reliable, timely, and good enough to get a referral. Level two is getting more specific.

    When a testimonial is ambiguous, it can work against building trust for your business and create unease in the prospect’s mind. If this testimonial is real, why isn’t it more specific?

    Notice, also, that the testimonial used the person’s name, John Kennedy, not his initials. However, skeptics abound even with a real name and an honest, mildly-specific testimonial. The more specific, the better… and fewer critics.

    Here’s a sample of a good review for a real estate investor:

    “Best Decision I’ve Ever Made!!! I was in a situation where I needed to get out of my house ASAP and Colby came through for Me!!! Nobody else will ever beat his services and I’m relieved I don’t have the financial stress any longer!!! I will forever be grateful for what he did for me!!!”

    But specificity isn’t all that counts toward your level. Even if your testimonial is true, you must convince people it’s true. It’s all thanks to that crowded real estate space with no shortage of lies and deceit.

    Level 3: Be Real

    using visual content for real estate testimonials

    Unfortunately, being authentic isn’t enough in our world of “alternative facts” and reality television.

    It’s tempting just to write your real estate testimonial under an alias name and throw it on your website to increase the conversion rate. It sure would take a lot less time, and it might even boost your conversion rate if you’re a great writer.

    But chances are, the testimonial you’ll receive from someone who authentically loves your service will be far more powerful (and conversion-boosting) than something you throw together yourself. Plus, people can usually tell when a testimonial is fake.

    You have to convince people you’re authentic.

    How?

    Well, levels three and level four testimonials seem more believable simply because they include a visual and they’re a bit more specific:

    “I inherited a house and couldn’t sell it, but found Mark online. I was skeptical, but their offer was fair, we closed on time, and I’d work with him again. – John Kennedy – Tampa Seller”

    Viewers will look at an image or video, and immediately, the dud of a testimonial becomes impactful.

    The image could be a picture of you and the prospect at the closing table or their face. It could be you shaking their hand or a short video of them discussing the process.

    Your only goal is to make it real, to make it believable. Don’t forget to include a short bio for the testimonial giver; tell the viewer who’s recommending you. Even something as short as “John Kennedy, Tampa seller.”

    Here is an example of a good testimonial with an image of the client and the investor:

    “Thank you for all your help and walking me through the mess I got stuck with. You explained everything and went over the contract step by step; never once did your answers change. You gave us all the information we needed and we could see you were serious about what you do. If someone asks if I know who could help them, I would not hesitate to name you as a reference as you are an honest person. Once again, thank you so much.”  – Louise R. Friel

    Level 4: Record Video Real Estate Testimonials

    using videos for real estate testimonials

    If you want to climb to the testimonial pinnacle, make a video. Record a video of the whole process of your client, recommending you, emotions, and all.

    Video captures something text cannot: the human ability to communicate nonverbally. And that’s a powerful prospect.

    Written Real Estate Testimonial Examples

    Here are a few examples of good “real” written testimonials:

    2nd Chance Investment Group

    “Like many others in this unstable economy, and after looking into other organizations, such as Keep Your Home California, I exercised my options by contacting Second Chance Investment Group in Chino Hills, CA. It was the best phone call I could have made. Now I am doing better than ever – free of debt. And moving forward with a clear mind. Thanks, Ray Foster and Second Chance. Keep up the good work.” – Sheryl Brown-Pearce

    Townsend Realty Group

    “Townsend Realty Group has been the finest company to work with as we sell our home in Canton. We have sold several homes and have never had such a professional and compassionate company guide us through the process. Their realtors are always a phone call away and are readily available to help in any way. Their team made some great recommendations for selling our home, and they also helped us avoid pouring lots of money into getting the home ready for the market!” – Ray and Patricia Massengale

    Florida Cash Home Buyers

    “Thanks to all the fine people I have dealt with in the past 2 to 3 weeks. I especially like to thank Annette with the law firm. She was very helpful in processing the closing paperwork. Alejandro kept me aware of my need to show the property to various people. Thanks again to all that helped with the sale and closing.” – Glenda Skaggs

    Video Real Estate Testimonial Examples

    Here are a few examples of good “real” video testimonials:

    We Buy Houses Jacksonville FL | Sell House Fast Testimonial
    Happy seller
    Sell My House Fast Compton, CA | Feliciane's Inherited Property Sale - John Medina Buys Houses

    Let me end with one final tip…

    You Need to Ask Good Questions

    Don’t forget to set yourself up for success at the gate. You must ask the right questions to get a high-quality real estate testimonial.

    Here are some questions to ask to get POWERFUL testimonials:

    • What problem did you need to solve, and did we solve it as you expected? — You want to pull out the pain they were experiencing before working with you. What were they going through? Could they even sleep at night? What was the emotional pain like? How stressful was the situation?
    • Why did you choose to work with us? — You want to understand better what made them decide to solve their stressful situation by working with you. What was going through their head? What was the final straw that made them give you a call?
    • Why did you choose us instead of some other company? — Why not somebody else? This question will help illustrate your USP and what sets you apart from competitors in your market.
    • What was your favorite part about working with us? — Being on the other side of that stressful situation, what was the client most enjoyed most during the time they worked with you? It could be how fast you closed or how easy it was.
    • What surprised you about working with us? — Asking this question can get the client talking about the thing they loved about working with you that was the most unexpected (i.e., how you went above and beyond for them).

    Elements of an Effective Real Estate Testimonial

    Creating impactful testimonials for your business is essential. To ensure your testimonials stand out and resonate with your audience, here are some updated guidelines for 2025:

    • Precision Is Key: Dive into the specifics of your client’s experience to provide a clear and detailed testimonial.
    • Authenticity Matters More Than Ever: Share their genuine thoughts, emotions, and real-life experiences to establish trust and credibility.
    • Thorough Insights: Offer a comprehensive and well-rounded review, covering various aspects of their interaction or transaction.
    • Showcase the Benefits: Highlight the positive outcomes, advantages, or solutions that resulted from their journey.
    • Go Visual: Enhance your testimonial’s impact by including a photograph of yourself with the seller. For an even more engaging approach, consider recording a short video testimonial.
    • Personal Touch: Add a brief bio to your testimonial to help your audience connect with your background.
    • Thought-Provoking Questions: Guide your testimonial with thoughtful inquiries that provide valuable insights into their experience.

    With these updated tips and examples, you can create compelling real estate testimonials that resonate with your audience.

    Where to Place Testimonials on Your Website

    When placing testimonials on your website, a few options exist. Some investors dedicate an entire page to reviews or testimonials, while others prefer to sprinkle one or two on their homepage and other landing pages. However, it’s important to remember that buyers and sellers researching and wanting to know you better are more likely to visit your reviews page, “How it works” page, or “Our company” page.

    Placing testimonials on your reviews page can be especially powerful, as this is where potential customers will go to read about the experiences of others who have used your products or services. You may also want to consider creating YouTube videos showcasing your business on your homepage and city landing pages, as this has been shown to increase search engine rankings correctly.

