How to Get Clients for Real Estate: 8 High-Converting Strategies

Yes, finding clients for real estate is hard…

And that’s not because you’re bad at what you do.

The truth is, getting clients requires a different skill set and strategies.

Strategies that will help you: 

• Win clients on a minimal budget
• Pick the right channels to get consistent leads
• Look confident and professional without sounding salesy
• Build a system that brings in clients consistently

That’s exactly what I’ve covered in this blog.

I’ve done the research, and here are 7 proven strategies to find real estate clients that are used by both first-time solo agents and seasoned realtors alike.

No time to waste, let’s help you win high-quality leads!

8 Proven Strategies to Find Clients For Your Real Estate Business

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy to get clients in real estate.

Each strategy that I’ve mentioned here can be adapted to fit your business needs, objectives, and budget. 

Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining what already works, there’s something here for everyone.

Most of these strategies are budget-friendly. (I’ve got you even if you are a beginner 😉), and can be combined with each other to get better results.

Now let’s look at the strategies:

1. Use Cold Outreach to Directly Target Buyers and Sellers
2. Run Paid Ads to Attract High-Intent Leads
3. Take Part in Online & Offline Events
4. Ask for Referrals
5. Collaborate With Other Agents and Local Businesses
6. Create Content to Build Trust and Visibility
7. Register in Real Estate Directories
8. Buy Leads From a B2B Directory

Let’s start with the first one.

1. Use Cold Outreach to Directly Target Buyers and Sellers

Cold outreach is a highly effective lead generation strategy that you can use in the real estate business to get clients, especially if you’re working with a tight budget and want to scale over time.

Now, when it comes to cold outreach, there are two channels that I prefer: Emails and Phone Calls.

Here’s a simple comparison between the two channels:

I personally prefer cold emailing, having seen it deliver up to 4,400% ROI from my own campaigns.

That said, both methods work well depending on how you use them!

In fact, I’ll show you exactly how you can use these channels to find and convert prospects into clients.

1. Cold Email
2. Cold Calling 

How To Use Cold Emailing To Get Clients as a Real Estate Agent

Cold emailing is one of the best channels for real estate outreach, especially if you’re just starting out or working with a limited budget.

Here’s why it works:

• Budget-friendly and delivers high ROI
• Reach a large audience quickly
• Personalize messages to increase engagement
• Less intrusive than cold calls
• Gives recipients time to respond

And when you combine it with an AI-assisted cold emailing platform like Saleshandy, you level it up even further by being able to:

• Set up automated sequences with built-in follow-ups
• Send personalized emails at scale
• Ability to use built-in Lead Finder, an in-built database, to find prospects relevant to your real estate niche.    
• Offers easy integration with other tools.

To get started in cold emailing, you need a high-quality lead list. 

You can either build this yourself or buy leads from trusted sources.

Instead of manually sending emails and tracking responses, I would suggest you to automate the repetitive tasks and focusing your time on closing deals.

Regardless of what you choose, here are some templates that will help you:

1. Initial Cold Email (Personalized with Intent)
2. Follow-up Email

Now let’s look at an example: In this, you’re targeting HR Heads, Talent Acquisition Leaders, or Admin Managers in companies that manage employee relocations.

1. Initial Cold Email (Personalized with Intent)

Subject:Helping {{Company Name}} Simplify Employee Relocations

Hi {{first name}},

I would like to congratulate {{Company Name}} for the expansion across {{City/Region}}.

With hiring and relocations picking up, I would like to offer my services. 

I specialize in helping HR teams like yours make employee relocations smoother and stress-free by providing curated rental options, short-term accommodations, and relocation support.

Would you be open to a quick call next week? Even if you don't have immediate needs, it could be helpful to have a trusted partner ready when the need arises.

Looking forward to connecting,

Warm regards,
{{Your name}}
{{Your title/agency}}
{{Your phone}}

2. Follow-up Email

Subject:Re: Helping {{Company Name}} with Employee Relocation Support?

