7 Best Real Estate Prospecting Letters for 2024

Snail-mailing real estate prospecting letters is still an effective lead generation strategy.

Why?

Because it leverages the power of person-to-person communication. And with that comes trust, which is the key ingredient you need to turn leads into clients.

Now that just about everything can be digitized in some way, the novelty of this kind of personal communication offers a serious advantage over your competitors who send generic emails and texts en masse. For the average consumer, there’s something special about receiving a letter in the mail from an agent who took the time to address you by name and write a message about your specific situation.

Plus, the reach of real estate direct mail tends to be highly focused because it simply has less to compete with than other mediums, such as email. That’s also why print pieces tend to have very impressive open rates.

Ready to incorporate prospecting letters into your marketing strategy? Here’s a how-to guide that includes a handy checklist and several samples you can adapt to fit a variety of common situations.

The Checklist

There’s an endless number of ways you could go about writing your real estate prospecting letters. But keep in mind that the most effective approaches will include all of the following.

Authenticity

The whole concept of sending letters to generate leads is built around this. So if you’re not going to craft your letters to sound highly personal and to convey a sense of genuine care, you might be better off pursuing a different strategy altogether.

A Personal Touch

It’s a good idea to handwrite your letters because “the medium is the message,” as the saying goes. In other words, your dedication to provide excellent customer service is evidenced by the fact that you took the time and effort to write them a letter.

But of course, you don’t have to. You could type them out or make it look like you wrote them by hand – there are some realistic handwriting generators and fonts available if you want to save time.

Regardless of which format and design you decide to go with, veer toward simple. The overproduced look often undermines the personal touch you’re going for. After all, you want it to look like it’s coming from a person, not a company.

Proof of Credibility

Remember – real estate prospecting letters are meant to help you establish trust. So share (brief) points that highlight your expertise, such as how long you’ve been in the industry or how many homes you’ve sold in the last year.

Clear Benefits

Make sure your prospecting letter is mostly about the prospect and their situation and less about you and why they should hire you.

Clearly state the precise benefits they’ll receive from working with you – that they’ll discover their dream home, for example, or that they’ll be able to buy or sell at a great price, or that they won’t have to deal with the hassles of selling on their own.

A Call to Action

What do you want them to do after they’ve read your letter? Tell them plainly. And make it easy for them to know how to contact you.

In other words…

• Don’t be overly salesy.
• Don’t make it too long. (Wordiness isn’t worth the hand cramps it’ll cause!)
• Don’t forget to explain the benefits you’re offering
• Don’t make it all about you.
• Don’t leave them wondering what they should do next.

7 Templates for Real Estate Prospecting Letters

If any of these sample letters work for you “as is,” great! But they can also function as a source of inspiration or a good starting point to help you craft your own. Feel free to adapt them to fit your brand voice and the situation and prospect you have in mind.

1. The All-purpose Introduction Letter
2. The FSBO Prospecting Letter
3. Prospecting Letter to the Owner of an Expired Listing
4. Prospecting Letter Written to an Open House Attendee
5. The CMA Offer
6. Letter to a Referral Lead Who’s Interested in Buying
7. Reaching Out to a Potential Business Partner

1. The All-purpose Letter of Introduction

2. The FSBO Prospecting Letter

3. Prospecting Letter to the Owner of an Expired Listing

4. Prospecting Letter Written to an Open House Attendee

5. The CMA Offer

6. Letter to a Referral Lead Who’s Interested in Buying

7. Reaching Out to a Potential Local Business Partner

Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Real Estate Prospecting Letters

• Follow up. Haven’t heard back from the recipients for a while after sending your letter? Give them a quick call or send them an email.
• Track your results. If you don’t monitor the results of each prospecting letter campaign it’ll be very difficult to repeat successes and identify ways to improve. Tracking results allows you to test and iterate so you can turn every letter into a learning opportunity.
• Use a real estate CRM. The best systems (like the CRM that comes along with Market Leader Pro, for example) allow you to do it all from one place: automate your marketing, text, email, and listing alerts; track website behavior; and leverage advanced filtering options so you can send the right messages to the right segments at the right times.

13 Quick Hits: More Real Estate Prospecting Ideas

1. Partner With Flippers

It may be easier than you think to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with investors who flip homes. By providing them with market insights and handling their sales transactions, you’re simultaneously closing more deals and expanding your network. Find flippers who may be a good fit for your business by networking at home auctions, reaching out to title and escrow companies, and joining relevant and local Facebook groups and online forums.

2. Assist With Relocation Services

By partnering with companies related to relocation, such as movers and storage facilities, or reaching out to HR teams at large employers, you can easily acquire leads who are motivated to buy and sell due to job-related relocations.

3. Get Referrals Through Your CPA

Building a relationship with a certified public accountant (CPA) can lead to high-quality referrals, as they often have clients who discuss real estate matters.

4. Call Expired Listings

Of course, it’s demoralizing for sellers to see their listing expire. But that gives you the perfect opportunity to come in as the hero of second chances. It could be that all they need is an agent like you who can restore their confidence and put their home back on the market—this time with your help! Start by finding recently expired listings using your MLS dashboard. (You can filter by selecting the “expired” status and entering a date range.)

5. Start Farming

Put simply, real estate farming is a business strategy that involves focusing all of your marketing and lead generation efforts on one specific geographic location as a way to become the go-to agent for that area. Check out this handy guide to farming so you can get started today!