    While you may not see many people watching these videos on your landing pages, once they are shared on your reviews page and other platforms, they can be highly effective in building trust and credibility with potential customers.

    Here are a couple of examples how Carrot members use testimonials:

    Kind House Buyers – Reviews Page (scroll on the image to see the full page)

    kind house buyers reviews page

    Simply Sold Testimonials Page (scroll on the image to see the full page)

    kind house buyers reviews page

    Discover the power of testimonials in boosting your credibility and conversions as two leading investors share their insights in this must-listen CarrotCast episode: “Unlocking the Practical Guide to Building Trust and Driving Conversions.”

    Ultimately, Work With What You Have

    Remember that threatening clutter?

    Not so threatening.

    Suppose you’re uncomfortable on video, email past clients the questions above and ask for their answers. Call a friend and ask them to vouch for your character if you can’t think of any clients who’d give you a testimonial.

    As your business grows, you’ll get better real estate testimonials, improving your conversion rate even further. But it’s a process.

    Testimonials can increase conversion rates if you use them correctly, and there are very few instances where a testimonial would hurt your conversion rate.

    So work with what you have.

    So embrace it; get some testimonials and add them to your website. Remember, a slight increase in conversion could mean thousands of dollars per month for your business.

    Speaking of which, don’t forget to optimize your Real Estate Bio using one of our templates! For more resources and real estate marketing materials, click on the link!

  • 16 Best Real Estate Agent Websites With IDX

    16 Best Real Estate Agent Websites With IDX

    Do real estate agent websites with IDX perform better?

    There isn’t a quick answer. But, listing feeds like IDX appeal to agents because they’re quick and easy ways to get the most out of your listings on your website.

    IDX has become a standard piece, and in many cases, listing feeds have gone from a nice feature to a necessity to stay with your competition.

    We all know home buyers and sellers are searching the Internet as their number one source of education. They know how to browse from website to website, and they know what they want to see from each website they visit.

    They’re quick to leave if a website doesn’t offer exactly what they expect.


    What, though, when they visit your real estate agent website, are they (and everyone else, for that matter) expecting?

    Well, they’re probably expecting to find some information about your real estate business and you personally, testimonials promoting your service, and, perhaps most importantly, house listings.

    If you neglect any of these elements, your website will likely have a higher bounce rate and lower lead volumes.

    The digital world is that simple.

    While some online naysaying articles — like Why It’s Time to Look at Real Estate Websites Differently — claim that you don’t need IDX integration on your website, we here at Carrot think they’re wrong.

    Before we dive into the 16 real estate agent websites with IDX options, let’s talk about IDX quickly.

    What Is IDX?

    IDX stands for Internet Data Exchange. That sounds complicated. Though, it isn’t.

    With IDX integration, real estate agent websites can pull house listings up natively on the real estate agent’s website.

    Here’s what this looks like on one of our Carrot real estate agent websites, for example.

    real estate agent websites with idx

    That’s what IDX looks like on the surface, at least. On the back-end, IDX works by automatically pulling from the MLS and collecting location-qualified listings to publish on your website.

    What is IDX?

    16 of the Best Real Estate Agent Websites With IDX (With Examples)

    You understand what IDX is and why it’s essential for real estate marketing.

    But where can you find the best IDX tool for your website? 

    Here are 16 great options for adding IDX to your real estate agent website — with a summary, features, pricing, and examples. 

    1. Ballen Real Estate Websites

    Website Description

    Ballen Real Estate Websites were built by agents, for agents real-time in the field, and without any contracts! These websites are optimized for lead generation and lead capture. With new design options, integrated tools for calls to action, and built-in optimization. Based on years of testing and measuring of what works in the real estate industry with hundreds of agents using the platform, our BREW is always evolving so you can get more leads online and best of all, you own it.”

    Features

    Here are some of the main features.

    • Complete WordPress Website
    • IDX Integration
    • Property Search
    • Real Estate Lead Capture
    • Community Showcase Pages
    • Buyer, Seller & Hyperlocal Blogs
    • Home Valuation Form
    • Built For SEO
    • CRM Available

    Pricing

    Starts at a one-time payment of $1,495. Plus ongoing monthly costs of at least $149 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    Ballen Real Estate Websites

    2. IDX Broker HOME™

    Website Description

    Each IDX Broker HOME website begins with an exclusive, premium WordPress theme. From there, our team will work with you to personalize any of our mobile-responsive, visually stunning designs, ensuring your REALTOR® website looks unique and up-to-date.

    We will include your logo and favorite photos, adjust the color scheme to mirror your branding, and add featured listings to create a personalized and professional website.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features.

    • Simply & Effective Search
    • Fully Customizable
    • Lead Metrics
    • Protect Your Site With SSL
    • IDX Plugin

    Pricing

    Their plans start at $50 per month and go up to $150 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    IDX Broker HOME™

    3. Carrot

    Description

    We serve over 7,000 real estate investors and agents at Carrot. As a part of that, we offer high-converting websites with IDX for real estate agents.

    Features

    Our features include… 

    Pricing

    Here are the website builder’s pricing options… 

    • Standard Website Subscription: $89/mo
    • Add-ons range from $29 to $69 per month

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool. Scroll down through the page to see it fully.

    4. iHomeFinder

    Website Description

    The IDX search you’ve been looking for. Fast, sleek property search with advanced lead capture technology. Keep visitors coming back with a search experience they’ll love. Display listings anywhere on your site with the search criteria you select.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers.

    • Property Search & Lead Capture
    • Market Stats & Reports
    • Email Marketing
    • Blog Content
    • Real Estate CRM
    • Real Estate Agent App
    • Integrations
    • Custom IDX Data API

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $59.95 per month and goes up to $199.95 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    iHomeFinder

    5. IDX Central

    Website Description

    “Regardless of which IDX Solution you select, there will always be something that doesn’t quite work/look the way you expect it. These issues will require some code modifications. We can save you time by knowing just how to fix those issues and offer creative ways to make them even better.

    We can also provide you with code we have used in the past to help speed up your development/integration time. Even if you are an experienced programmer or have one that manages your site, our knowledge and experience can save you time from experimentation/trial and error.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Advanced IDX Property Search
    • Map and Polygon Search
    • Lead Generation Forms
    • Lead Nurturing App
    • Automated Market Reports
    • Real Estate CRM
    • SMS Autoresponder
    • Email Marketing Automation
    • SEO Friendly with Indexible Listings

    Pricing

    Pricing for IDX solutions starts at $44.95 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    IDX Central

    6. BoomTown

    Website Description

    Expert lead generation, IDX websites, intelligent CRM, lead management services, and more, come in flexible packages that scale with your success. See why BoomTown is the #1 user-rated real estate CRM year after year.”

    Features

    Here are some of the main features this tool offers. 

    • Success Assurance
    • Consumer Website
    • Lead Generation
    • Predictive CRM
    • Success Management
    • HomeSearch Now
    • Coaching

    Pricing

    Can’t find pricing on their website. Looks like you have to book a demo to learn more.

