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The real estate market is constantly evolving, and in today's fast-paced environment, keeping up with leads and closing deals efficiently can be challenging. For Brad Bone, Co-Founder of River X AI and Prime Buyers, AI technology has become a game-changer in how he manages follow-ups, re-engages cold leads, and ultimately grows his business. By leveraging AI to generate motivated seller leads, Brad has been able to streamline his lead management process and generate more appointments. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Brad integrates AI into his real estate investment process, focusing on the innovative tools he uses to generate more appointments and close deals faster.
A Decade in Real Estate and Lessons Learned
Brad Bone has been investing in real estate for nearly a decade. Starting with auction properties in California, he later expanded his business to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2018. His choice to focus on Jacksonville wasn’t highly scientific but was driven by the appeal of the Southeast real estate market, which offers more opportunities for rental properties and investment growth than highly regulated California.
As a virtual investor with boots on the ground in Florida, Brad has built a system that allows him to run his business from across the country while maintaining a strong local presence. His key to success? Leveraging inbound marketing and, more recently, AI to manage and grow his lead pipeline.
Transitioning from Flipping to Assignments and Novations
Like many investors, Brad’s business has evolved. He started with flipping properties and gradually moved into wholesaling, buying, and holding. However, with rising interest rates and fluctuating market conditions, he realized the importance of a quicker cash conversion cycle. In the past year and a half, Brad has shifted his focus primarily to assignments and novations. This allows him to streamline his operations and avoid the risks of holding inventory.
With this shift in strategy, Brad and his team have been able to maintain momentum and profitability, focusing on getting deals signed rather than closed. He notes that while they still have the option to close on a property if it’s an exceptional deal, their priority is now on getting contracts signed and moving quickly.
The AI Revolution in Real Estate: Why Brad Embraced AI
In 2023, Brad began integrating AI technology into his business to solve a key challenge: managing follow-ups. The real estate investment industry relies heavily on timely and effective follow-up, but with human limitations and a growing number of leads, this can become overwhelming.
Brad's solution? WooSender, an AI-powered conversational platform that engages and re-engages leads through automated follow-ups. WooSender’s AI kicks in as soon as a lead responds to automated text, email, or voice messages, driving the conversation toward setting appointments. Unlike more generic AI solutions like ChatGPT, WooSender is tailored to the specific needs of real estate investors, focusing on one thing—getting that appointment.
How AI Is Enhancing Brad’s Lead Management System
The main power of Brad’s AI-driven system is its ability to manage cold and unresponsive leads. Traditional sales teams often struggle to stay on top of cold leads, focusing more on the fresh ones that come in daily. However, with AI, Brad has been able to re-engage old leads and convert them into new business opportunities.
WooSender is integrated with Brad’s CRM through Zapier, allowing it to handle follow-ups automatically. Whether it’s a lead that didn’t respond within seven days or one that’s gone cold over months, the AI system continues to nurture the lead by sending a “hammer campaign” of texts and emails, trying to bring them back into the sales funnel.
This AI-powered system has proven particularly effective in lead management, allowing Brad’s team to focus on high-quality conversations with motivated sellers, while the AI handles the repetitive tasks of engaging and nurturing leads. Brad calls this approach a “backup call center,” handling after-hours and weekend leads, ensuring no opportunities slip through the cracks.
Customizing AI for Real Estate Investors
One of the standout features of WooSender is its customization for real estate investors. Brad has worked closely with the platform to tailor the messaging, follow-up cadence, and overall user experience for his specific needs. By focusing on real estate-specific language and objectives—such as setting appointments with motivated sellers—the AI is much more effective than a generic chatbot.
Brad’s approach is a hybrid of human expertise and AI efficiency. While his team still handles key in-person meetings and negotiations, the AI helps them stay organized and ensures no lead is forgotten.
Is AI Right for Your Real Estate Business?
Brad believes that AI is a powerful tool for real estate investors who have already built a lead management system. If you're just starting out or relying purely on referrals, you may not see the immediate benefit. However, for investors with an active sales funnel and a growing database of leads, AI can be a game-changer.
By automating follow-ups and lead engagement, AI frees up your team to focus on high-priority tasks. Brad points out that this doesn’t come at a low cost—investors should think of AI as an investment comparable to hiring a virtual assistant. But with its ability to re-engage leads and keep momentum going, the potential ROI can be significant.
Building Your Real Estate Business with AI
As AI continues to evolve, its applications in real estate investment are only going to grow. Whether you’re managing a small portfolio or scaling a larger operation, the efficiencies gained from an AI-powered lead management system can make a huge difference in your business.
If you’re interested in exploring AI for your real estate business, Brad Bone suggests starting with a small integration—perhaps using AI to manage after-hours leads or cold follow-ups. From there, you can scale the system as your business grows, ensuring that you never miss an opportunity to convert a lead into a deal.
Scale Your Real Estate Business Today
If you're looking to scale your real estate business and generate more motivated leads, now is the time to explore AI-powered tools like WooSender. Streamline your follow-up process, automate lead engagement, and focus on closing more deals. Ready to take your real estate investment game to the next level? Learn more about integrating AI into your business today and see how you can boost your productivity, close more deals, and maximize your growth.