6. Warm Up to Cold Calling

If cold calling seems like an old-fashioned strategy, that’s because it is. But like direct mail marketing and door knocking, there’s a reason it’s been a common sales tactic for as long as it has: it works. Learn the eight best practices for cold calling.

7. Get Leads from Your Sphere of Influence (SOI)

Your SOI is composed of your family, circle of friends, connections, social network… everyone you can “influence” because you know them and they know you. The leads you generate from your SOI have an increased likelihood of becoming clients simply because you share a connection. Learn more about SOI marketing.

8. Expand Your Network

If you’re already leveraging your SOI and you’re still unable to generate enough leads to achieve your goals, then it’s time to learn some new networking strategies so you can expand your reach. Here’s everything you need to know about networking as a developing real estate agent.

9. Host Community Events

Organizing community events is an excellent real estate prospecting strategy. You can host neighborhood clean-ups, charity runs, local market days, or even educational seminars. These events allow you to connect with local residents in a casual and friendly environment. By engaging with the community, you build your brand presence and establish yourself as a trustworthy real estate professional. Make sure to collect contact information and follow up with attendees after the event. This personal interaction can lead to valuable leads and referrals, helping you grow your business through meaningful community involvement.

10. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn are powerful tools for real estate prospecting. Consistently posting valuable content, such as market updates, home buying tips, and success stories, can attract and engage potential clients. Use social media to showcase your listings with high-quality photos and videos, and interact with followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. Paid advertisements on these platforms can also target specific demographics, increasing your reach. Real estate social media marketing provides an excellent way to build your brand and connect with potential clients in a more informal setting.

11. Offer Free Workshops

Hosting free workshops on topics like home buying, selling, or real estate investing can be an effective real estate prospecting method. These educational sessions position you as an expert in your field and attract individuals who are actively interested in real estate. During the workshops, provide valuable insights and practical advice, and ensure you collect attendees’ contact information for follow-ups. By offering these sessions, you demonstrate your knowledge and willingness to help, which can convert attendees into clients. Promote your workshops through social media, email marketing, and local community boards to maximize attendance.

12. Network with Local Businesses

Building relationships with local businesses can significantly enhance your real estate prospecting efforts. Partner with coffee shops, gyms, retail stores, and other local businesses for cross-promotional opportunities. For example, you could leave your real estate business cards or flyers in their establishments, or co-host events that draw mutual audiences. This approach not only increases your visibility but also taps into the trust and credibility these businesses have with their customers. Networking with local business owners can also lead to referrals, of course, if they recommend your services to their clients.

13. Post Videos

It almost goes without saying—video marketing is a highly effective real estate prospecting tool. They’re more engaging and can capture the attention of potential clients more effectively than text alone. So you could create videos that showcase your listings, provide market updates, or offer real estate tips and post them on your website and social media platforms and in email campaigns to reach a broader audience. High-quality videos that show off your expertise and personality can build trust and attract leads.

Real Estate Prospecting FAQ

What does prospecting mean in real estate?

Prospecting in real estate refers to the activities and strategies agents use to identify potential clients and generate new business opportunities. It involves finding and building relationships with people who are (or may become) interested in buying or selling property. The most effective way to prospect is to include a mix of activities, including for example, cold calling, sending real estate prospecting letters, hosting open houses, and leveraging social media and digital marketing. The goal is to have a consistent stream of potential clients who trust your expertise and are likely to work with you when the time comes.

What is the most efficient use of prospecting time in real estate?

To maximize the efficiency of your prospecting time, focus on activities that yield the highest return on investment. Start by developing a prioritization system so you can focus only on high-value activities and avoid getting caught up in all of the time-consuming details that don’t come with a worthwhile ROI. It’s best to identify critical tasks that align with your lead-generation and income goals and tackle those first.

Consider using time management techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix or Pomodoro to stay organized and maintain focus. Utilize digital calendars and reminder apps to schedule appointments, set reminders for deadlines, and stay on top of your days.

Regularly analyze your prospecting efforts to identify what works best and refine your approach accordingly. Balancing traditional methods like cold calling and direct mail with digital strategies helps ensure you’ll reach a wider audience and convert more leads in the most efficient way possible.

Do real estate prospecting letters work?

Yes, real estate prospecting letters can be highly effective when they’ve crafted and executed in the right way. They offer a personal touch that digital communications often lack, helping to build trust and establish a connection with potential clients.

A successful real estate prospecting letter should be personalized, demonstrate your understanding of the recipient’s situation, and clearly outline the benefits of working with you. Include a compelling call-to-action that encourages the recipient to reach out to you for more information.

Following up with a phone call or email can reinforce your message and increase the chances of converting the lead into a client. When integrated into a comprehensive real estate prospecting strategy, these letters can significantly boost engagement and lead generation.

Research indicates that handwritten letters significantly outperform digital communications in terms of open and response rates. For instance, handwritten direct mail has an open rate of up to 90%, compared to about 20% for email marketing​​.

Also, handwritten direct mail is perceived as more personal by 67% of consumers, and 77% of Millennials pay attention to direct mail ads​​.

Stats like these highlight the effectiveness of handwritten letters in breaking through the digital noise and capturing the recipient’s attention, making them a valuable tool in any real estate prospecting strategy.