    Example

    We couldn’t find any examples of websites they’ve built. But they have a lot of success stories over here.

    7. Real Geeks

    Website Description

    IDX websites that convert. Real Geeks offers highly optimized, easy-to-use websites, designed to generate the highest conversion rate in the industry. Our Property IDX is updated every 15 minutes, so your Real Geeks website has the most up-to-date property data available.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers.

    • Mobile Optimized
    • Fully Responsive
    • Easy-to-Use
    • High Return Rates
    • A/B Testing
    • Fast Load Times
    • High Conversion Rates
    • Search Engine Friendly
    • Custom Landing Pages
    • Fully Editable Pages
    • Built-in blog

    Pricing

    Can’t find pricing on their website. You need to request more information. 

    Example

    Can’t find an example of their website. But they have a lot of success stories over here

    8. Placester

    Website Description

    Get the website you’ve always wanted! Placester is the best option for agents & brokers who want a unique website but also need speed and the flexibility to adapt as the market changes.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features this tool offers. 

    • Responsive Website
    • Site Editor
    • IDX Listing Display Tools
    • Simple CRM
    • Unlimited Posts & Pages
    • Online Support

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $64 per month and goes up to $1,250 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool. 

    Placester

    9. Agent Image

    Website Description

    Agent Image creates the best real estate websites for REALTORS®, agents, and brokers. We have launched over 20,000 sites for top producing companies in the country and we’re proud of our long list of loyal clients. Whether you’re looking for an affordable agent website built on WordPress or looking for a custom design for your brokerage office, we’ve got you covered. Put our 20 years of experience to the test.”

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Hosted WordPress Site
    • Mobile Optimized
    • Fully Response Design
    • IDX Search Features
    • Listing Display Features
    • Property Details
    • Lead Generation
    • SEO Friendly

    Pricing

    They don’t have pricing on their website. You need to contact them if you want to find out more. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool. 

    Agent Image

    10. Showcase IDX

    Website Description

    Make your site sticky with a portal-quality search for agent and brokerage websites. Modern search options that buyers and sellers love. Showcase IDX’s proprietary indexes to let you search seamlessly across multiple MLS feeds. The Fastest, easiest way to search.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • IDX Search & Results
    • Real Estate Listing Pages
    • State-Of-The-Art Mapping IDX
    • CRM Tools
    • Premium CRM Integrations

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $59.95 per month and goes up to $99.95 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool. 

    Showcase IDX

    11. AgentWebsite

    Website Description

    First impressions matter. Showcase your services. Promote your listings on your own real estate website. One that’s easy to update and optimized for search engines.

    Generate qualified leads. Impress sellers, and catch buyers early in the process.

    We make it easy. Agents are always telling us how easy AgentWebsite is to use. Expect fast activation and competitive features. Toll-free help is available every day, right here in the USA.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Free 15 Day Free Trial
    • Website & Hosting
    • Free Domain Name
    • Free Property Search (IDX)
    • Toll Free Support
    • Control Panel
    • Search Engine Optimized (SEO)
    • Buyer & Seller Articles
    • 1 Email Mailbox
    • CMA Lead Page
    • Relocation Lead Page

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $29 per month, not including the set-up fee. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    AgentWebsite

    12. Ylopo

    Website Description

    Our mobile-optimized IDX home search website is the hub of your buyer’s home search activity.  Delight your consumers with a clean and beautiful site design, as you gather 24/7 intelligence on their search behavior to hone in on exactly what each buyer wants to see.”

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Mission Control
    • IDX
    • Branded Website
    • Lead Generation
    • Listing Rocket
    • Lead Nurture
    • CRM

    Pricing

    Pricing isn’t mentioned on their website. You have to request a demo if you want to learn more. 

    Example

    They don’t have any examples on their website. But they do have some case studies on their homepage. 

    13. Union Street Media 

    Website Description

    We build award-winning websites for real estate professionals. Our sites are IDX-integrated and responsive, meaning they will always be up-to-date with the latest MLS listings and will look great and perform well on any device or screen size.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features this tool offers. 

    • Search Tools
    • Lead Dashboard
    • Neighborhood Reports
    • Automated Home Valuation Tool

    Pricing

    Pricing isn’t mentioned on their website. You’ll need to request a demo if you want to learn more. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    Union Street Media

    14. Luxury Presence

    Website Description

    A brand-new home search experience for your clients. Our IDX tool provides award-winning design, cutting-edge search features, and compelling use of data and lead capture functionalities.

    Our IDX home search experience provides two things: an exceptional search experience for your visitors and a high-converting lead generation platform for your business.

    With multi-feed support, fully-responsive designed, spiderable and organic IDX, and lightning-fast multi-field search capabilities, our home search tools give your visitors an experience they’ll love.

    Pulling from your MLS feed, our control center allows you to layer high-resolution photos, videos, and virtual tours on top of your MLS listing date to create stunning featured listing pages for your website.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers.

    • Split-Screen Map
    • Lead Capture
    • Saved Searches
    • Multiple-MLS Feeds
    • Saved Listings
    • User Accounts
    • Multi-Field Searches

    Pricing

    Pricing isn’t mentioned on their website. You’ll have to request more information if you want to learn more. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    Luxury Presence

    15. Sierra Interactive

    Website Description

    We only build real estate websites. Our platform has evolved over the past decade to become the most powerful content management system for real estate websites in the market.

    The Sierra search tools separate us from our competitors and you from yours. We are always improving these features and keeping ahead of the curve.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Real Estate Websites With IDX
    • Real Estate CRM
    • Real Estate Ad Management

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $299.95 per month and goes up to $499.95 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    Sierra Interactive

    16. Pro Agent Websites

    Website Description

    Our designs are responsive for a pleasant user experience from desktop to tablets to mobile. Each design is created with the agent in mind. Your photos, logos, and artwork will be incorporated into the design. Designs can be built with any requested modifications.

    Features

    Here are some of the main features that this tool offers. 

    • Extremely Fast Search Results
    • Interactive Map Search
    • Industry Best Lead Capture
    • New Listing Email Alerts
    • Price Change Email Alerts
    • All Listings Available on Search Engines
    • Save Searches, Save Properties
    • No Framing or Wraps, Totally Integrated
    • All Lead Activity Tracked

    Pricing

    Pricing starts at $79.95 per month and goes up to $149.95 per month. 

    Example

    Below is an example of the type of IDX website you can create with this tool.

    Pro Agent Websites

    Why Do Real Estate Agents Need IDX?

    ON THE OTHER HAND, without IDX website integration, visitors have to go somewhere other than your website to view house listings.

    And when prospects leave your website to browse through homes, there’s naturally a lower chance of them choosing to work with you.

    Ideally, you want them to stay on your website as long as possible — searching for potential homes and learning about your business.

    Then, those visitors are more likely to work with you instead of the competition- thus improving your credibility!

