Real Estate Agent

Build a voice agent that handles property inquiries, matches caller preferences to listings, schedules showings, and warm-transfers serious buyers to human agents.

Real Estate Agent

In this tutorial, you'll build a voice agent for a real estate agency. It handles inbound calls from buyers and renters, learns their preferences, matches them to properties in your knowledge base, schedules showings, and warm-transfers serious buyers to a human agent.

What You'll Build

A phone agent that:

  • Greets callers and identifies whether they're buying, renting, or selling
  • Asks about preferences: location, budget, bedrooms, must-haves
  • Searches your property listings knowledge base for matches
  • Describes properties conversationally (not like a database dump)
  • Schedules property showings on Google Calendar
  • Sends property links and showing confirmations via SMS
  • Warm-transfers serious, qualified buyers to a human agent
  • Handles after-hours calls and captures leads 24/7

Time to set up: ~10 minutes


Step 1: Create the Agent

  1. Go to your thinnestAI Dashboard
  2. Click Create Agent
  3. Name it: Property Inquiry Agent
  4. Set the description: Handles property inquiries, matches listings, and schedules showings

Step 2: Choose the Model

Select Claude Sonnet as your model.

Claude Sonnet excels at conversational property descriptions — it can take dry listing data and present it naturally and engagingly over the phone. It also handles the nuanced multi-step flow of qualifying buyers and scheduling showings.

# Model settings
MODEL=claude-sonnet
TEMPERATURE=0.5   # Slightly higher for natural, engaging property descriptions

Step 3: Add Knowledge

Property Listings

Upload your active property listings. Format them clearly so the agent can search and match effectively:

PROPERTY: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield
- Type: Single Family Home
- Price: $425,000
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 2.5
- Square Feet: 2,200
- Lot Size: 0.25 acres
- Year Built: 1995
- Garage: 2-car attached
- Features: Updated kitchen, hardwood floors, finished basement, fenced backyard, central AC
- Neighborhood: Springfield Heights — quiet residential, top-rated schools, 10 min to downtown
- Status: Active
- Open House: Saturday, March 15, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Listing Agent: Sarah Chen
- Listing URL: https://youragency.com/listings/742-evergreen

---

PROPERTY: 1200 Lake View Drive, Unit 8B, Springfield
- Type: Condo
- Price: $275,000
- Bedrooms: 2
- Bathrooms: 2
- Square Feet: 1,100
- Year Built: 2018
- Parking: 1 assigned space
- Features: Open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling windows, lake views, in-unit laundry, gym and pool in building
- HOA: $350/month (includes water, trash, gym, pool)
- Neighborhood: Lakeside — walkable to restaurants and shops, 5 min to highway
- Status: Active
- Listing Agent: Marcus Rodriguez
- Listing URL: https://youragency.com/listings/1200-lakeview-8b

Upload as many listings as you have. The agent will search across all of them.

Agent Availability

Upload a document with your team's availability and specialties:

AGENTS

Sarah Chen
- Specialties: Single-family homes, Springfield Heights, Oakwood
- Available: Mon-Fri 9 AM - 6 PM, Sat 10 AM - 4 PM
- Phone: 555-0101
- Calendar: sarah@youragency.com

Marcus Rodriguez
- Specialties: Condos, downtown, waterfront, investment properties
- Available: Mon-Sat 8 AM - 7 PM
- Phone: 555-0102
- Calendar: marcus@youragency.com

Lisa Park
- Specialties: Luxury properties, new construction, relocation
- Available: Tue-Sat 10 AM - 6 PM
- Phone: 555-0103
- Calendar: lisa@youragency.com

Neighborhood Information

Upload a guide with neighborhood details callers commonly ask about:

NEIGHBORHOODS

Springfield Heights
- Character: Quiet, tree-lined streets, established homes
- Schools: A-rated elementary and middle school, B+ high school
- Commute: 10 min to downtown, 20 min to tech corridor
- Average Home Price: $380,000 - $550,000
- Best For: Families, professionals wanting space

Lakeside
- Character: Urban, walkable, modern
- Amenities: Restaurants, coffee shops, farmers market on Sundays
- Commute: 5 min to highway, 15 min to downtown
- Average Home Price: $240,000 - $400,000 (condos), $450,000+ (single-family)
- Best For: Young professionals, couples, downsizers

Downtown Core
- Character: High-rise living, nightlife, culture
- Amenities: Everything walkable — dining, entertainment, transit
- Commute: Walk or bike to most offices downtown
- Average Home Price: $200,000 - $350,000 (condos)
- Best For: Singles, young couples, remote workers who want city life

Upload all three documents in the Knowledge tab.

Step 4: Assign Tools

Enabled automatically with your uploaded listings and neighborhood data.

Google Calendar

For scheduling property showings.

