Special offer
Val Evans

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group with symbol Pb 

Dec 28, 2015 09:57 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Something between the human hand and the dog's collar??!! 

Dec 28, 2015 01:37 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

A true lead has to be more than a name and a phone number for one thing.

Dec 28, 2015 02:48 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Any one who contacts me in any way. Initial viability is a working email address and/or phone number. Beyond that you can't immediately tell and some leads take a long time to turn into a prospect. 

Dec 28, 2015 09:10 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Val. A lead would be an inquiry that comes through my website, that came as a result of my blogging efforts.

Dec 28, 2015 06:25 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Val Evans someone who contacts you for buying or selling real estate is a LEAD! That's my simplest definition.

Dec 28, 2015 03:31 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

In the real estate context, it's someone who wants to buy or sell who likes you enought to provide a real name and contact information.

Dec 28, 2015 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

On Any lead I follow up , I want to hear their BIG WHY ?(Motivation) . This also reveals - ready, willing & able  but now also gives me their believed Time Frame . I'm looking for someone who is willing to pull the trigger w/in the next 6 monyhs .

Dec 28, 2015 11:27 AM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

Val Evans I think some are calling a lead a prospect on here.  I think a lead is contact information from someone who indicated an interest in a listing or home value.  Level 2 is prospect if they are able to transact, not underwater if a seller/qualified with cash or financing.   Having said that you never know where a lead may take you.  I've been referrred by many leads to other parties/friends/family

Dec 28, 2015 07:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,209,215
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I think a lead is anybody that reaches out to you inquiring about your services.  Until they become a client, they are only leads.  

Dec 28, 2015 07:39 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

A lead is a name and an email and/or phone number that has indicated an interest in my services.

A viable lead is one that you have made contact with and engaged.

Dec 28, 2015 02:52 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

An email address with a heart beat on the other side is a lead.

Not all leads are equal.

So, what is the value of an email when compared to a telephone number compared to a completed evaluation compared to a pre-warmed citizen.

All of them leads.

 

Dec 28, 2015 02:24 AM
Rainmaker
1,770,282
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

A lead is a name plus an email address or phone number who has expressed an interest in buying or selling real estate. 

Dec 28, 2015 02:01 AM
Rainmaker
4,935,556
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Someone that is thinking about buying or selling or has a friend they tell you about.

Dec 28, 2015 01:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

A lead is an inquiry, if direct; or, a tip, if from a third party. There is no minimum requirement or set of characteristics. Until/unless developed, it can simply be a name. To be a VIABLE lead, the name would have a desire + means + level of interest indicating possible present or future need + interest in services that could be provided by the service provider + sufficient communication between the lead and service provider.
I'm sure I am probably missing something . . . sign me Miss Led. ;)

Dec 28, 2015 01:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

A lead is like a clue.  It means nothing unless it is qualified as someone who is ready, willing and ABLE to buy.  Everything else is a maybe.  A

Dec 28, 2015 01:34 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

A contact that has expressed their desire to sell or buy and use my services.

Dec 28, 2015 01:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,868
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Mine is a prospective buyer or seller.  The source can be from anywhere (friends, family, Z, r.com, website, IDX registration,...).

 

Now the next question is how do you define "good/neutral/bad" or "hot, warm, cold" leads?

Dec 28, 2015 01:25 AM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

The diference between a good lead and a bad one is significant.

Mar 06, 2019 09:35 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

A prospective buyer or seller.

Dec 28, 2015 11:13 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I will look for your answer. I can say one thing I do not pay for leads. I pay a referral fee at closing to other licensed agents.

Dec 28, 2015 08:54 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Val. To me, a lead comes a viable when it produces my desired results – making the company money.

Dec 28, 2015 05:20 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Someone who is thinking about property and calls you, or hits your web site.

Dec 28, 2015 12:54 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,035
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Val Evans Ready to buy or sell.

Dec 28, 2015 09:13 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

First a lead has to be real, someone ready, willing and able to buy or ready to sell. The probem is many leads are raw and not real and those that are are given to too many agents at the same time. 

Dec 28, 2015 07:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,801
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Soething worth to give a call.

Dec 28, 2015 06:36 AM
Rainer
182,915
Harjeet Bhatti
FITH THIRD BANK - Chicago, IL
Home Mortgage Consultant 25 States

 

A lead is a lead.  We have to approach in positive manner; it can be useful or waste of time. But after spending little time we will know whether it can be converting to prospect or not.  Time management is key in our business. 

Dec 28, 2015 05:35 AM
Rainer
187,002
Raj Taj
RE/MAX - Lake Bluff, IL
Drive By Blessings!

A lead with some real contact info and at least a little interest brings a plain lead to at least a minimum rung of a viable lead.

Dec 28, 2015 04:57 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,293
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A lead and a viable lead are two different things. You need to convert them to viable leads.

Dec 28, 2015 04:14 AM
Rainmaker
797,457
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

Someone who truly wants to sell their home or someone who needs to purchase a home.

Dec 28, 2015 03:45 AM
Rainmaker
133,876
Marie Haydock
Evergreen Global Homes & Land | RSVP Real Estate - Redmond, WA
Simplifying Real Estate

 A specific need and a defined timeframe turn a person into a lead, IMHO.

Dec 28, 2015 03:37 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

Someone who has an interest in my service and will be buying in next 12 or so months.  Someone who wants to continue receiving information from me.  Someone who thinks they will work with me and doesn't express the intention of working with sellers agents only.

Dec 28, 2015 03:21 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Val in your comments on the answers you keep asking for what elements make a viable lead a lead. That's confusing to me. There is the big pool of all "leads" (inquiries with some contact info, you can define them almost any way). Then there is the range from worthless to genuinely qualified and ready to move now. For buyer leads some things I quickly assess is 

1. Are they qualified?

2. Are they motivated?

3. Are they realistic in what they want given their budget?

Dec 28, 2015 02:48 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

A good lead has done more than ask a theoretical question and has a genuine interest in buying or selling real estate in the relatively near future (not the 3 to 5 year maybe plan). 

Dec 28, 2015 02:40 AM