Hi {{first name}},

Just following up on my earlier note. I’d love to explore how I can assist {{Company Name}}  in making employee relocations quicker and more comfortable.

If it helps, I can share a few examples of how we’ve supported other HR teams during major expansion phases.

Would you like me to send a short case study or sample relocation support plan?

Thanks for considering,

Best,
{{your name}}
{{your title or agency}}
{{your phone}}

These are just two examples. You can similarly create multiple templates for different scenarios, like from new listings to open house invites to price drop alerts.

Also read: Cold Email Templates to Generate Responses

You can use ChatGPT or similar AI tools to compose a template, but it needs multiple refinements before you can send it. 

However, software like Saleshandy already has a gives you ready-to-use template library or even lets you generate variations of your initial emails using AI.

If you’re serious about scaling your outreach, cold emailing is still one of the most effective (and underrated) ways to consistently generate real estate leads.

How To Use Cold Calling To Get Real Estate Clients 

Cold calling offers instant feedback, allowing you to present your offer, address objections in real time, and quickly establish a personal connection.

That said, cold calling comes with a few trade-offs:

• It’s time-consuming and hard to scale manually
• Can feel intrusive if it’s not personalized
• Harder to track performance unless you use specific tools
• Requires confidence, a strong mindset, and adaptability

Cold calling isn’t about reading a script word-for-word. It’s about listening, adapting, and knowing how to build interest in 30 seconds or less.

So, let’s look at the same example of starting a conversation. Let’s take the example used in cold emailing: you’re contacting HR Heads, Talent Acquisition Leaders, or Admin Managers to offer help in employee relocations.

Cold Calling Template

Subject:Re: Helping {{Company Name}} with Employee Relocation Support?

You: Hi {{First Name}}, this is {{Your Name}} from {{Your Agency}}.I know you weren’t expecting my call — Is this a good time to talk?

{{Pause and let them answer. If they say yes, politely reschedule. If no, continue.}}

You:Thanks! I’ll be quickI noticed {{Company Name}} has been growing recently, and I figured your HR team might be managing more employee relocations.

I actually specialize in helping companies like yours make that process smoother,  we help employees find rental homes, arrange short stays, and basically take the relocation stress off the HR team's plate.

Would it be alright if I quickly shared how we could help {{Company Name}} make relocations easier for your new hires?

{{If they say yes → move into a very short value pitch + ask for a meeting.}}

This kind of opening feels honest, local, and respectful of their time, which helps you build trust quickly.

If you’re new or working solo, cold calling may be harder to maintain. 

But if you enjoy real-time conversations and can dedicate time daily to outreach, it can be a powerful channel, especially in local or high-value deal scenarios.

2. Run Paid Ads to Attract High-Intent Leads

Advertising is one of the best ways to get consistent visibility and high-intent leads, especially for real estate.

That said, success doesn’t happen overnight!

You’ll need to invest your time and resources to test different platforms, ad copy, and visuals until you find the right combination that clicks with your audience.

The good thing is, depending on your budget and goals, there’s an advertising channel for everyone.

By using the right visuals and ad copy, you will be able to bring significant results from your ad campaigns. 

You can go with online ads, offline ads, or combine both for maximum visibility.

Here are some of the popular online and offline Ad platforms you can try.

Regardless of which channel you choose, as I said above, always start small and only scale based on the success of the campaign.

How do you monitor the success of your campaign?

Well, for online advertising, you can keep track of the metrics like cost-per-click (CPC), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS).

That’s why I always recommend starting with a small budget, so you can test without draining your resources. 

As for offline advertising…

Well, since they are physical advertisements, agencies usually use some of the following tricks:

• Assign a unique phone number or email address to each offline campaign
• QR Codes with tracking URLs
• Offer location-specific promo codes
• Ask Every Inbound Lead: How Did You Hear About Us?

Now, what channel should you choose? Let’s check:

• Online Advertising
• Offline Advertising

Online Advertising

If you’re budget-conscious and want to control every aspect of your campaign, online ads are the way to go.

