TCPA Changes: What Real Estate Agents Need to Know Now

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) has been a critical regulation for real estate professionals who rely on phone calls, texts, and automated marketing to reach new leads.

While recent updates to the law have been delayed for at least a year, that doesn’t mean agents should ignore TCPA compliance. In fact, lawsuits and enforcement actions continue to rise, and many states have already implemented stricter rules.

Greg Harrelson recently discussed the potential impact of TCPA changes during his Mastermind call, emphasizing that even without immediate regulatory shifts, agents should already be optimizing their approach to lead conversion. So, what do you need to know about TCPA now, and how can you ensure your business stays ahead of the curve?

Remember, if you want personalized coaching from Greg on how to leverage the Real Geeks system to become the go-to agent in your market and transform your business in 2025, join his private community at RGMastery.com for less than $200/month.

What the TCPA Changes Could Mean for You

Although the new rules are on hold, the proposed updates would have required businesses to secure fresh consent from leads every 90 days. This would have meant a fundamental shift in how real estate agents nurture and follow up with leads over time. If this rule eventually takes effect, agents who fail to get re-consent could see a significant drop in engagement—or even face legal action for non-compliance.

For now, though, the existing TCPA rules still apply. That means:

You must have prior express written consent before sending marketing texts or using automated calls.

The National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry must be respected—calling numbers on this list without permission can result in fines of up to $43,792 per call.

State-level laws may be stricter than federal regulations. Some states, like Florida and Washington, have already implemented shorter call windows and higher penalties for violations.

How Real Geeks Users Stay Ahead of TCPA Compliance

One major advantage of using a system like Real Geeks is that compliance is built into the platform. Greg pointed out during his discussion that Real Geeks is already proactive about upcoming changes, ensuring that agents are prepared when new rules are enforced.

Some of the ways Real Geeks helps include:

Tracking consent within the CRM, so agents know exactly which leads they can contact.

Automating compliance updates, so users don’t have to guess what’s required.

Providing education on best practices, so agents can maximize engagement without legal risks.

Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Compliant While Maximizing Lead Conversion

Greg emphasized that agents should not only focus on compliance but also develop better habits to increase their lead conversion rates. Here’s a step-by-step process to ensure you’re both compliant and effective in your outreach:

Step 1: Obtain Clear Consent Early

—  When a lead enters your system, ensure they explicitly opt-in for calls and texts.

—  Use website forms that include clear disclaimers about consent requirements.

—  If you gather leads from offline sources, obtain verifiable written consent before contacting them.

Step 2: Verify Leads Against the DNC Registry

—  Use Real Geeks or another tool to automatically scrub leads against the National DNC list.

—  Check state-specific DNC laws, as some have additional restrictions.

Step 3: Implement a Multi-Touch Follow-Up Strategy

Greg pointed out that most agents only contact about 10% of their leads, which leaves massive opportunities untapped. Instead of relying on a single call attempt, use a mix of:

— Call attempts spread over 7-10 days (instead of just once or twice).

— Text follow-ups with personalized messages (where permitted by law).

— Email sequences that provide value (such as market updates or property suggestions).

— Retargeting ads to keep your brand visible even if the lead doesn’t respond right away.

Step 4: Track Lead Activity and Adjust Accordingly

Greg emphasized that leads who engage with emails, texts, or calls should be prioritized. Use these tactics:

— If a lead opens your email but doesn’t reply, follow up with a call within 24 hours.

— If a lead responds positively to a text, immediately schedule a call.

— If a lead ignores multiple attempts, try switching communication methods before discarding them.

Step 5: Continue Building Trust Beyond the First 90 Days

Even if the 90-day re-consent rule eventually takes effect, agents who establish strong relationships early won’t need to worry. Greg’s advice? Turn leads into real conversations early, so TCPA restrictions become irrelevant. Ways to do this include:

— Offering valuable insights about the market instead of just pitching a sale.

— Inviting leads to virtual or in-person events to establish rapport.

— Using video messages to make communication more personal and engaging.

The Real Challenge: Increasing Your Contact Ratio

Greg pointed out that compliance isn’t the real obstacle—lack of contact is. Most agents fail because they don’t make enough attempts to connect. He challenged agents to increase their capture-to-contact ratio to 35% over the next month. That means:

— Making at least six call attempts per lead.

— Using multiple communication channels to stay visible.

— Ensuring leads are contacted within the first 5 minutes of submission, when interest is highest.

Final Thoughts

TCPA compliance isn’t something to ignore, but it also shouldn’t be a roadblock to success. Greg’s advice is clear: focus on setting more appointments in the first 90 days, and you’ll naturally avoid most compliance issues. Whether the TCPA changes happen in a year or not, the best agents will already be operating at a level where compliance is second nature.

By following these steps and leveraging tools like Real Geeks, real estate professionals can continue to generate leads, book more appointments, and grow their business—without fear of regulation changes slowing them down.

Remember, if you want personalized coaching from Greg on how to leverage the Real Geeks system to become the go-to agent in your market and transform your business in 2025, join his private community at RGMastery.com for less than $200/month.