    Of course, there are no stopping prospects from regularly visiting Zillow and Realtor.com, and other massive MLS websites.

    This is exactly why some online thought-leaders believe IDX is outdated — there’s no way, after all, that you can compete with the giants of MLS.

    Still, at Carrot, we believe IDX is a must for serious real estate agents. And that isn’t just an opinion built on smoke and mirrors.

    Here are four specific reasons why the best real estate websites for agents have IDX integration and tend to perform better than the competition.

    1. Prospects Stay Where You Want Them — On Your Website

    Property listings are the foundation of your real estate business and ultimately, you want people who visit your website to work with you. With the most accurate property data and photos, your IDX can cover 99% of MLS listings.

    But, of course, the story doesn’t start there. Most people, for instance, start by educating themselves on the house-buying process. Then, they might look at some listings to get an idea of what price-point they can afford.

    Eventually, they’ll start seeking out an agent to work with.

    There’s no better place for them to be during that entire process than on your website.

    Unfortunately, you have very little time to grab and keep their attention. One study by the Nielsen Norman Group found that most internet users stay on a website for less than 59 seconds.

    That’s not very long.

    Why do people leave so quickly, though? Well, in the words of Cody Ray Miller over at The Daily Egg, one of the main reasons is that “Users leave your site when they don’t get what they expect.”

    Imagine if you were looking to buy a house and stumbled upon a website that didn’t have listings.

    What would you do? Would you stick around and see what this website has to offer?

    No. You wouldn’t. You’d leave within the first few seconds of arriving.

    The point is, when people visit your website, they naturally expect certain things. If you don’t give them what they expect, they’ll bounce.

    What, though, do visitors to your real estate agent website expect to see?

    A few things.

    Visitors expect to see…

    1. An agent bio of who you are and why you’re fantastic.
    2. A clear CTA for how they can get in contact with you.
    3. Social proof (testimonials, case studies, and reviews) of why they should work with you.
    4. House listings.

    Think about it. What’s the first thing you would do on this website?

    real estate websites with idx roseburg oregon example

    First, you’d view the featured listings a bit down the page.

    idx featured listings

    If you saw something you liked, then you’d probably look into it more. If you didn’t, then you’d likely go to the search bar, enter the information, and click “Search.”

    real estate agent website builder with idx

    Which would then bring up something like this.

    realtor websites with idx

    Or maybe you’d first spend a bit of time learning about the realtor, only after that diving into the listings on their website.

    Either way, house listings tug on the visitor’s attention and encourage them to spend more time on your website.

    And that’s a good thing.

    After analyzing 948,286 visitors to our Carrot member websites over a three-month period, a compelling fact revealed itself: the longer someone spends on your website, the higher chance that they’re going to convert.

    The average session duration of converters was 6:39 and the average session duration of non-converters was only 1:25 — a whopping 471% difference.

    Still, most people leave a website in just under a minute. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give them much time to convert.

    So how does IDX integration help solve this dilemma?

    With real estate listings on your website, people spend more time browsing and less time bouncing, increasing the chance that they’ll become a paying customers.

    It’s not a complete solution. But it’s a simple strategy for keeping visitors right where you want them — on your website.

    Plus, visitors expect to see house listings on your real estate agent website. You don’t want to disappoint them.

    2. You Can Quickly Promote Remarkable Listings

    Maybe you’ve already noticed, but not all IDX plugin solutions are equal.

    Some real estate IDX providers allow you to “list” — if you can call it that — houses on your website… except that the listings aren’t really on your website.

    Instead, with these low-level tools, the IDX integration sends people to another MLS site to view the listing — which, of course, kind of defeats the purpose of IDX in the first place.

    Ideally, you want to use an IDX integration tool for your website that has the following four features.

    1. Visitors should be able to search natively on your website for house listings in your area of operation.
    2. Visitors should be able to view each house listing on your own domain as an individual page, rather than traveling to a 3rd party listing website.
    3. The entire experience should be seamless. You don’t want visitors to feel like their viewing someone else’s listings, photos, and house descriptions on your website. You want them to feel as though each listing is unique to your business.
    4. You should be able to easily choose properties to feature on your website using the IDX integration.

    Carrot’s real estate agent websites with IDX include all of the above features. That way, you never fall behind the competition.

    And on the fourth point, no house sells like a featured house.

    Here’s an example of what this can look like when you’re able to easily choose featured properties from your IDX integration for the front page of your website.

    real estate agent website idx feed

    More than likely, you’re busy enough contacting prospects, answering questions, and meeting with customers to show them houses. Frankly, you don’t always have the time to create a listing on your own.

    With IDX integration, you can simply choose a website to feature and, in just a few clicks, that property is on your front page.

    If nothing else, IDX saves you time.

    But, of course, time is money.

    Pro-tip: When choosing featured properties for the front page of your website, try featuring some of your most expensive properties. That way, people see those first and then perceive other high-priced listings as less expensive (because they see the price relative to the featured houses they saw). In sales, this is called the contrast principle.

    3. Each Listing Gives You Another Opportunity To Rank Your Real Estate Website In Google

    With high-quality IDX integration on your website, each house listing becomes a new page.

    And each page, as you probably know, becomes another chance to rank in Google.

    However, I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way I can compete with Zillow and Realtor.com in search engines!”

    Related Content: How To Beat Zillow in Google With Your Real Estate Agent Website – Case Study + Guide

    You’re right. There’s no way you can.

    But, there’s another benefit to having those SEO-ready houses on your website beyond just trying to beat Zillow and Realtor.com.

    Namely, when people search Google for your real estate name and an address, you’ll show up.

    Like this, for example.

    google search for real estate websites

    Why would they ever do that, though?

    Let’s imagine that there’s a certain prospect named Joe. From his friends, Joe has heard some really great things about you and he’d like to work with you in the future. But you don’t know this yet because Joe hasn’t contacted you.

    One day, Joe drives by a house for sale that he really likes and he wants to see the inside of — or, at least, some pictures.

    Since he knows about you and he knows about the house listing, he types in “4000 Awesome Avenue [your real estate business].”

    Whose website comes up?

    That’s right. Yours!

    Joe clicks the result, views the house, decides he wants a tour and gives you a call.

    If Joe had viewed the house on Zillow or Realtor.com — if he hadn’t arrived at your website first — then he might have seen an ad for another realtor and chosen to contact them out of convenience.

    And the realtor who gets the first contact usually wins the prospect.

    In other words, IDX integration allows you to attract prospects that you might not even know you had. Sure, this type of prospect might be few and far between — but each client can generate tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for your business.

    You don’t want to lose that much money because your website didn’t show up when someone typed in your name and an address into Google.

    4. You Can Send More Personalized Follow-up Emails with IDX

    What if you knew that person’s desired price point, number of bedrooms, and square footage for each person to visit your website?

    How would that kind of immediate information change your marketing strategy?

    For one, you’d probably send increasingly personal listing updates and recommendation emails to your prospects.

