Businesses across the real estate industry consistently communicate with geographically dispersed professionals, including property owners, real estate managers, investors, and agents. As it can be challenging to promote on-site connections at all times, you can encourage an efficient remote work environment using an online collaboration tool.
Collaboration software for real estate enables professionals to collaborate and manage their day-to-day workflows, including property listings and client relationships. However, before adopting it, you must thoroughly evaluate a team collaboration tool to ensure it aligns well with your residential and commercial real estate business needs.
To help you make the right decision, this article highlights, in alphabetical order, the five top-rated collaboration software for real estate based on user reviews. For each product, we include overall user ratings along with the highest-rated parameter, review excerpts from industry professionals, and product pricing. Read more.
1. Basecamp
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from real estate professionals who have used Basecamp for collaboration:
"It helps one have a very clear and transparent view of your projects by bringing all your project work and documentation into one centralized place which is easily accessible and has very easy to understand visualization options which include Gantt charts and graphs. I also love and enjoy the quality of user support that is available in Basecamp. Anytime you get stuck or you need help, the customer support team always comes through with professional assistance. It provides brilliant communication channels like instant messaging and collaboration that allows teams to discuss and work together on project management."
"Our clients love working with Basecamp as it's easy to use and is a great way of tracking conversations"
"Basecamp is good to use for teams. It helps with communication and file sharing and task management. I enjoy using basecamp."
Read all Basecamp reviews here.
2. Box
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from real estate professionals who have used Box for collaboration:
"Its interface has reached a minimalist style that make Box seem like a simple file manager that comes with Windows, but in this case it's in the cloud. I think the feature of being able to grant access or no to all files is great, this being able to maintain better security when sharing and collaborating within Box. The dark mode allows me to have a more comfortable workflow because I am one of the people who spends a lot of time in front of the monitor and this is a great help for my eyes. I can easily work in collaborative mode and know who made changes to the file or folder, this make it easier when it comes to projects in which a team needs to consult or edit files without resorting to other archaic means of sharing information."
"Box's premise is great! We were intrigued by the ability for others to upload files into Box for our capture and management."
"Box has been the best, most intuitive and complete cloud file storage that can be had within the company where I work. I like the security that it has because that way I can protect the privacy of sensitive company files without compromising confidentiality. Its interface has reached a minimalist style that make Box seem like a simple file manager that comes with Windows, but in this case it's in the cloud. I think the feature of being able to grant access or no to all files is great, this being able to maintain better security when sharing and collaborating within Box.”
3. Dropbox Business
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from real estate professionals who have used Dropbox Business for collaboration:
"It's a wonderful secure document apparatus that allows my team and me to save and access files we need to keep working at any time without the danger of losing or forgetting crucial information."
"I love that when a shared file in Dropbox Business is updated by one user, the document is ready companywide to be used immediately."
"Using Dropbox Business has made it easy to create, update, and share critical documents that cover company wide addenda.The need to share and use uniform documents in real time with other users across the company is pertinent to our daily function.We rely on the accessibility for our users to utilize the content from multiple locations using selective access that is secure."
Read all Dropbox Business reviews here.
4. monday.com
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from real estate professionals who have used monday.com for collaboration:
"The ease of use was wonderful for my team that usually has a difficult time with technology. I found the product to be very straightforward."
"It has helped me a lot in the activities in the company. I can say that it is one of the best and you do not need to be an expert to use it."
"One of the most impressive features of monday.com is its user-friendly and easy-to-use interface, which allows for seamless team collaboration and streamlined project management."
Read all monday.com reviews here.
5. Slack
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Highest-rated parameter
Commonly used by
Starting price
Device compatibility
Here are some review excerpts from real estate professionals who have used Slack for collaboration:
"Slack makes it so easy to instantly send files and documents without the hassle of going back and forth with uploading them to emails and hoping they deliver. Slack is great in my current workplace as we have many real estate agents who need to share information. This allows us to avoid massive group texts and have everyone in one place. It makes our work much easier and more organized.I especially like how we can break off into smaller conversations if it only requires certain people. Amazing tool."
"Slack is very easy to use. I would highly recommend it to stay connected as a company. In the remote world it is especially nice to have Slack to stay connected. I also like in Slack the integrations with other applications. For instance, we have a performance management tool that integrates with Slack and it allows you to do the reviews on Slack and get notifications on Slack."
"One of Slack's most useful functions is real-time messaging, which enables quick and effective team communication. The ability to create channels and threads facilitates debate organization and keeps crucial information readily available. The extensive integration options also enable users to link Slack with other applications and services, boosting productivity and optimizing processes."
What features do collaboration tools offer?
An online collaboration tool used by a real estate agency includes the following core features for teams and project collaboration:
Communication management: | Enhance team communication and overall productivity using the software’s collaboration features, including messaging, video conferencing, voice calling, notifications, and discussion threads. These features help remote teams to stay connected, informed, and aligned on real estate tasks and projects. |
File sharing: | Share files, documents, and other important content, such as purchase agreements, lease agreements, and property disclosure forms, with remote teams and clients. The feature eliminates the need for manually sending the files and ensures everyone has access to the latest version of the documents. |
All products listed in this report include the features mentioned above. Besides the core features, a team collaboration tool also commonly tends to offer:
Brainstorming
Calendar management
Contact management
Content management
Document management
Mobile access
Real-time editing
Task management
How to choose the right collaboration software for real estate
Here are some factors to consider while you look for the best team collaboration software for a real estate business:
Consider calendar and scheduling features. A built-in calendar with scheduling and appointment-setting features can help a real estate agency manage property showings and client meetings. Agents can schedule and coordinate client meetings for an initial consultation or a follow-up discussion. In top collaboration software, the feature prevents double bookings by enabling users to view and edit pre-booked appointments. It ensures that real estate agents are prepared for each meeting well.
Evaluate property listing management capabilities. The best collaboration app designed for real estate often includes property listing management as an important feature. It offers tools that help property managers create, organize, and track property listings. Some systems also offer customizable templates and layouts to help agents and brokers create listings for properties on sale or rent. Moreover, it enables property managers to search for a specific listing using different filters, such as location, price range, and property type.
Consider analytics and reporting features. Before investing in the best collaboration app, make sure that the system can collect, analyze, and present data related to various aspects of residential and commercial real estate activities, such as real estate agent performance tracking, lead management, property analysis, and client engagements. Your shortlisted tool should be capable of aggregating data on market trends, including average home prices, inventory levels, and neighborhood demographics, to facilitate market analysis.
Common questions to ask software vendors before purchasing collaboration software for real estate
Consider asking your vendor the following questions so that you find the best team collaboration software for your business in the real estate industry:
Does the tool offer status updates?
The top real estate collaboration software should typically offer status updates to inform parties of a real estate transaction's current status or stage. This feature helps a property manager in the real estate industry to keep all relevant parties, including the buyer, seller, and broker, informed about the progress of real estate-related activities, such as property inspection, financial approval, and contract signing.
What are the available communication options?
While evaluating potential real estate collaboration software, look for features such as instant messaging, video conferencing, voice calling, feedback, online threads, comments, and discussion boards to promote effective collaboration between agents and clients.
What are the document management capabilities offered by the tool?
Real estate transactions involve a lot of confidential documents, such as contracts, agreements, and disclosures. An ideal collaboration tool for real estate should include document management capabilities, including secure storage, version control, commenting, file sharing, and document tracking to simplify document handling for sensitive real estate documents.