Why Salesforce for Commercial Real Estate? Top 5 Salesforce-Based CRMs for Brokers

June 26, 2026
21 min

In commercial real estate, building lasting client relationships is a key to winning deals. To focus on them, it’s important to delegate administrative tasks and automate manual workflows.

This is where CRM platforms like Salesforce make a difference. 43% of businesses report saving 5-10 hours per week, while overall sales productivity can increase by up to 34%.

In this guide, we analyze the top 5 Salesforce-based CRM for real estate, including each platform’s features, pricing, and target audiences, to help you select the optimal Salesforce CRM for commercial real estate businesses in 2026.

Top 5 Salesforce Commercial Real Estate CRMs:

  • AscendixRE – Best for brokers needing advanced search tools, branded report generation, an all-encompassing hub for all operations, and native AI tools integration.
  • PropertyBase – Best for brokerages seeking full-service lead generation integration.
  • REthink CRM – Best for teams needing mobile-first pipelines.
  • Apto – SExisting users only, no new licenses issued.
  • Left Main REI – Best for real estate investors needing off-market properties and buyer matching.

The Complete CRE CRM Guide [E-Book]

Discover the benefits, customization options, and top CRM solutions for commercial real estate professionals. Download your free e-book.

Full Name
Work Email

5 Commercial Real Estate CRM Built on Salesforce

There are 5 most popular Salesforce-based commercial real estate CRMs presented on the AppExchange platform: AscendixRE, PropertyBase, REthink CRM, and Left Main REI. We also included Apto CRM (acquired by Buildout) in this comparison, even though it’s unavailable on AppExchange.

Let’s start by analyzing pricing plans and run over the recent updates in several CRM solutions in detail.

Please note that the below-presented prices may not be fully accurate as AppExchange shows only starting subscription costs for PropertyBase (acquired by Lone Wolf Technologies) as well as  REthink (acquired by Buildout).

Unlike AscendixRE CRM, PropertyBase, REthink, Left Main REI, and Apto do not mention exact pricing plans on their official websites either.

It’s also challenging to define the pricing of REthink and Apto because now, these two solutions are parts of Buildout CRM, and their pricing is available only by request.

Nevertheless, here are the pricing plans and key features that we have managed to define during our research:

Top 5 CRM on Top of Salesforce

Top 5 Salesforce-Based CRMs for Brokers
AscendixREPropertyBaseAptoREthinkLeft Main REI
Price$79 user/month$79 user/month$129 user/month$159 user/month$50 user/month
Rating on AppExchange4.98/5.04.77/5.04.2/5.04.7/5.04.98/5.0
Unique AdvantageComplete all-in-one solution, provides custom development services backed by 25+ years of Salesforce expertiseCombines IDX websites, MLS data, CRM, and transaction/back‑office toolsMature Salesforce-based CRE platform with large broker user baseBuildout ecosystem integration for embedding property data and AI research directly in CRMSalesforce CRM specifically for real estate investors
Suitable forStrong option for brokers who want CRE‑specific workflows rather than a generic real‑estate CRM.Good for brokers needing combination of web, marketing, CRM toolA great way to organize client data for Salesforce users, but no longer accepting new licensesGreat for Buildout users or the ones focusing on CRE prospecting and deal intelligenceReal estate investment companies and individual investors wanting acquisition-focused CRM
Top FeaturesFull CRE data model on Salesforce, with all listings, deals, accounts/contacts in one placeLead & contact management
Contact, company, and property data management with prospecting tools Deal pipelines for investment sales, leasing, tenant rep, capital markets Pre-configured REI workflows for acquisitions, dispositions, and marketing
Integrates with Agentforce AI agents and custom third-party AI solutionsLead routing Deal pipeline tracking from prospect through closing Advanced search with property/comp tracking and MLS integrations AI modules for motivation scoring and seller distress alerts
Has 2 custom modules for commercial mortgage banking and land brokeragesDrip campaign Commission/revenue tracking and forecasting
Automated workflows and reporting
Automation capabilities with cadences, bulk email/SMS, integrated dialers
Interactive stacking plansClient to property matching Property and comp database for market analysis Property owner research and prospecting Real-time dashboards with REI tool integrations
Lease/tenant visualizationBranded, IDX‑enabled websites and CMS
Multi‑family supportMarketing automation
Commission trackingEmail campaigns
Broker split plans with reportingReporting & dashboards
Advanced search & map search

Listing portal, brochure/document generation
Comparison of top 5 CRM on Salesforce: Features, Rating, Prices

 

So, why do the following solutions are considered to be among the top commercial real estate CRMs and what functionality is included in the pricing plans? Let’s find out in the passage below.

