Staying relevant as a real estate agent requires more than just helping clients buy or sell a home. It’s about positioning yourself as the go-to resource for their ongoing homeowner journey, too.

The Real Estate Review (RER) is an effective way to check in with your past clients and provide value long after the sale is over. You can even use this strategy to stay top-of-mind with your sphere of influence!

By providing updated information on their home’s value in today’s market, you offer real value, nurture trust, and ultimately increase the chances of repeat clients and referrals.

The Real Estate Review is a yearly check-in with past clients and homeowners in your sphere. Each week, pick 1–2 people, gather relevant market data (CMA, neighborhood stats, HUD reports), and schedule a quick meeting to go over it together. If they can’t meet in person, send a mailer with a personal note instead. Confirm appointments mid- week and always follow up to see if they have questions. By consistently providing value, you’ll remain their trusted advisor, leading to more listings, referrals, and client loyalty.

A Real Estate Review (RER) is an annual “check-up” on a homeowner’s property value and local market conditions. This helps them understand how their investment is performing and shows you genuinely care about their financial well-being.

There are 5 main data points every effective RER should include:

1. Comparable Market Analysis (CMA): Shows recent sales of similar homes in the area, providing a baseline value for the client’s property.

2. Neighborhood Statistics: Average days on the market, absorption rates, inventory levels, and price-per-square-foot metrics give context to overall market health.

🎯 See additional ways to strategically use Community Reports.

3. Quarterly House Price Index (HUD/FHFA Report): Offers a broader perspective on nationwide or statewide trends, highlighting whether prices are generally rising, stabilizing, or declining.

4. Equity Analysis: Illustrates how much home equity the client may have gained since purchase—useful for future refinancing or selling decisions.

5. Local Market Trends: Insights on interest rates, new development, or local economic factors that might affect home values in the area.

• Keeps You Top of Mind: By presenting timely data each year, you remain the go-to source for all real estate questions.

• Builds Trust and Loyalty: Clients feel cared for because you’re proactively checking on their biggest investment.

• Encourages Action: Understanding their home’s value may inspire homeowners to sell, refinance, invest, or refer you to friends.

• Differentiates You: Offering a custom, data-driven report positions you as a consultant rather than just another agent.

• Relationship Building: It’s an easy, structured way to stay in touch with past clients and your sphere of influence.

• Referral Generator: Clients who see your expertise and proactive approach are more likely to recommend you to friends and family.

• Year-Round Marketing: Spreading out these reviews consistently (e.g., 1–2 per week) builds a dependable pipeline of warm leads.

Why it Works:

Limiting the number of contacts in a given week allows you to personalize each report to maximize its impact while providing a high level of detail. It also makes sure you don’t get overwhelmed!

🚨 Pro-Tip 🚨 Create a simple spreadsheet or use a CRM to create a list of homeowners, track who received a review, and schedule future follow-ups.

Why It Works:

Kicking off your outreach early in the week gives your contacts time to respond and gives you room to follow up. Sending a text (short and friendly) often gets a faster response.

Sample Scripts

• Good morning, [Name]! I just finished putting together your annual real estate review report for [Property Address]. It gives you a quick snapshot of how your home is performing in our current market. I’d love to schedule 10-15 minutes to share the highlights. How does next week on [Date] at [Time] look for you?

• Hey, [Name]! I realized it’s already [Month] and I haven’t had a chance to share your annual real estate review with you yet. Think of it as an annual check-up for your home, just like a financial review for your investment portfolio. I’ve already compiled the data, and it typically takes about 10–15 minutes to discuss. Could I pop by next week, or would you prefer coffee?

🚨 Pro-Tips 🚨
• Schedule on the Spot: Offer two specific time slots instead of asking for a general day/time. This boosts your chances of locking in an appointment now instead of waiting for them to get back to you.

• Snail Mail, Not Email: If they can’t meet in person or via Zoom, mail the packet with a personal note rather than sending it as an email attachment. This feels more personal and results in higher engagement.

Why It Works:

People are busy, and gentle reminders help reduce the odds of a no-show. A second or third touchpoint can significantly improve your appointment-setting success rate.

🚨 Pro-Tip 🚨 If someone still doesn’t respond after your Friday nudge, send a quick video message. This personal touch goes a long way in getting a response.

• Market Data: Create a CMA using the most relevant recently sold homes and include metrics like average days on the market and list vs sold price.

• Quarterly HUD Report: Visit fhfa.gov to download the latest “House Price Index” report. Include highlights like “House Price Appreciation by State” and any pages featuring relevant metro areas.

• Neighborhood Sales Packet: Use your MLS search and filter ALL sold listings in the last 12 months using a polygon map for precision. Print a map of the properties including the general info for each (beds/baths/sq ft/sold price), along with any other relevant neighborhood reports available in your MLS.

🚨 Pro-Tip 🚨 Keep a “review template” file or binder with checklists. This saves time and ensures you don’t miss any important data for each client.

Why It Works:

Meeting face-to-face allows you to strengthen the relationship, field questions in real-time, and naturally turn the conversation into other opportunities listing prep, investment options, referrals).

When you have to mail it, the sticky note is a personal touch that provides a quick overview and allows them to easily digest the main points.

🚨 Pro-Tip 🚨 Mention some sort of next step at the end of every conversation, such as a follow-up call in six months or an invite to a local event. This keeps the relationship active.

1. Personal Touches: Take every opportunity to make a sincere connection and customize your packets so they know you’re not simply blasting these out to everyone in the neighborhood.

2. Stay Organized: Choose a CRM or use a spreadsheet to track who you’ve contacted and the status of each review.

3. Streamlined System: Create a repeatable weekly/monthly checklist so no detail is overlooked.

4. Additional Value: Share homeowner tips, renovation recommendations, or relevant local real estate news. Visit the Marketing Center to customize a template.

5. Follow Up: Check in after delivery to answer any lingering questions. 6. Ask for Referrals: Politely let them know you’re happy to help friends or family who might need your expertise.

Offering an annual Real Estate Review is one of the most effective strategies to stay connected with your past clients and sphere. By committing to 1-2 reviews each week, you deliver tangible value that sets you apart in a competitive industry. This approach shows you genuinely care about their biggest investment and turns clients into lifelong advocates.

Next Step:

Make a list of all past clients, even if you haven’t spoken with them in a long time. Then determine which of the people in your sphere are homeowners and would benefit from a review. Select your first group and put the plan into action!

Stick to the schedule:

• Monday: Reach out to 1 or 2 past clients or sphere contacts to schedule a quick conversation (preferably in-person or virtually) for the following week.

• Wednesday: Prepare the Real Estate Reviews and follow up if the appointment hasn’t been confirmed.

• Friday: If you still haven’t nailed down an appointment, send a friendly nudge or video message.

• The Following Tuesday: Mail packets if you still can’t schedule an appointment.

Remember, people love to feel informed, valued, and looked after. Real Estate Reviews are a straightforward and impactful way to meet these needs while growing your business through top-of-mind visibility and consistent relationship building.

📣 Visit the Breakthrough Broker Marketing Center for customizable templates.