How RealScout Fits Into Your Business
RealScout operates on a concept called the engagement loop: you add your contacts, RealScout nurtures them with real estate information they would otherwise get from Zillow, Realtor.com, or Redfin, and when those contacts are ready to act, you are the agent they see.
The difference between RealScout and a national search portal is ownership. On RealScout, your contacts interact with your brand, your listings, and your market data in a private environment with no competing agent ads. Every email, every property search, and every valuation page carries your name, photo, and contact information.
Getting Contacts Into RealScout
Before you can nurture anyone, contacts need to be in the system. There are three ways to do that:
Method | Best For | How It Works |
Manual entry | Individual contacts, open house leads, referrals | Click Add Contact on the Contacts page and enter their information |
CSV import | Bulk uploads from spreadsheets or CRM exports | Upload a formatted spreadsheet at Import Contacts |
CRM integration | Ongoing automatic sync | Connect your CRM on the Integrations page and contacts flow in automatically |
→ For details on each method, see Step 3 - Add/Import Contacts.
Three Types of Alerts
Once contacts are in the system, RealScout nurtures them with three alert types, each designed for a different stage of the real estate lifecycle.
Listing Alerts (for buyers)
Listing Alerts send your buyers new properties that match their search criteria. Each email uses natural language introductions that highlight specific features of the home based on the buyer's preferences, so they read as if you wrote them. When a contact clicks through, they land on your branded RealScout account where they can view photos room by room, compare listings side by side, provide feedback, and request showings.
You can build a Listing Alert manually using your MLS criteria, or use AI Search to describe what you are looking for in plain language and let the system construct the search for you.
Home Value Alerts (for homeowners and sellers)
Home Value Alerts send homeowners a monthly update on their property's estimated value. Each alert includes up to three valuations: an ATTOM estimate, a Zillow estimate, and an agent-provided valuation you can add. The variety of estimates encourages the homeowner to reach out for a professional opinion, which starts the listing conversation.
Home Value Alert dashboards also display neighborhood comps, buyer demand data, and recently listed properties near the homeowner's address.
Market Activity Alerts (for neighborhood awareness)
Market Activity Alerts show contacts what is happening in a specific area: market stats, recent activity, and buyer demand. These alerts use heat maps to visualize where buyers are searching, with darker colors indicating higher interest. Market Activity Alerts are a strong touchpoint for anyone in your database, whether they are actively buying, selling, or staying put.
→ For setup details on each alert type, see Step 4 - Understanding the Three Types of Alerts.
Setting Up Alerts
You have three approaches for creating alerts:
Manual setup: Build a search using your MLS filters, enter a homeowner's address for a Home Value Alert, or define an area for a Market Activity Alert. This gives you full control over criteria.
AI Search: Describe what you are looking for in natural language ("dog-friendly homes in Charlotte under $1.1M with a fenced yard and pool") and AI Search builds the search for you. This is especially useful for criteria that span multiple filter categories.
Templates: Save a set of search criteria as a reusable Template. Templates serve three purposes: you can apply them to contacts directly, generate public Search Links from them, or pair them with tags to automate alert assignment. Templates are managed at Templates.
Auto Nurture
If you have contacts in your database and you do not know their search criteria or do not have time to build individual alerts, Auto Nurture handles the first touchpoints automatically. It sends a welcome email inviting the contact to use RealScout, follows up with popular listings in your area, and offers a home value invitation if the contact's address is on file. If the contact engages, Auto Nurture adjusts based on their behavior. If you later assign a manual alert, Auto Nurture steps aside automatically.
→ For details, see Auto Nurture Overview.
Capturing New Leads
RealScout includes built-in tools for attracting new contacts beyond your existing database:
Search Links: Create a set of search criteria targeting a specific buyer type (first-time buyers, luxury, condos, beachfront) and share the link on social media, in ads, or in newsletters. Anyone who registers through the link becomes a contact in your account. Manage these at Marketing → Shareable Links.
"What's My Home Worth?" page: A seller lead capture page built into your account. Homeowners enter their address, see their home's value, and become a contact automatically. Find this under Email Alerts → Home Value Alerts → Capture Leads.
Website Widgets: Embeddable search and home value tools you can add to your own website. Visitors who submit through a widget are added as contacts. Find embed codes at Marketing → Website Widgets.
Monitoring Engagement
Your Dashboard is the central hub for tracking everything happening in your account.
Live Feed: A real-time stream of contact activity: email opens, property views, saved listings, showing requests, and feedback.
Contact Highlights: Automatic segments that surface your most important contacts. Most Engaged shows contacts with the highest current activity. Recently Re-Engaged shows contacts whose activity has picked back up. Slipping Away shows contacts whose engagement is declining.
Scout Score: A numeric engagement score on each contact's profile, based on their in-app behavior. A rising Scout Score with recent activity indicates a contact worth reaching out to.
Contact Enrichment (Beta): If you have a contact's email but are missing their phone number or home address, RealScout can fill in the gaps automatically. Enrichment runs up to twice per contact and writes to RealScout only, so carry changes to your CRM manually.
The RealScout mobile app mirrors these features on your phone, so you can monitor activity, message contacts, look up property information, and set up alerts from anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use all three alert types? No. Use whichever types match your contacts. Listing Alerts are for buyers, Home Value Alerts are for homeowners and sellers, and Market Activity Alerts work for anyone. Most agents start with one or two types and expand from there.
Does RealScout replace my CRM? No. RealScout is a nurturing and engagement platform that works alongside your CRM. If you use Follow Up Boss, Cloze, MoxiWorks, BoldTrail, Rechat, or Zapier, contacts can sync between both systems. If you do not use a CRM, RealScout functions standalone.
What happens when a contact clicks on an alert email? The contact is logged into your branded RealScout account automatically. They can browse properties, save favorites, compare listings, request showings, and message you directly. All of that activity is tracked on their contact profile and on your Dashboard.
Is there a mobile app for my contacts too? Yes. The RealScout Home Search app (iOS and Android) gives contacts a native mobile experience for browsing listings, tracking home values, and communicating with you.
What if I already send alerts from the MLS? RealScout's Listing Alerts use the same MLS data but deliver it in a consumer-friendly format with natural language descriptions, personalized content, and a collaborative search experience. Many agents switch from MLS-direct alerts to RealScout for better engagement and higher response rates.
Where do I go for help? The support widget inside your RealScout account connects you to Fin AI and the Member Support team. You can also browse tutorials at support.realscout.com.
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