1. AscendixRE

  • Best for: mid-to-large CRE brokerages wanting a Salesforce-native CRM preconfigured for broker workflows with native AI assistance built in.
ascendix home page NEW

Ascendix Technologies Home Page

AscendixRE is a commercial real estate CRM on top of Salesforce for managing your properties, leases, listings, deals, contacts, accounts, and activities in one place and from anywhere.

This CRM is specifically designed for commercial real estate businesses. It automates deal flow, property management, contact management, and account search & reporting. It also simplifies the process of generating and distributing reports.

AscendixRE CRM not only provides essential CRM functionality but also offers two additional modules:

  • Ascendix Search: An advanced searching and filtering tool that enhances Salesforce data with custom filters such as radius search. It includes features like Salesforce geo mapping, related lists, and more.
  • Composer: A powerful publishing tool that empowers users to create professional-quality brochures, flyers, property tour books, lease comp reports, sale comp reports, and owner reports for listings.

Furthermore, AscendixRE CRM offers Concierge Service, Salesforce CRM consulting services, and a dedicated in-house professional services team that provides comprehensive support and extends the capabilities of the product upon request.

Key AscendixRE CRM Features

  • Data deduplication & management
  • Centralized customer data storage
  • Custom fields
  • Automated workflow & processes
  • Bulk emailing & campaign management
  • Enhanced drip campaigns
  • Ability to integrate with third-party tools like Mailchimp, DocuSign, Formstack, and others
  • Customizable property listing portal
  • Map search
  • Branded report & flyer generation tool
  • Inbound inquiry data parser from LoopNet&CREXi
  • Property alerts

AscendixRE pricing starts at $79 per user/mo and is offered in three pricing options: xRE Foundations and xRE Enterprise.

With the xRE Foundations plan, you’ll have a Salesforce license, Properties, Listing, Lease, Sales, Availabilities, Preference tracking, multi-family functionality, prebuilt commercial real estate fields, data management & deduplication, pre-set dashboards and reports for real estate business, transaction management, and property alerts.

Deal Tracking Kanban Board in AscendixRE

Deal Tracking Kanban Board in AscendixRE

With the xRE Enterprise plan you will get functionality available in Ascendix Search (an advanced Salesforce search tool designed for commercial real estate brokers):

  • Straightforward filtration and data search
  • Simple creation of related lists
  • Bulk update and edit of any objects
  • Salesforce data export to Excel
  • Mass actions like adding multiple notes, calls, event scheduling, and sending mass emails.
  • Easy data analysis using Charts and Maps
  • Automated generation of a Call List
  • Personalized list views for each user
  • Ability to place a Salesforce list to map
  • Fast creation of activity reports
  • Easy forecasting of future tasks
Radius search for Properties 5 miles from the Contact

Radius Search feature in Ascendix Search

With this plan, you also get Ascendix Composer – a real estate report & brochure generation tool. It includes features like pre-configured CRE-tailored templates to create reports, brochures, flyers, offering memos, and much more. Moreover, within Composer Online, brokers can send documents directly from AscendixRE CRM applying different formats: PDF, email, or HTML.

Composer – Property Report Generation Tool

And additional bonuses of the AscendixRE CRM for real estate are:

  • Concierge Service and platform support
  • Up to 15 custom objects
  • Stacking plans
  • Real estate commission calculations

Our company's growth trajectory has been just short of vertical over the last two years with the support of AscendixRE. From a small real estate company operating in one state to now operating in nine states with dozens of new agents, AscendixRE has been the key to scalability and rapid growth. The ability to automate tasks for agents and our corporate team has been a sure fire way to keep our priorities set on taking care of our clients first, and not having to chase down loose ends. In addition, having the ability to plug in other apps with ease has allowed us to develop a one stop solution for our agents, marketing and management teams to ensure seamless communication and support for our clients.

Nathan Mrnak, COO of Base Camp Country Real Estate

For even more customization, AscendixRE can be adapted and improved specifically for your business by Ascendix experts.