With online ads, you can:

• Define your audience by location, age, interest, and behavior
• Monitor performance in real-time
• A/B test your visuals, headlines, and offers
• Start with a small budget and scale based on results

Offline Advertisement

Offline ads work well when you’re targeting older audiences or specific neighborhoods that rely more on traditional media.

Popular offline options include:

• Flyers or brochures in apartments and cafes
• Newspaper classifieds
• Billboards or bus-stop banners
• Taxi or bus ads

These help you establish a physical presence and build trust within the local community.

3. Take Part in Online & Offline Events

Events are one of the best ways to meet your clients directly.

Here, you will be able to showcase your expertise, build trust, and create opportunities for new business. It’s also one of the highest-return channels for making those connections.

Here are some of the most effective event formats to meet potential clients:

• Local Community Events: Becoming an active member in local community events will help you get the attention of the neighborhood. So, try taking part in charity fundraisers, local celebrations, or even neighborhood cleanup events. Your presence provides organic opportunities to connect with residents who may require real estate services now or in the future.
• Real Estate Expos: These events expose you to potential clients, other agents, and industry vendors. Not only that, you will be updated on the latest trends, pricing shifts, and new marketing strategies, making it totally worth it.
• Do Podcasts and YouTube videos: You can host informative sessions on topics like First-Time Home Buying Tips or Understanding the Current Market Trends. This positions you as an expert and earns trust from potential clients without ever meeting in person.
• Open House: Yes, open houses are mainly to showcase the property, but it’s also an underrated networking event. Because you are getting the chance to meet many prospective buyers, gather feedback, and establish connections. So, even if attendees aren’t interested in the specific property, they might be looking for other options or know someone who is.

Here are some more tips to keep in mind while attending these events:

• Always carry a business card or have a digital contact ready, as most people will check you out afterward.
• These events are about building trust, not closing deals on the spot. So no need to be salesy
• Actively listen and offer helpful insights, as it paints an image of you in the listener’s mind.
• Follow up post-event with a short message or email. A simple, great meeting you and an offer to help go a long way.

By actively participating in both online and offline events, you not only increase your visibility but also build a robust network that can lead to consistent client referrals and business growth.

4. Ask for Referrals

Here’s a mantra for you: Happy customers = More customers

Focus on providing the best service to your clients, and they will be happy to share referrals.

Now, most of the time, customers will give referrals, but I would suggest you develop a habit of asking for referrals from your customers.

However, if you are just starting out with no customers… don’t worry.

You still have your friends, family, and other circles. 

Spread the word about your service, and ask them if they have any referrals.

Since you’re asking people who know you, they should be happy to share referrals if they have any.

5. Collaborate With Other Agents and Local Businesses

“With unity, you can even lift a mountain.”

• An intellect (probably)

While it’s hard to grow in the real estate space alone, with the right collaborations, you can easily handle the challenges. 

If you are new to the space, I would suggest partnering with other real estate businesses or services like interior designers, etc.

You will be able to see how things work, as well as make enough connections. All of this will help you get real estate clients when you start your venture.

Now, collaboration is not just done with other realtors – you can even collaborate with other businesses to offer better value.

For example, you can collaborate with an interior designer or similar services and offer special deals for your prospects, thus increasing the chances of turning them into your clients.

6. Create Content to Build Trust and Visibility

Content marketing is trending now, and you can also use it to your benefit. 

Start by creating a professional website. How will this help?

When people look you up online, seeing your website and related content gives them a sense of trust and credibility.

Just like knowing the valid address of a person makes us trust them more, a professional website will play a good role in establishing your credibility.

Along with a professional website, you can also create blogs addressing your potential clients’ concerns regarding real estate.

Along with that, I would suggest you to focus on building a personal brand, even if you have an agency.

Start by creating video content that will help your users. Basically, provide value to gain trust from your audience, and they will trust you enough to become your client.

Apart from all this, join communities where your potential clients might ask real estate-related questions.

Make sure to interact with the posts in the form of likes, comments, or even follow others. 

So, the more consistently you show up online with helpful content, the more trust you’ll build even before you meet the client in person. 

