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AI lead automations for real estate agents

On some portal programs, several agents get the same lead alert and the first to claim it wins. Respond first, with something useful, and you give yourself the best shot at the conversation. These recipes reply in under a minute, even when you're at a showing.

Sources

Sound familiar?

  • Zillow / Realtor.com / Homes.com leads arrive while you're showing a house
  • Open-house sign-ins never get a follow-up
  • Old leads from last year are sitting in a spreadsheet
  • You can't answer the phone during a closing

7 recipes on this page

  1. Reply to Zillow / portal leads in under a minute
  2. Open-house follow-up the same afternoon
  3. New-lead nurture: day 0 / 1 / 3 / 7
  4. Missed-call text-back during showings
  5. Reactivate old leads
  6. Review request after closing
  7. AI receptionist for your listing line

Most portals email you each lead. Forward those emails (or your CRM's webhook) into the instant-reply workflow. If you already use Follow Up Boss or another real estate CRM, use its action plans for long-term nurture and these recipes for the first-minute response.

01

Reply to Zillow / portal leads in under a minute

⏱ Setup: 1-2 hours📶 Beginner

The problem

A buyer inquires on a listing through a portal. On some portal programs, agents race for the lead: Realtor.com's ReadyConnect Concierge alerts several agents and the first to claim it gets the live transfer. You're in a showing for 45 minutes.

How it works

  1. Forward portal lead emails (or your website form) to the n8n webhook. A Gmail filter can do this automatically.
  2. The workflow pulls out name, phone, and the property they asked about.
  3. AI writes a reply mentioning that property and offering showing times.
  4. It's texted and emailed within a minute, and you get a summary.

Tools used

n8n Twilio OpenAI API Gmail / Google Workspace

Realistic monthly cost≈ $4.91 + €20/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~160 text segments sent + received$1.33
  • carrier fees on ~80 outbound texts$0.40
  • ~80 AI-written replies$0.04
  • Automation platform (or self-host n8n free)€20

Assumes ~80 portal leads a month. Portal lead fees themselves are not included. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Plus one-time texting registration (A2P 10DLC): about $19.50 (low-volume brand + campaign vetting). Source

See the free step-by-step setup → Every step, setting and message on one page, plus a ready-to-import n8n template.
02

Open-house follow-up the same afternoon

⏱ Setup: 1-2 hours📶 Beginner

The problem

Twenty people signed in at your open house. By the time you follow up three days later, they've forgotten you.

How it works

  1. Use a Google Form or QR-code sign-in sheet at the door.
  2. An hour after the open house ends, each visitor gets a personal text and email thanking them, with the listing details.
  3. AI tailors the note to what they checked ('just looking', 'need to sell first', etc.).
  4. Anyone who replies goes to the top of your call list.

Tools used

n8n Twilio OpenAI API Gmail / Google Workspace

Realistic monthly cost≈ $4.03/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~80 text segments sent + received$0.66
  • carrier fees on ~40 outbound texts$0.20
  • ~40 AI-written replies$0.02

Assumes 2 open houses a month, ~20 visitors each. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Template coming soon
03

New-lead nurture: day 0 / 1 / 3 / 7

⏱ Setup: 2-3 hours📶 Intermediate

The problem

Plenty of leads aren't ready to move today. Without a follow-up rhythm, they go cold and buy with whoever stayed in touch.

How it works

  1. Every new lead lands in a Google Sheet or CRM.
  2. Day 0: instant reply. Day 1: 'Want me to send similar homes?' Day 3: a useful local market note you write once. Day 7: 'Still looking? Happy to help whenever.'
  3. A reply at any point stops the sequence and alerts you.

Tools used

n8n Twilio Follow Up Boss HubSpot

Realistic monthly cost≈ $6.61 + €20/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~320 text segments sent + received$2.66
  • carrier fees on ~160 outbound texts$0.80
  • Automation platform (or self-host n8n free)€20
  • HubSpot free CRM (or your existing CRM)$0

Assumes ~80 leads a month x 4 touches. Follow Up Boss Grow ($69/user/mo) can replace the sheet and CRM line. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Plus one-time texting registration (A2P 10DLC): about $19.50 (low-volume brand + campaign vetting). Source

Template coming soon
04

Missed-call text-back during showings

⏱ Setup: 1-2 hours📶 Beginner

The problem

Your phone buzzes mid-showing. You can't answer. That caller was a seller ready to list.

How it works

  1. Use a Twilio number on your signs, ads and profile that forwards to your cell.
  2. If you don't pick up, the caller gets a text in seconds asking if they're buying or selling.
  3. Their reply and an AI-drafted response land in your inbox.

Tools used

Twilio n8n OpenAI API Gmail / Google Workspace

Realistic monthly cost≈ $6.27 + €20/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~120 text segments sent + received$1.00
  • carrier fees on ~60 outbound texts$0.30
  • ~80 inbound call minutes$0.68
  • ~80 minutes forwarded to your cell$1.12
  • ~60 AI-written replies$0.03
  • Automation platform (or self-host n8n free)€20

Assumes ~60 missed calls a month. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Plus one-time texting registration (A2P 10DLC): about $19.50 (low-volume brand + campaign vetting). Source

See the free step-by-step setup → Every step, setting and message on one page, plus a ready-to-import n8n template.
05

Reactivate old leads

⏱ Setup: 2 hours📶 Intermediate

The problem

You have a spreadsheet of 500 leads from the last two years. Some of them are ready to move now.

How it works

  1. Load old leads into a Google Sheet (only people who agreed to be contacted).
  2. The workflow sends a short, personal check-in: 'Are you still thinking about a move this year?'
  3. AI sorts replies into hot / later / not interested, and hot ones get emailed to you.

Tools used

n8n Twilio OpenAI API

Realistic monthly cost≈ $11.97/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~800 text segments sent + received$6.64
  • carrier fees on ~400 outbound texts$2
  • ~400 AI-written replies$0.18

Assumes 400 old leads in a campaign month. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Template coming soon
06

Review request after closing

⏱ Setup: 30 minutes📶 Beginner

The problem

Your clients love you at the closing table. Six months later, they've forgotten to leave a review.

How it works

  1. When a deal is marked closed, the workflow waits 3 days.
  2. Then it sends a heartfelt thank-you with your Google review link (and Zillow review link if you use one).

Tools used

n8n Twilio Google Business Profile

Realistic monthly cost≈ $3.26/mo
How we got this number
  • Twilio local number$1.15
  • Texting registration (A2P 10DLC) monthly fee$2
  • ~10 text segments sent + received$0.08
  • carrier fees on ~5 outbound texts$0.03
  • Google Business Profile$0

A handful of texts a month: basically free on top of the other recipes. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Template coming soon
07

AI receptionist for your listing line

⏱ Setup: 1-2 hours📶 Beginner

The problem

Sign calls come in at all hours asking 'Is it still available? How many bedrooms?'

How it works

  1. Pick an AI answering tool (see comparison).
  2. Load your active listings' basic facts and your showing calendar link.
  3. It answers listing questions, books showings, and texts you a summary.

Tools used

Dialzara Goodcall Smith.ai

Realistic monthly cost≈ $29/mo
How we got this number
  • Dialzara Lite (60 min)$29

Example uses Dialzara's entry plan. Prices are list prices checked 2026-10-26; see every source.

Compare AI receptionists → Template coming soon

Sources

  1. Realtor.com ReadyConnect Concierge FAQ: lead alerts go to agents who might be a good match; the first to claim gets the live transfer checked 2026-10-26

Stats on this page come from the sources above. Prices have their own list on pricing sources.

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