    Which is a good idea. The click-through rate on personalized emails is 14% higher — and conversions, 10% higher — than their impersonal counterparts.

    And, generally speaking, personalized emails also have six times higher transaction rates.

    But that dream of knowing your website visitors by house preferences is just… well, it’s just a dream, right?

    Wrong. At least, not if you use IDX.

    With some IDX services on your website and Google Analytics, you can track visitors’ listings and even exactly what they search for.

    In fact, one real estate website tried to capture my email like this when I searched for a property on it.

    real estate website listing tracker

    Then, you can either set up an automatic and personalized email update system to contact prospects with relevant house listings. Or you can do so manually.

    Either way, you’re now contacting prospects with things they care about rather than trying to shotgun blast one (or several) listings to loads of people who may or may not be interested.

    Of course, this isn’t a new strategy. Many real estate agents do this. Here’s one real estate email script, for instance.

    Hi Cindy,

    I noticed you recently registered for e-Alerts on my website. I’m glad you signed up as this is the quickest way to receive up-to-date information on listings in your area. Since our website is refreshed every hour on the hour you will be the first to know when a home that fits your preferences hits the market.

    Over the past 7 years, I have worked in the area selling homes and helping buyers find the perfect property. Buying a home is an exciting time and I am here to help you navigate through the process. Below I have linked to one of my blog posts about preparing to buy a home and how it is different this year over the others.

    Have a lovely day,

    Annie Agent

    IDX just makes doing this a whole lot easier and more streamlined than it would be otherwise.

    Conclusion

    If there’s one thing that visitors to your website are expecting to find, it’s house listings.

    You’re a real estate agent, after all. People go to your website to learn about your business and view houses. That’s pretty much it.

    You need to let them do both of those things as quickly as possible.

    Now, you understand how IDX can help and you understand why you need a real estate agent website builder that includes IDX integration.

    Namely, because, with IDX integration, prospects stay on your website longer, you can easily promote featured properties on your front page, each listing helps you rank in Google, and you can send more personalized email updates to prospects.

    However, some online critics believe differently — that real estate agent websites with IDX have an unnecessary crutch.

    What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

  • The Importance of Excellent Real Estate Agent Bios + 9 Examples

    The Importance of Excellent Real Estate Agent Bios + 9 Examples

    The Importance of Excellent Real Estate Agent Bios + 9 Examples

    Ready to learn how to write a killer real estate agent bio?

    You’re lucky because we are going over the steps from start to finish.

    A well-crafted and compelling agent profile can be an invaluable asset when it comes time for clients or potential buyers to research their next property investment.

    Write with energy and creativity!

    Why Should You Perfect Your Real Estate Agent Bio?

    Anyone looking to buy or sell their house wants to know they will work with a real estate agent they can trust.

    They want to know that the agent they choose has their best interest in mind, will negotiate the best price possible, understands their market, and has a healthy track record of buying and selling homes.

    Without that – without trust – the prospect will never work with you.

    And since 70% of buyers and 75% of sellers find their real estate agent by searching the web, it makes sense that your real estate agent bio is vital to growing your business and converting website leads into clients.

    Your real estate agent bio is where website visitors go to decide if they will work with you.

    Seem like a tall order?

    Well, it is.

    But crafting a real estate agent bio that builds trust and credibility and resonates with your target market isn’t as tricky. It’s just six steps.

    Here are those steps – each with pertinent examples to illustrate my point.


    5 Free Agent Bio Templates

    Grab 5 free real estate agent bio templates + examples for your agent website.

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    How to Write a Winning Real Estate Agent Bio with Examples

    Step #1: Understand your market

    This might upset you…

    But one of the worst things you can do with your real estate agent bio is to copy and paste one of those short personal bio samples online with your name and data plugged into the blanks.

    The problem is that every market is different. Your market is different from the market that that free template you found online was created for. You need to create a bio (pic and copy) that resonates with your market, not someone else’s.

    And who knows your market better than, well, you?

    To get a better understanding of what I mean, read through this bio from Irene Dazzan-Palmer:

    “For nearly 30 years, Irene Dazzan-Palmer has been hailed as ‘the queen of coastal real estate.’ A consistent top producer in Coldwell Banker’s Malibu Colony office and an Estates Director for Coldwell Banker Previews International, she has amassed nearly $2 billion in career sales and a history of selling some of the nation’s most significant coastal homes alongside her partner and son, Sandro Dazzan.

    These achievements have helped Irene earn a prestigious membership in the Society of Excellence, Coldwell Banker’s highest honor for the top 1% real estate agents nationwide. Irene’s record listings and sales have been the subject of international attention over the last three decades and span from Forbes and the Wall Street Journal to the Los Angeles Times.

    She has also been widely recognized in the media as a luxury real estate authority, appearing in national television broadcasts such as NBC’s ‘Today Show’ and prestigious publications like Los Angeles magazine.”

    Irene has a niché, and she knows what it is. She isn’t afraid to exclude people uninterested in her niché. By doing so, she speaks directly to her market and resonates with those interested in high-ticket coastal homes.

    So how do you write an amazing bio?

    Don’t be a generalist.

    Find your niché and represent it with confidence in your real estate bio. Here is another example of an agent who understands her market: Leslie Woods.

    real estate agent bio example

    (Image Source)

    “Representing Mid-Peninsula homeowners and future homeowners, Leslie is committed to listening to her clients’ needs and utilizing her keen negotiating skills to ensure a successful transaction.

    Raised on the Peninsula, Leslie understands the numerous intangible benefits of living in Silicon Valley, with its unmatched weather, culture, and diversity. Leslie graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Nutrition and subsequently returned to the Bay Area to excel in pharmaceutical sales with Wyeth Laboratories for over ten years. She joined the Real Estate profession as her three children approached their middle school and high school years.

    In the past eight years, Leslie has become an esteemed realtor, highly regarded by her clients and professionals in the field. A current Menlo Park resident, she is well-connected and actively involved in the community. Her contacts and life-long residency leverage her enthusiasm and expertise, enhancing her client dedication.

    Leslie showcases her homes on her website and utilizes a team of professional service providers to assist with her clients’ buying and selling needs, including stagers, painters, designers, handymen, and inspectors. She is communicative, thorough, and detail-oriented — and she’ll be alongside you every step of the way.”

    Speaking to the middle- to high-class homebuyers, Leslie puts herself in the marketing pit of “representing Mid-Peninsula.” Not a wrong move since that is the exact market she operates in.

    The point is, that you want to speak directly to your market. Here’s a list of questions to get you thinking about who your market is (Hint: it’s not necessarily the same as other real estate agents in your area):

    • Do you serve first-time homebuyers or people who’ve bought several homes before?
    • Do you prefer working with buyers or sellers?
    • What price point do you want to target?
    • What market area do you want to focus on selling homes in?
    • Is your market primarily liberal or conservative?
    • How old are the people in your market, generally speaking?
    • Do you serve males or females or both?

