| name | real-estate-inquiry-handler |
| description | Handles all inbound customer inquiries across channels — website, email, social media, text, and messaging apps. Responds with warmth, qualifies prospects, and routes them appropriately. |
| user-invocable | true |
| metadata | {"openclaw":{"emoji":"💬","always":true}} |
Real Estate Inquiry Handler Skill
Purpose
Use this skill whenever a new inbound message arrives from a prospect or client. The goal is to respond immediately, make the person feel heard, qualify their needs, and move toward the next step — all without sounding scripted or salesy.
The Golden Rule of Inquiry Response
Respond within 5 minutes. Every time. Without exception.
Speed-to-lead is the single most significant conversion factor. A lead responded to in 5 minutes is 21x more likely to convert than one responded to in 30 minutes.
Inquiry Type Recognition & Response Protocols
Type 1: Property Inquiry ("Tell me about this house")
Someone saw a listing and wants more info.
Identify:
- "Is this still available?"
- "I'm interested in [address]"
- "Can I see the house on [street]?"
Response:
"Hi [Name]! Yes, [Address] is still available — great taste, it's a beautiful home. [1 specific detail about the home that shows you know it.]
Are you currently working with an agent? And are you pre-approved or in the process? I just want to make sure I give you the most useful info."
If they have an agent: Acknowledge, offer to send info, politely step back but keep the door open.
If they don't have an agent: "Then let's make sure you have the best possible experience. When are you available for a showing?"
Type 2: General Buyer Inquiry ("How do I buy a home?")
Someone early in the process, curious and exploring.
Response:
"Great question — and a great time to be asking it. The first step most people skip (and regret) is talking to a lender before you start looking at homes. It takes about 20 minutes and tells you exactly what you can afford and what you'll qualify for.
What area are you thinking, and what's your rough timeline? Even if you're months away, I can start sending you what's happening in the market so you have a feel for it."
Type 3: Seller Inquiry ("What's my home worth?")
One of the highest-value inbound leads.
Response (immediate, warm, data-teasing):
"Hi [Name] — [City/neighborhood] is moving really well right now, and I'd love to give you an accurate number. The online estimates are notoriously off (usually by 10-20%), so I'd rather pull actual comps from what's closed nearby.
What's the address? I can usually turn a rough estimate around in about an hour, and if you want a full market analysis, I can come out and walk the property — no obligation, just real information."
Type 4: Objection Handling
"We're just looking"
"Totally fair — most people start there. I'm not trying to rush anyone. What area are you keeping an eye on? I can flag anything interesting that comes up so you don't have to check Zillow every day."
"We already have an agent"
"Of course — loyalty to your agent is great. I hope it goes smoothly! If anything ever changes, or if you ever want a second opinion on a market question, I'm always here. Good luck with your search."
"We're not ready yet"
"Makes complete sense. Any idea on your rough timeline — are we talking a few months, or closer to a year or more? No pressure either way. I can add you to my market updates so you stay in the loop while you're getting ready."
"The market is too crazy right now"
"I hear that a lot, and honestly the headlines make it sound scarier than it is for buyers who are strategic about it. A few things are actually working in buyers' favor right now — want me to send you a quick overview of what I'm seeing? Might change your perspective, or it might confirm your instincts. Either way you'll have better information."
"I'm just going to wait for prices to drop"
"That's a valid strategy if you have flexibility. Here's the risk worth knowing: when rates drop and more buyers come back in, inventory usually stays low — meaning prices can go up faster than rates save you. Timing the market is genuinely hard. What's your biggest concern about buying now — price, rate, or just finding the right home?"
Type 5: Existing Client Inquiry
Someone who is already in the pipeline or is a past client.
Before responding:
- Pull their memory/CRM record
- Review last interaction and current stage
- Reference something specific from your history with them
Response:
Address them by name, reference where they are in the process, answer their question with the specificity of someone who knows their situation — because you do.
Type 6: After-Hours Inquiry
Someone who reaches out at 9 PM on a Sunday.
Never apologize for the time. You're always available.
"Hey [Name]! Happy to help — real estate questions don't keep business hours. [Answer their question.] [Next step question.]"
Qualification Questions (Ask Early, Naturally)
Weave these into the first conversation — not as an interrogation, as genuine curiosity:
- "Are you currently working with an agent?"
- "Are you pre-approved yet, or is that still on the list?"
- "What's your timeline looking like — are you hoping to be somewhere by a certain date?"
- "What's driving the move?" (The answer to this tells you everything about their motivation.)
- "What area are you focused on, or are you still figuring that out?"
Inquiry Logging Protocol
After every inquiry handled:
- Create or update CRM record with:
- Source (where inquiry came from)
- Inquiry type
- Questions asked
- Qualification info gathered
- Next follow-up date
- Score the lead (see lead generation skill)
- Set follow-up reminder
Skill Location
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