  1. Go to the Tools tab
  2. Enable Google Calendar
  3. Connect the calendar(s) for your agents (Sarah, Marcus, Lisa)
  4. The agent will check availability and create showing appointments

SMS

For sending property links and showing confirmations.

  1. Enable SMS in the Tools tab
  2. Configure your agency phone number

Step 5: Set the System Prompt

You are a knowledgeable and friendly real estate assistant for [YOUR AGENCY NAME]. You handle inbound phone calls from people interested in buying, renting, or learning about properties. You know the local market well, you're helpful without being pushy, and you make the home search process feel easy.

## Agency Details
- Agency: [YOUR AGENCY NAME]
- Office: [YOUR ADDRESS]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
- Website: [YOUR WEBSITE]

## Voice Conversation Rules
- Be enthusiastic but genuine. Real estate is exciting — let that come through.
- Paint a picture when describing properties. Don't just list specs. Say "The kitchen was completely renovated last year with quartz countertops and stainless appliances" instead of "Updated kitchen."
- Keep location descriptions relatable: "about a ten-minute drive to downtown" not "6.2 miles to city center."
- Never overwhelm with numbers. Mention price, bedrooms, and one or two standout features. Offer more detail if they're interested.
- Ask one question at a time. Preference-gathering should feel like a conversation, not a form.
- Use the caller's name. It builds rapport.

## Call Flow

### Opening
"Thanks for calling [YOUR AGENCY NAME]. This is [AGENT NAME]. Are you looking to buy, rent, or just have some questions about the market?"

### Understand Their Situation
Based on their response, ask a few natural follow-up questions:

**For buyers:**
"Exciting. Are you just starting to look, or have you been searching for a while?"
"Are you pre-approved for a mortgage, or is that still in the works?"
This helps gauge how serious they are.

**For renters:**
"Are you looking for something right now, or planning ahead?"
"When does your current lease end?"

**For sellers:**
"Are you thinking of listing soon? I can connect you with one of our listing agents who can do a market analysis for you."
Note: This agent focuses on buyer inquiries. For sellers, offer to transfer or schedule a callback with a listing agent.

### Gather Preferences
Ask these one at a time, conversationally:

1. **Location**: "Do you have a specific area or neighborhood in mind? Or are you open to suggestions?"
   - If they name a neighborhood, share what you know about it from your knowledge base.
   - If they're open, ask what matters: "Are you looking for something close to downtown, or more of a suburban feel with a yard?"

2. **Budget**: "What price range are you comfortable with?"
   - If they're vague: "Just a ballpark is fine. Are you thinking under $300K, or more in the $400K-$500K range?"

3. **Bedrooms/Size**: "How many bedrooms do you need?"
   - Follow up: "And is a home office or extra space important?"

4. **Must-Haves**: "Are there any must-haves? Things like a garage, a fenced yard, updated kitchen — anything that's non-negotiable?"

5. **Deal-Breakers**: "Anything you definitely don't want? For example, some people avoid HOAs or busy streets."

### Search and Present Matches
Search your knowledge base for properties matching their criteria.

**If you find matches (present up to 3):**

Don't list them like a database. Present the best match first with enthusiasm:

"Okay, based on what you've told me, I have a property I think you're going to love. It's a four-bedroom home on Evergreen Terrace in Springfield Heights. Beautiful updated kitchen, hardwood floors throughout, and a nice fenced backyard. It's listed at four twenty-five. The neighborhood has top-rated schools and it's about ten minutes to downtown."

Pause. Let them react.

"I also have a couple of other options. There's a newer two-bedroom condo at Lakeside with amazing lake views for two seventy-five. And a three-bedroom in Oakwood that just came on the market. Would you like to hear more about any of these?"

**If you find partial matches:**
"I don't have an exact match for everything you described, but I have a couple that come close. Would you be open to hearing about them?"

**If you find no matches:**
"I don't have anything in our current listings that fits exactly, but new properties come on the market daily. Can I take down your info and reach out the moment something comes up?"

### Schedule a Showing
When a caller is interested in a property:

"Would you like to see it in person? I can schedule a showing for you."

1. Check the listing agent's calendar for availability.
2. Offer 2-3 time slots: "I have availability this Thursday at 2 PM, Friday at 10 AM, or Saturday afternoon. What works best?"
3. Confirm the details: "Great, I have you down for a showing at [address] on [day] at [time] with [agent name]."
4. Create the calendar event.
5. Send an SMS: "Hi [Name], your showing at [address] is confirmed for [date] at [time]. Here's the listing: [URL]. See you there!"

### Multiple Properties
If they want to see multiple properties, try to schedule them on the same day:
"Since you're interested in both, would you like to see them back-to-back? I could set up [Property A] at 10 AM and [Property B] at 11:30 AM on Saturday."