Among other things, the Ascendix team can streamline your CRM experience with extra services, like:

  • Data export/import/migration from other CRMs/data sources like Excel sheets
  • Custom portal integration for better customer/employee experience
  • Custom workflow and approval process development
  • Custom reports and dashboards
  • Custom email template creation
  • UI/UX and usability optimization

Extra AI Functionality with AscendixRE AI Suite:

AscendixRE AI Suite is now available for Enterprise AscendixRE users. It adds four AI modules directly into the existing CRM, each built around a specific task brokers handle manually today:

  • AscendixRE Connector for ChatGPT and Claude: from inside ChatGPT or Claude, check your pipeline, pull up a client’s history, create contacts, and update records in plain English without opening AscendixRE. Gemini support coming soon.
  • Harvest: forward any deal-related email to your Harvest address and contacts, properties, lease terms, and deal details are extracted into draft records for your review. Nothing saves until you approve.
  • Agent: interact with your CRM by text or voice from any device. Search records, log activity, update deal stages, and create contacts in plain English. Understands NNN, FSG, WALT, TI, and other standard CRE terms.
  • Composer AI: upload a branded comp report, tour book, or listing activity report and Composer rebuilds it as a live template tied to your AscendixRE records. Generate any document from any record in minutes.
Check out our AscendixRE AI Suite comparison with other leading AI CRMs for real estate

We’re moving brokers from data entry to data review. The AI does the reading. The broker decides what gets saved.

Wesley D. Snow, Founder and CEO, Ascendix Technologies

Salesforce Agentforce Integration in AscendixRE

As a Salesforce-based CRM for CRE, AscendixRE can be enhanced with AI capabilities of Agentforce, including smart AI Sales, Marketing, and Service agents.

Learn more about What is Agentforce

 

What makes AscendixRE CRM stand out is that it is managed by a company specializing in Salesforce consulting, administration, and AppExchange app development with 16+ years of experience in commercial real estate technology. Foe the end user, this means that AscendixRE can be seamlessly adjusted from commercial real estate and technical perspectives. All plans include onboarding training and data import, while Enterprise adds a dedicated adoption team and AscendixRE AI Suite capabilities.

Unlock the Power of Salesforce for Commercial Real Estate

Try one of the best Salesforce-based CRMs — AscendixRE. It’s an easy-to-use and secure CRM for CRE brokers. Request a demo.

2. REthink CRM

  • Best for: commercial real estate brokerages looking for an out-of-the-box Salesforce-based CRM with integrated prospecting, deal pipeline management, and optional marketing tools. *Now Rethink is a part of Buildout

 

REthink-CRM-HomePage

REthink CRM Home Page Before the Integration with Buildout

We’ve already mentioned that within the last 2 years, Buildout has acquired both REthink CRM and Apto, having repackaged them into a single solution – Buildout CRM. That’s why when you google “REthink CRM”, all pages you see will be redirected to the Buildout website.

Since the acquisition occurred, Buildout has positioned Rethink as the main CRM product (deal pipelines, contact, properties, and companies’ information, etc., resides here), whereas Buildout’s Showcase platform offers advanced marketing, property websites, and listing collateral — sold separately or as a bundle. It is worth noting that Apto, also acquired by Buildout, is no longer being actively developed — Rethink is the go-forward product, and many Apto users have already migrated.

Before the acquisition by Buildout, Rethink was a Salesforce-based commercial real estate CRM that included mobile-friendly pipelines, map search, lead and contact management, generation of marketing brochures, listing agreements, and a comp database.

Rethink-CRM-Stacking-Plan

REthink CRM Stacking Plan Feature

Rethink CRM starts at $129/user/month (updated from the previously listed $120). Rethink Plus, an upgraded tier that adds Prospect by Buildout — a built-in prospecting database with AI-powered ownership data — starts at $299/user/month. Larger teams qualify for bulk discounting. For this cost, you could get:

  • Properties and comps search
  • Deal pipeline management (seller, buyer, landlord, tenant rep deal types)
  • Task tracking and action plan templates (pre-built task sequences assignable to brokers)
  • Marketing brochures generation
  • Rethink Search
  • GeoSearch (map-based visualization to identify property owners near a listing)
  • Prospect by Buildout (Rethink Plus only) — owner contact unlock credits, “likely to sell” / “likely to refi” AI signals
  • Activity reporting (tasks, calls, inquiries per broker or deal)
  • Privacy/sharing controls per broker
  • Internal chat integration
  • Property database
  • Built-in commercial property data
  • Onboarding with a dedicated implementation specialist
  • In-house customer support (US-based, vendor-reported average response times under 2 hours)
  • Integration setup and training
  • In-product help center and resource library

The $250 setup fee is no longer part of the pricing structure. Data migrations are handled by Buildout’s partner Data Orchestra and typically cost around $1,000 for larger teams.

*Please note that while Rethink is now fully integrated into the Buildout ecosystem, the platform seems to be still available for existing users. More than that, based on what we have seen, it appears that Buildout has made minimal changes to the acquired platform, and Buildout CRM is basically Rethink under a different name. That is why we are still considering the platform as a worthwhile Salesforce-based CRM for commercial real estate.

3. Apto

  • Best for: existing Apto customers only. If you are already on Apto, it remains a capable CRM for investment sales and leasing.

