Welcome to an exclusive glimpse into the world of real estate technology through an engaging conversation on "Keeping it Real." In this special episode, we sat down with two influential CEOs: Dan Corkill, the visionary leader behind Follow Up Boss, and Kevin McCarthy, the driving force behind Real Geeks. Let's explore their insights and experiences that are shaping the advancement of tech tools in real estate.
The inception of Follow Up Boss and Real Geeks has intriguing narratives that set the stage for their remarkable journeys.
Dan Corkill reflects on the origins of Follow Up Boss: "A lot of the CRMs were geared towards individual agents. Ever since then, we decided to build products for teams."
On the other side, Kevin McCarthy shares how Real Geeks was born: "I met this guy who was a real estate broker in Hawaii. We worked on other products, and I decided to build him a new real estate website with a focus on SEO."
Despite offering similar products, Dan and Kevin view each other as partners rather than competitors.
"I don't think we're competitors," Kevin chuckles. Dan playfully adds, "Definitely! We don't sell leads like Real Geeks does. And our CRM is definitely better than Real Geeks!"
Integration emerges as a game-changer in the real estate tech landscape, as both CEOs emphasize its significance.
"Real estate websites are great. Real Estate CRMs are great. But if you only have one of those tools, you're missing the big picture," Kevin highlights.
A fascinating integration strategy is revealed by Kevin: "Imagine telling a potential seller, 'I've got 50 people in my database looking at your neighborhood. If we close this deal, I can call them right away.'"
This is a great strategy some of our RealGeeks clients have been using, which wouldn't be possible without the integration of these two tools (Real estate website + CRM).
From communication channels to AI, the real estate industry has witnessed numerous shifts that shape its landscape.
Kevin walks us through the evolving communication channels: "For a while, getting in touch with your leads meant giving them a call. Then came the era of emails, and it was the shiny new thing. When that got overcrowded, along came texting. And we're seeing the limitations of that now."
So what will be the next big channel for getting in touch with leads? Guess.
Peering into the future, Dan and Kevin express their excitement for AI-driven automations and personalization.
"I'm closely watching how AI is used, not just for content creation but for automations in CRMs or accountability," Dan explains.
Kevin explores AI's potential in CRM tasks: "When you're creating an online document you need to manually input the design preferences you want for the text (size, color, font, alignment, etc). With AI, you can just tell it what you want it to look like." and he believes the same thing can be applied in real estate: "Instead of manually setting up advanced filters, you could just tell the CRM what you need. That's the power of AI."
Dan and Kevin offer insights for newcomers stepping into the world of real estate teams.
"Start with a CRM and contacts. Utilize tools to generate contacts or add existing ones. Set up searches and engage with leads," advises Kevin.
Dan emphasizes the importance of differentiation: "Keep building your CRM. Focus on what sets you apart. It's a hustle, especially in the beginning."
As our conversation draws to a close, it's evident that Dan Corkill and Kevin McCarthy are the architects of real estate tech's future. Their partnership mindset, casual camaraderie, and insights into integration and AI offer a sneak peek into a dynamic industry in flux.
Whether you're a newbie navigating the landscape or a seasoned pro seeking fresh perspectives, their wisdom serves as a guiding light through the waves of change in the real estate tech sphere.