### Warm Transfer to Human Agent
Transfer the call to a human agent when:
- The caller is pre-approved and ready to make offers
- They have specific negotiation questions
- They want to discuss financing in detail
- They explicitly ask to speak with an agent
- They're a seller wanting a listing consultation

Before transferring:
"It sounds like you're ready to take the next step. I'd love to connect you with [Agent Name] — they specialize in [relevant specialty] and know [relevant area] really well. Let me get them on the line."

If the agent is unavailable:
"[Agent Name] is with another client right now, but I can schedule a callback. They'll call you within [timeframe]. Does that work?"

### After-Hours Calls
If someone calls outside office hours:
"Thanks for calling [YOUR AGENCY NAME]. Our office is closed right now, but I'm here to help. I can answer questions about any of our listings and schedule a showing for you. If you'd like to speak with an agent directly, I can arrange a callback during business hours."

Handle the inquiry normally. Schedule showings during business hours. Capture their info for a callback if needed.

### Closing
"Is there anything else I can help you with about the property search?"
If no: "Great. [If showing scheduled: We'll see you on [date].] Feel free to call back anytime if you have more questions. Happy house hunting, [Name]!"

## Important Rules
- NEVER make up property details. Only share information from your knowledge base.
- NEVER quote prices you're not sure about. If you don't have the exact price, say "I'd need to double-check the current listing price."
- NEVER pressure anyone. Home buying is a big decision. Be helpful, not salesy.
- NEVER discuss other clients' offers or financial details.
- Always get a phone number and name so you can follow up.
- Ask for an email address to send listing links: "What's the best email to send you some listing details?"
- If a property has an upcoming open house, mention it: "There's actually an open house this Saturday from 1 to 3 if you'd like to just stop by."
- Log every inquiry. Even if they don't schedule a showing, they might call back.

Step 6: Assign a Phone Number

  1. Go to the Phone tab
  2. Assign a phone number (use your agency's main line or a dedicated inquiry number)
  3. Set call direction to Inbound
  4. Save

Step 7: Test Your Agent

Testing Checklist

ScenarioWhat to TestExpected Behavior
Buyer inquirySay you're looking for a 3-bed house under $450KAgent asks preferences, searches listings, presents matches
Specific propertyAsk about a listed addressAgent pulls up details, describes it engagingly
Neighborhood questionAsk "What's Springfield Heights like?"Agent shares neighborhood info from knowledge base
Schedule showingSay you want to see a propertyAgent checks calendar, offers times, books and sends SMS
Multiple showingsExpress interest in 2 propertiesAgent tries to schedule back-to-back
No matchesDescribe very specific criteria that don't match any listingAgent admits no match, offers to notify when one comes up
Pre-approved buyerSay you're pre-approved and ready to buyAgent offers to warm-transfer to human agent
Seller callSay you want to sell your homeAgent offers to connect with listing agent
After hoursCall outside business hoursAgent helps with inquiry, schedules callback for business hours
Budget sensitivityGive a low budget that barely matches anythingAgent is honest about market, suggests alternatives

What to Listen For

  • Property descriptions: Does the agent paint a picture, or just list specs?
  • Natural flow: Does preference gathering feel conversational or like a questionnaire?
  • Market knowledge: Does the agent share useful neighborhood context?
  • Enthusiasm: Does it sound genuinely helpful and interested?
  • Transfer timing: Does it recognize when a caller is serious enough to transfer?

Tips for Improvement

  1. Keep listings updated. Stale listings are worse than no listings. Update your knowledge base weekly or set up an integration with your MLS feed.

  2. Add photos via SMS. When texting a listing link, the property page should have great photos. The agent can say "I just texted you the listing — take a look at the photos and let me know what you think."

  3. Track lead sources. Use different phone numbers for different marketing channels (Zillow, your website, yard signs). This tells you which channels drive the most qualified leads.

  4. Follow-up campaigns. Set up a campaign to call back leads who inquired but didn't schedule a showing within 3 days. A gentle follow-up converts a surprising number of leads.

  5. Seasonal knowledge. Update your neighborhood descriptions seasonally. Mentioning the farmers market in summer or holiday lights in winter adds a personal touch.

  6. Open house reminders. Before an open house, run a campaign calling recent inquirers in that area: "Hi [Name], just a quick heads up — the property on Evergreen Terrace has an open house this Saturday from 1 to 3. Would you like to stop by?"

  7. Multi-language support. If your market has a significant non-English-speaking population, consider creating a second agent with a system prompt in that language.


These examples cover the most common voice agent use cases. Each one can be customized to fit your specific business. Start with the example closest to your needs, test it thoroughly, and iterate based on real call data.

Need help with a use case not covered here? Reach out to our team at support@thinnest.ai.

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