    You don’t necessarily have to answer all these questions about your market, but the better you understand the people you’re serving, the more your new real estate agent bio will resonate with them.

    This leads us to step 2…

    Step #2: Make a list of your market’s primary objections

    One of the best ways to get your new real estate agent bio converting website visitors (or at least getting them to call you on the phone) is to make sure your bio addresses all the big objections they have swimming around in their heads.

    What are they worried about with buying or selling a home? What concerns do they have about choosing a real estate agent? What might they be worried about when considering working with you?

    The answer to those questions should be addressed in your bio.

    Ease their fears and explain why you’re the perfect person to help them through their specific challenges.

    (Again, you can only answer the above questions if you understand your market well)

    For instance, many buyers and sellers have one objection: how well you – the real estate agent – know the area. How familiar are you with the market, and are you the best expert for their needs?

    Here’s how Elizabeth Putnam addresses that objection in her bio

    “As an Asheville native, I witnessed its great transformation – from a boarded up and desolate downtown into a bustling metropolitan city that retains its small-town feel.
    My intimate knowledge of this region, and my experiences of having lived here all of my life, give me enthusiasm and a desire to make my home, your home. Truly, I love Western North Carolina and I love my job!”

    Another common objection from home buyers and sellers is regarding how much experience the real estate agent has or doesn’t have.

    Consider how Cyndie Gawain addresses this objection in her bio:

    “Cyndie Gawain is a dream catcher. She helps new friends catch their dreams of buying and selling a wonderful home. A resident of Dallas for more than 30 years, she has lived and worked in many areas in Dallas-Fort Worth.

    Her business is based on more than 80 percent of referrals from satisfied clients. Most important to Gawain is providing the most excellent service to buyers and sellers in order to earn their trust, referrals, and repeat business.

    Gawain has sold homes in all price ranges from starter homes and high-dollar estate properties to uptown condominiums, ranch properties, and investment properties.

    Clients appreciate her flexibility, low-pressure sales, patience, ability to listen and hear what a client wants, negotiation and analytic skills, and her ability to accurately price and market a home.”

    While many of the objections from different real estate markets overlap, your market’s buyers and sellers might have concerns unique to your area.

    Whatever the case, list all the significant objections your market will have. Use the 80% rule. If 80% of your market has the objection, then diffuse it in your bio.

    Step #3: Make a list of your market’s primary desires

    So how do new real estate agents get leads?

    They paint the picture that their audience is picturing.

    Every home buyer and seller has an image of what they want their agent experience to be like.

    They likely want it to be a smooth experience, one where the agent negotiates vigorously on their behalf and one where they walk away with more money in their pocket (or the keys to their dream home without breaking the bank).

    It’s not enough to understand your market’s fears. You also need to understand your market’s deepest desires.

    Answer this question: What does your market hope to get from working with a real estate agent? 

    What are the most important things to them?

    Once you answer that question, you can make your bio resonate with your market by stroking their desires within the copy.

    Consider, for instance, how Greg Noonan paints a picture for his market of what it’s like to work for him:

    painting a picture with your real estate agent bio

    (Image Source)

    #1 Top-Selling Agent of La Jolla Homes Overall -and #1 La Jolla Listing Agent* Greg Noonan gives you the best chance to succeed in this complicated market with sub-communities varying widely in value.

    As Coastal San Diego’s “Go-To” agent and the consistent leader with a reputation for tenaciously protecting his clients’ interests, Greg is dedicated to serving you with savvy client-focused negotiations and state-of-the-art marketing strategies joining uncompromising integrity as the hallmarks of his service.

    Greg is exceptionally well-respected in La Jolla, not only for his unparalleled professional track record and high ethical standards but for being an honest, hard-working family man who does absolutely everything in his power to ensure his clients’ success and satisfaction.

    Thanks to his loyal clientele, personal referrals, and repeat business form the foundation of Greg’s career. To ensure efficient, complete service for you including cutting edge technology and genuinely caring performance, Greg’s associates have been carefully selected from the very finest agents in the business to form a close-knit “family” offering seamless assistance to you for every aspect of your home purchase or sale.

    Please call Greg anytime without obligation. He is ready to go to work for you today!”

    Write down everything your market wants from experience with their chosen real estate agent. Again, use the 80% rule. If 80% of your market desires it, then mention it in your bio as something you provide.

    Get 5 Free Agent Bio Templates Now

    Grab 5 free real estate agent bio templates + examples for your agent website.

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    Step #4: Use a bio photo that resonates with your market

    Your bio photo says a lot about who you are and what service you provide.

    Let me show you an example.

    Look at this bio photo from Shane Inman…

    real estate agent bio photo

    And now look at these bio photos(s) from Landon Clements (yes, she’s a real estate agent, and this is from her “About” page, right above her bio).

    real estate agent bio photos

    (Image Source)

    The first picture communicates professionalism, expertise, and seriousness. The second is fun, inspiring, and at least a little dreamy.

    Here’s the thing, though: both of these are perfectly fine.

    There’s no cookie-cutter way to take a perfect real estate agent photo.

    It’s all about what your market wants and expects.

    For instance, if you’re serving first-time homebuyers, you probably want to use a friendly and approachable bio picture. But a more professional vibe might be better if you’re serving multi-millionaires.

    Once you know your market and who you’re serving, you can take the perfect bio photo for your market. Should it be friendly? Should it be serious? Should it be professional? Should it be flippant?

    That’s a question only your market can answer.

    What does your market want?

    Step #5: Write a bio description that resonates with your market

    Now that you understand your market – from steps 1-3 – you can write a bio that resonates with that market’s desires and addresses that market’s objections.

    We’ve already touched on this a few times within the article, so rather than beat a dead horse, I’ll show you a few more examples of real estate agent bios that do a wonderful job of keeping their market in mind:

    Aaron Kirman Real Estate

    (Image Source)

    “Aaron Kirman, President of the International Estates Division of Pacific Union International is one of the leading real estate agents in the USA and has repeatedly been named Top Agent in Los Angeles. With over $4.5 Billion in sales, Kirman represents the finest estates across the globe and was ranked #5 in the U.S by the Wall Street Journal. He has an extensive client base featuring those who seek the luxury lifestyle including heads of industry, celebrities, royalty, major lending institutions, and foreign investors.

    As a prominent figure in the luxury real estate market, Aaron has received International acclaim for record-setting sales across Los Angeles. Aaron has crafted his career from representing the most prominent Architectural and Luxury Estate communities across the globe as well as representing the most exclusive residences owned by some of the world’s most rich and famous…”

    Here is a fantastic bio addressing her market (albeit a very different market than Aaron’s); here’s part of Shemeika Fox’s bio…

    Shemeika Fox

    “Shemeika Fox: Realtor/Owner Exceptional Service… All of the Time!

    With a fresh and unique approach to real estate, Shemeika is incorporating 21st-century digital marketing strategies, used by fortune 500 companies, to enhance the real estate experience for her buyers and sellers alike. She’s a social media marketing guru, constantly showing up where buyers and sellers are, educating them with her amazing video content. “The market is forever changing and I want to make sure that I am ahead of the change, always evolving, using cutting edge techniques, and constantly being a student of my craft.”

