How would I use Sugar for Real Estate

[jkruer01]

Hello,

I am looking for just a basic CRM program to use as a Realtor. I have searched the forum and all the posts relating to Real Estate are wanting it to list properties online and have a website clients can use etc. I don't want anything that complicated.

All I want to do is keep track of prospects & clients which I could just use the contacts section for. That much I got.

The question I have is this. I would like to keep track of properties and notes on those properties. I would like to keep track of which contacts have looked at this property and what their thoughts/comments were about it. What would I use to keep track of this in the SuguarCRM program? Would the property be a contact? Would it be an account? Would it be an opportunity? That is what I can't figure out.

If you are trying to sell me something don't bother because I don't have the money to pay for it. I am looking for something that is basic, free, and easy to use to help me get started.

I can easily visualize it in my head but I don't know how to do it with Sugar. For example, if I was using access I would create a "Contact" table that would have a flag for either a client or a prospect. I would also have a "properties" table that contains information about the property. Then I would create a "showing" table that links a contact to a proerty and has a notes section and a date and time.

Hopefully this makes since what I am trying to accomplish. I could probably create what I need using Access in a couple hours but I figure there has to be something that already exists that probably has more functionality that even what I am talking about. I think SugarCRM is that. If someone could get me pointed in the right direction I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Angel]

If you are trying to sell me something don't bother because I don't have the money to pay for it. I am looking for something that is basic, free, and easy to use to help me get started.

I don't know of any such solution at that price point, but I do know there are a number of other paid for solutions that would handle it quite nicely. Sugar could handle it as well, but I don't know anyone that is wanting to volunteer their time to build a system to your exact requirements to help you make money.

Much like your time, other's time is equally valuable.

[kiran_ks]

Hello,

I am looking for just a basic CRM program to use as a Realtor. I have searched the forum and all the posts relating to Real Estate are wanting it to list properties online and have a website clients can use etc. I don't want anything that complicated.

All I want to do is keep track of prospects & clients which I could just use the contacts section for. That much I got.

The question I have is this. I would like to keep track of properties and notes on those properties. I would like to keep track of which contacts have looked at this property and what their thoughts/comments were about it. What would I use to keep track of this in the SuguarCRM program? Would the property be a contact? Would it be an account? Would it be an opportunity? That is what I can't figure out.

If you are trying to sell me something don't bother because I don't have the money to pay for it. I am looking for something that is basic, free, and easy to use to help me get started.

I can easily visualize it in my head but I don't know how to do it with Sugar. For example, if I was using access I would create a "Contact" table that would have a flag for either a client or a prospect. I would also have a "properties" table that contains information about the property. Then I would create a "showing" table that links a contact to a proerty and has a notes section and a date and time.

Hopefully this makes since what I am trying to accomplish. I could probably create what I need using Access in a couple hours but I figure there has to be something that already exists that probably has more functionality that even what I am talking about. I think SugarCRM is that. If someone could get me pointed in the right direction I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Hi,
We specialize in SugarCRM product usability, customization, and deployment (including data imports). I would like to discuss
your requirements in stitching /sewing Sugar to your needs in REAL ESTATE.

We can take up this work on "Dev-Gold" basis which means there is no charge to you (If you have your own SugarCRM OpenSource version installed.)

My contacts to discuss further: KIRAN_KS@HOTMAIL.COM

Thanks

KIRAN

[jkruer01]

Hi,
We specialize in SugarCRM product usability, customization, and deployment (including data imports). I would like to discuss
your requirements in stitching /sewing Sugar to your needs in REAL ESTATE.

We can take up this work on "Dev-Gold" basis which means there is no charge to you (If you have your own SugarCRM OpenSource version installed.)

My contacts to discuss further: KIRAN_KS@HOTMAIL.COM

Thanks

KIRAN

I'm not sure I understand what "Dev-Gold" basis means. How would this work?

Thanks!

[mkenigson]

While I agree that the perfect solution would be to build a separate module (you may want to look at the module builder project in SugarForge), you could get some of what you need out of the product as is.

The way I see it, each property is an opportunity with a defined dollar value (your commission on the sale). Each person who sees that property is a contact that you associated with that opportunity. You would keep notes attached to the property-opportunity (and optionally the contact as well).

The only rough spot in that setup is that you have to choose what account to associate with each property. If the property is listed with someone else, I'm guessing it would make sense to have that Agent or Brokerage as the account. If it's one you are listing, you could associate it with your own account. I don't think that will cause too many problems.

Let me know if it works,

Matt K.

[cyberdude]

While I agree that the perfect solution would be to build a separate module (you may want to look at the module builder project in SugarForge), you could get some of what you need out of the product as is.

The way I see it, each property is an opportunity with a defined dollar value (your commission on the sale). Each person who sees that property is a contact that you associated with that opportunity. You would keep notes attached to the property-opportunity (and optionally the contact as well).

The only rough spot in that setup is that you have to choose what account to associate with each property. If the property is listed with someone else, I'm guessing it would make sense to have that Agent or Brokerage as the account. If it's one you are listing, you could associate it with your own account. I don't think that will cause too many problems.

Let me know if it works,

Matt K.

That's an interesting way of lookingat it. We are just starting to look at using Sugar for our Real Estate business and were wondering how best to apply Sugar. Ideally we were hoping that there was a specific module out there for the Real Estate industry but have not been able to find one yet. We'll look at trying to work your solution and see if it works for us.

[mkenigson]

Please do tell us about the inevitable bumps you hit along the way. Not having used it in that manner, I'm sure there are challenges I haven't thought of. If addressing those in a public forum bothers you, just send me email or a private message and I'll stay in touch. I'm interested to hear how it all works out and help in any way I can.

Matt K.

[cyberdude]

Will do. But it looks like it's going to require a lot of redefining of the fields and creating a lot of custom fields. If we use the Opportunities module for the properties then what do we do with leads that would normally convert to opportunities? I am not really familiar enough with Sugar or CRM in general to really figure this one out. I guess my first step is to map out our workflow on paper and then see how we are going to apply Sugar. I'll speak to my developer and see what can be done but I think ideally a new module would be the way to go.

The way we envisage this working is to have our properties listed as products, the enquiries captured on our site are leads. When that lead makes an appointment to view a property it becomes an opportunity. If an offer is made on a property then it becomes a quote and perhaps if the offer is accepted then a Contract.

[mkenigson]

I agree. If you're going to use the full pipeline model then it doesn't make sense at all to use opportunities for properties. Have you checked out the Module Builder? I haven't used it yet but it looks promising.

[cyberdude]

I am just looking at the module builder but I'm not a developer and don't have any php skills so it's only something to toy around with for. Once I have mapped out our workflow on paper I may put the project out to tender if my developer doesn't feel comfortable with developing the required moduls.