The best part is that some might even contact you for your service!

However, you will not get results from day one. You need to stay consistent and wait for a while before seeing the fruit of your efforts show up.

7. Register in Real Estate Directories

You can also register your business in real estate directories where potential clients can find you when searching for a realtor.

Directories are useful for both sides: your prospects can narrow down their search based on specific needs, and you get inbound leads without much extra effort.

I would recommend focusing mainly on region-specific directories that cater to your local market.

These platforms often attract high-intent clients who are actively looking for real estate services in your area.

Which is why when registering in such portals, make sure to complete your profile fully. Add your name, areas of expertise, professional certifications, and anything that makes you stand out. 

Many directories even let you upload photos, videos, and links to your website or social media profiles. So, make sure to use these options to build trust and credibility.

Also, remember when I suggested asking for referrals from your clients?

Along with that, encourage them to leave reviews on these directories – a few good positive reviews can make a huge difference in building your authority and attracting new clients.

If your budget allows, you can also invest in premium listings or ad slots.

These usually place your profile at the top of search results, increasing your visibility and improving your chances of getting inquiries.

Apart from improving your visibility, being listed in reputable real estate directories can also boost your SEO.

Many directories are recognized by search engines, and a strong presence there can improve your overall search rankings.

This means even clients searching on Google may end up finding your profile!

So basically, real estate directories will make you or your agency more trustworthy, which will result in a phone call from your client, and most likely a sale.

8. Buy Leads From a B2B Directory

Now, apart from the seven other strategies mentioned above, here’s a bonus one, which will be useful for you if you are looking for B2B clients.

While you can use all the other strategies mentioned here, using a trustworthy B2B directory is a far better way to find your prospects.

Tools like Saleshandy’s B2B Lead Finder give you access to a massive database of over 700 M+ verified B2B leads from more than 60 million companies. 

You can use its advanced search filters, allowing you to narrow down leads by industry, company size, job title, location, and more, so you can find exactly the kind of prospects you want to work with.

With Saleshandy, you will get access to both Leadfinder and an amazing cold email solution, further improving your chances of winning clients.

Time To Find Clients!

Yes, getting clients and growing in real estate is a tough task. However, it’s not impossible. 

With the 8 strategies I’ve shared, you can consistently add more client leads to your pipeline.. 

The strategies I have shared aren’t just theory. They’re practical, field-tested methods that agents across the world use every single day to fill their pipeline.

However, if you ask my advice, I would recommend trying out cold emailing, as you can start very small and grow based on the performance of your campaign. 

You can also combine multiple inbound and outbound strategies to get the best results. However, I would only recommend this if you have the right resources for that.

All the best. And hopefully, you might help me find my dream property.

How To Find Clients for Real Estate: FAQs

1. How long does it typically take to start getting clients using these strategies?

That depends on the strategy you choose and how consistently you apply it. Some strategies can take days, weeks, or even months to yield results. If you want quicker results, focus on proactive outreach strategies like cold emailing or cold calling, where you directly reach out to your target audience instead of waiting for them to find you.

2. Is it better to focus on buyers or sellers when starting out?

If you’re just starting out, it’s usually easier to focus on buyers. That’s because buyers are actively looking for options. 

Meanwhile, working with sellers often requires more experience, a strong track record, and a marketing plan to show why they should trust you with their property. That said, once you have some buyer deals closed and a few success stories to share, you can start approaching sellers too.

3. How do I handle rejection or being ignored by potential clients?

Rejection and getting ignored are normal when you’re starting out in real estate. First, you need to tell yourself not to take it personally. Most of the time, they’re either not ready yet or already working with someone else, and that’s completely fine. If someone ignores you, just follow up once or twice, and then move on.

4. How do I start finding the right clients as a new realtor?

Finding your ideal customs can help you a lot in planning and choosing the right strategies to win them as your clients. You can do this by creating an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), which outlines the type of clients who would benefit most from your services. Along with that, try creating a Buyer Persona, as it helps you further dive deeper into their personal goals, challenges, and preferences – all of it will help you plan ahead.