    Shemeika works with sellers, buyers, and investors and is known for her quality service and stellar reputation, ensuring great experiences for every client she represents. For sellers, Shemeika spends thousands of marketing dollars to showcase her clients’ homes properly. “I don’t just put your home on the MLS and hope that it sells…I can create the sale through my own digital marketing!” With professional photographers, stagers, videographers, virtual tours, single property websites, and intricate advertising techniques, Shemeika prides herself at getting her sellers multiple offers at top dollar, usually resulting in less time on the market than her competition. Her social media presence reaches tens of thousands of Santa Cruz County locals and beyond every single week.

    As for buyers, being a CMNE (Certified Master Negotiating Expert) plays a huge role in how Shemeika Fox goes to bat for her buyers. She writes her contracts with the expectation of getting the absolute best price with the best terms. She educates her buyers, helping them through every phase of the transaction, making sure that they have the proper budget, adequate financing, understanding each aspect of the payment and loan, and how to look for the best property to suit their needs. With earning her clients’ trust and respect, Shemeika continuously builds her real estate career on referrals and repeat business. “It’s about finding a REALTOR you trust to manage and/or secure your largest asset.”

    Step #6: Get feedback from people within your market

    Wondering if your bio is as good as it could be?

    Well, the only people who’ll have the answer to that question are your market. So get out there and ask some of them (ideally, people you trust will be honest with you) what they think.

    Does it resonate with them? What objections might they still have after reading it? What would keep them from calling you after reading it? Was it inspiring enough? Did it speak to their desires and the things they would want to get from working with a real estate agent?

    Don’t spend forever on this step, though. Get your bio as well as possible, set a deadline, and hit the publish button.

    One thing is for sure: your bio won’t do any good sitting in a Windows Doc somewhere.

    FREE Real Estate Bio Template

    Hi, I’m [name], and I work with [your target audience] in [markets you serve] who [what your target audience typically wants or needs].

    I’ve been a Real Estate Agent for [number] years and have helped over [number] families to date.

    One of the best compliments I’ve ever received from a client was: [“amazing testimonial goes here”].

    I love helping members of my community to [describe the results that you’ve helped clients get]. It’s what makes me jump out of bed each morning!

    If you’re looking for a Real Estate Agent who [describes what your target audience typically seeks], then I’d love to work with you!

    I’ve [list 2-3 of your most impressive credentials].

    When I’m not helping people, I can be found [list 2-3 hobbies or passions such as volunteer work].

    If you’d like to learn more about how we can work together, please call or text me anytime! .

    It would be an honor to work with you!

    Conclusion

    What your real estate agent bio says, how it says it, and who it’s crafted to speak to are all very important.

    This is why getting it right the first time is so important.

    How do you do it?

    By knowing your market and by speaking directly to them.

    You can use the above steps to write a real estate agent bio that resonates with your specific market – addresses their specific objections, and speaks to their specific desires.

    Once you do, your ideal market won’t have any choice but to work with you… because you’re the perfect fit. For more resources and real estate marketing materials, click on the link!

  • 9 Real Estate Business Models To Consider With Rising Interest Rates or When Inventories Are Low

    9 Real Estate Business Models To Consider With Rising Interest Rates or When Inventories Are Low

    real estate business models for 2021

    It’s often said that more millionaires are made through real estate than any other type of business. But what real estate business models do they use?

    And while it’s difficult to measure the validity of that claim, one thing’s for sure: there’s a lot of money to be made in real estate.

    Questions are often raised about whether you should become a wholesaler, a flipper, an agent or broker, or even a hybrid agent/investor.

    These questions are common in market events, as we have experienced in recent years…

    • Housing prices are up
    • Housing sales are up
    • Mortgage rates are up
    • Housing inventory numbers are down
    • The number of days on the market is down
    • Affordability is down

    Even in low inventory / high-value markets, one thing is sure: people will always buy or sell houses.

    Our Carrot member data shows a Q4 quarterly increase of 6.24% in leads over Q3.

    Carrot Member Leads Q3 2021 vs Q4 2021

    And people who put their money into real estate — buying assets rather than liabilities — ensure a lucrative future for themselves and their families.

    So the question is, how should you get into real estate?

    Here are nine real estate business models to consider. Prepare yourself for low inventory and changing interest rates.

    The Diversity of Real Estate Business Models

    There used to be just a few different real estate business models.

    If you had access to a lot of capital, you could place big bets with the fix-and-flip system and hope the market didn’t dip at the wrong time. You could also buy-and-hold real estate, steadily expanding your portfolio and net worth.

    You could become a real estate agent or broker without big money, netting 3% to 6% per transaction.

    Those were the options.

    Now things are much more diverse.

    Here are the real estate business models we will cover in this article…

    • Real estate agents
    • Wholesaling
    • Wholetailing
    • Buy and hold investing
    • House flipping
    • Remote investing
    • Listing service for FSBO
    • BRRRR
    • Hybrid agent/investor

    The good news is… there’s a real estate business model that will work with any budget. So long as you have the discipline to get started and keep going, you can win at real estate.

    The Main Challenge of These Real Estate Business Models

    While the business models below present a ton of opportunity for entrepreneurs — indeed, at Carrot, we’ve seen many agents and investors build thriving businesses in just about every market — they’re not free of challenges.

    These challenges include hiring the right people, being mathematical in approaching every transaction, and building trust with buyers and sellers.

    But one challenge stands above all the rest: consistently generating leads.

    For agents and investors, having a consistent flow of leads makes your monthly income more predictable and allows you to grow your business more quickly.

    How do you do that?

    At Carrot, we specialize in helping investors and agents create simple, effective websites that rank in Google (and thus drive traffic) and systematically convert visitors into leads.

    We’ve generated over 2.5 million leads for thousands of investors and agents nationwide.

    You can learn more about us over here.

    1. Real Estate Agents

    When someone thinks about getting into real estate, this is usually the first business model they consider — that of a real estate agent or broker.

    Real estate agents make money by helping people buy and sell homes, usually pulling in between 3% and 6% of the sales price. A $250,000 home would net between $7,500 and $15,000.

    To become a licensed realtor, you’ll need to research the requirements and processes in your local market — typically, this will include taking some courses and passing a test.

    If you reside in New York, consider enrolling in NYREI, a leading real estate school in New York. Their highly reputed programs will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the dynamic real estate market successfully. You might also need to get sponsored by a real estate brokerage.

    Pros

    • Low barrier to entry. Anyone with enough time, determination, and sales savvy can become a real estate agent.
    • Good profits on high-ticket homes.

    Cons

    • Requires expertise in sales.
    • It takes time to build a name for yourself.
    • The average transaction takes about 3 months to complete.

    2. Wholesaling

    Wholesaling is a real estate investing business model that’s cropped up over the last decade or so.

    As a wholesaler, rather than flipping real estate or buying and holding your properties, you work as a sort of “deal finder” for other cash buyers. Your job is to find good deals (motivated sellers) and get them under contract for a price you and your cash buyer can afford. When you pass the deal onto the cash buyer, you’ll typically make a $5,000 to $20,000 assignment fee.

    The most significant benefit to wholesaling real estate is that you don’t need a massive amount of money to get started — just a few thousand dollars to send out your first mailers and secure your first deal.

    Pros

    • No license is required (although that is steadily changing in some states)
    • Requires just a few thousand dollars in startup capital.
    • Tons of opportunities in most markets.
    • Can make up to $20,000 or more per deal.

    Cons

    • Wholesaling has become highly competitive in most markets.
    • New regulations are being introduced in many states to regulate wholesaling.

    “6 wholesale deals this month if all goes through. $124k… 4 ppc, 1 organic, 1 Facebook retargeting. 1 have closed the other 5 are under contract with a buyer and the last one waiting on a buyer. Carrot system is still rockin”

    – Brian Rockwell

    3. Wholetailing

    The word “wholetail” is a combination of “wholesale” and “retail”. In a wholetail deal, the investor buys a house for a low-ball price, makes just enough repairs so that it’s capable of selling on the MLS, and then sells it to a traditional buyer.

    It’s not unusual to make $50,000 to $100,000 on a wholetail deal, but without nearly as much work as flipping takes.

    We recommend wholetailing real estate when you’ve found a house that needs very few repairs, you can get it for a price that’s significantly under market value, and you have the cash to purchase the home (your own money or someone else’s).

    Pros

    • Wholetailing requires very little work but has a big payoff.

    Cons

    • Wholetail deals are hard to come by.
    • Wholetailing works better as a supplemental investing strategy than it does a primary business model.
    • Requires access to large amounts of cash.

    4. Buy-And-Hold Investing

    Buy-and-hold investing is probably the best business model for increasing long-term wealth and net worth. In the buy-and-hold strategy, the investor buys properties (ideally ones that are a good deal), fills them with tenants to create cash flow, and holds.

    Buy-and-hold investing aims to collect as many properties as possible and build as big of a portfolio as possible.

    The hardest part of this business model is securing the cash to purchase properties consistently — we recommend seeking out private money or hard money to fund your deals.

    Pros

    • Great way to increase net worth.
    • Creates a ton of passive cash flow.

    Cons

    • Need to manage properties and deal with tenants.
    • Need access to a lot of capital to maintain momentum.

    5. House Flipping

    House flipping is the HGTV method of real estate investing- perhaps the most popularized way to make it big.

    What these TV shows don’t talk about, though, is how house flipping is also one of the riskier real estate business models — because during the time between when you buy a house and when you sell it (often 6 months or so), you’re just crossing your fingers that the market doesn’t take a hit.

    Still, house flipping is a great real estate business model to add to your repertoire — it has higher risk but also a higher payoff, often upwards of $100,000 for a single deal.

    Pros

    • Bigger cash payoff than any other investing model.

    Cons

    • Requires a lot of fixer-upper work.
    • Has a higher risk.
    • Requires a lot of upfront cash.

    6. Remote Investing

    Remote real estate investing has only become possible for the everyday investor in the last decade.

    Technology has advanced so that investors can generate leads, find deals, inspect homes, purchase properties, and more… all without even being in the same state as the property they’re purchasing.

    Check out our guide here to learn more about virtual real estate investing.

    This is a great option for people who don’t want their businesses tied down to a single location.

    Pros

    • You can operate anywhere in the U.S., accessing the most profitable markets.
    • Gives you more time and freedom.

    Cons

    • It requires a lot of research before entering into a new market.
    • Requires you to buy properties site unseen.
    • You must build a business with clear-cut systems and hire trustworthy people you can depend on.

    7. Listing Service For FSBO

    What’s great about this business model is that once it’s set up, it can be almost entirely passive — you’ll need to hire a VA to manage some basic tasks and keep up with customer requests.

    Here’s how it works: you get your real estate license, set up a website attracting FSBO sellers who want to list their house on the MLS, and offer to do it for a flat fee.

    You can charge upwards of $250 per listing, for instance.

    And as mentioned above, you can train a VA to do a lot of the heavy lifting. So once you’ve built the website and found ways to drive traffic (paid ads and/or SEO), this will run almost entirely on autopilot.

    Pros

    • Easy to set up and easy to manage.
    • Decent money maker with very little work.

    Cons

    • Will need a real estate license.
    • Will be competing with other FSBO listers.
    • Will require a good chunk of upfront work to get everything set up.
    • Will need to find ways to drive traffic consistently.

    8. BRRRR

    The BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) is a modified version of the buy-and-hold business model.

    BRRRR is an ongoing process by which real estate investors can purchase multiple properties with very little capital relative to the growth of their portfolios. First, the investor finds a good deal and buys the property using cash, private money, or hard money. Then they rehab the property and fill it with tenants to start the cash flow.

    After a seasoning period of 12-24 months, the investor does a cash-out refinance on the home — this is where a financial institution provides a new loan on the property and returns the cash that they used to purchase the property in the first place.

    Then the investor repeats that process with their original funds. If the investor plays their card right, they can purchase many properties with the same funds.

    Pros

    • Allows for faster portfolio growth.

    Cons

    • Requires the investor to secure upfront funding.
    • Requires very accurate math.

    9. Hybrid Real Estate Model

    The hybrid real estate model is a strategy where an agent is also an investor. So, you are essentially serving sellers up with multiple different offers.

    It’s a cash offer. Hey, if you’re looking for speed and convenience and are willing to take a bit of a shave in equity, here’s this.

    Or, if they want top dollar, here’s what we can list for them in the market.

    That’s all that it is.

    Pros

    • Flexibility to work with different types of sellers.
    • Easier to adapt to market shifts.

    Cons

    • Requires agents to be open to learning more about investing.

    Carrot member, Anthony Beckham, is a hybrid agent/investor. He always says his average profit per deal as an investor is around $20,000 to $30,000. His average agent commission is around the $7000 to $12,000 range.

    Final Thoughts

    There you have it!

    Those are nine real estate business models- something for everyone.

    If you don’t have much starting budget, wholesaling or becoming a real estate agent are wonderful options. If you have more capital, then you might consider flipping or BRRRR.

    Whatever you decide, there’s plenty of opportunity in each business model.

    Good luck!

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  • EP 468: 8 Factors of the 5 Highest-Converting Carrot Websites: ANALYZED w/ Katie Stapko

    EP 468: 8 Factors of the 5 Highest-Converting Carrot Websites: ANALYZED w/ Katie Stapko


    We reverse-engineered the top 5 highest-converting websites from Investors using Carrot to generate motivated seller leads SO THAT you can see exactly what it takes to do the same. I think you’ll be surprised by the simplicity of the commonalities. Let’s dive in!

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Get more content about design & conversion at Carrot.com/convert