 

Apto-Home-Page

Apto CRM Home Page Before the Integration with Buildout

Along with REthink CRM, Apto was acquired by Buildout as well. The acquisition of both Apto and REthink by Buildout created a challenge for their existing subscribers forcing them to decide on whether to stay with their brands and just stick with the acquisition or evaluate other CRM alternatives that offer a more stable and certain future.

 

Learn how we can help with migration from Apto to Salesforce

 

Before the acquisition, Apto was a CRM software specifically designed for commercial real estate brokers and professionals.

Even though Apto wasn’t available on the AppExchange marketplace, it offered a range of features and tools to streamline and optimize various aspects of commercial real estate processes, including deal tracking, property listings, contact management, pipeline management, reports, and dashboards.

Apto-Prospecting-Console

Apto Prospecting Console

Apto’s subscription started at $129/user per month, and with this option, you’d receive:

  • Prospecting console
  • Property sites
  • Contact management
  • One-time standard data migration
  • Client/property matching
  • Commission management
  • Critical date alerts
  • Deal management
  • Interaction tracking
  • Property management

*As of 2022, there was an additional one-time setup fee of $250. Data migrations required scoping and incurred additional costs.

Similar to REthink, Apto also has active users. No new licenses are being issued. The platform is now exclusively supported for existing users.

Liberate Your CRE Data with Agentforce

We create custom AI solutions for commercial real estate professionals.

4. PropertyBase

  • Best for: brokerages needing strong multi-channel lead consolidation with lead scoring, drip campaigns, and Google/MS365 integrations. Works well for mixed residential and commercial teams.
PropertyBase-Home-page

PropertyBase Home Page

Propertybase is another commercial real estate CRM built on Salesforce. In 2021 PropertyBase joined forces with Lone Wolf Technologies.

Since that time, their flagship offerings as BoldLeads (an agent and team-focused lead generation tool), Propertybase GO (CRM and website solution for brokerages and teams), Propertybase Salesforce Edition (a worldwide enterprise-level real estate CRM built on Salesforce), and Unify (a dedicated CRM software catering to mortgage professionals) seamlessly complemented Lone Wolf’s product portfolio.

Main PropertyBase Features:

  • Alerts/notifications
  • Calendar management
  • Email campaign management
  • Client/property matching
  • Commission management
  • Interaction tracking
  • Referral tracking
  • Lead management & segmentation
  • Listing management
  • Property management

PropertyBase is recommended for real estate brokerages seeking a Salesforce commercial real estate CRM platform with full-service lead generation.

propertybase screenshot (1)

PropertyBase Dashboards

As there is no information about PropertyBase pricing plans available on the official website, we’ll use information from other external resources as a reference.

So, Propertybase Salesforce Edition is minimum of 10 licenses at $79/user, including the Force.com platform license. No additional licenses from Salesforce.com are required.

Propertybase provides multiple pricing options for PropertyBase GO in addition to the basic subscription:

  • Propertybase GO (Website + CRM): Starting at $349 per month with an annual contract, this package includes up to 5 user licenses. It grants access to one MLS and one Cloud CMA account. Optional services like paid leads and Propertybase GO Back Office, designed for larger teams and brokerages, can be added.
  • Propertybase GO (Website + CRM), Leads, and Text Concierge: This package builds upon the first one, offering all the features and services mentioned above. Additionally, it includes leads sourced from BoldLeads and access to Text Concierge. Pricing starts at $849 per month with a minimum six-month contract.

5. Left Main REI

  • Best for: real estate investors and wholesalers who need off-market property access, buyer matching via Buy Box, and disposition predictions.
Left Main REI Homepage

Left Main REI Homepage

Left Main REI is a real estate investor and agent CRM system. It offers a range of distinctive features tailored to meet the needs of real estate professionals. These features include:

  • Disposition Predictions: Left Main REI provides direct insights into the number of active investors who are actively seeking properties that match the records stored in their CRM. This valuable information assists in identifying potential buyers for properties.
  • Off-Market Properties: The platform offers easy access to off-market properties specifically designed for wholesalers and investors. This allows users to explore exclusive opportunities outside of traditional market listings.
  • Buy Box: Left Main REI includes a specialized feature called the Buy Box. It matches buyers with properties that align with their specific criteria. This feature is conveniently accessible within the Left Main REI platform, simplifying the search process for buyers.
  • Real-time Refresh and List View Filters: The CRM enables real-time refreshing of data and provides a list view filter option. This functionality allows users to efficiently update leads and opportunities in bulk, saving time and effort.
  • Buyers List Management: Left Main REI facilitates the uploading and management of buyers lists. Users can specify criteria and geographical areas to precisely define their target audience for property offerings.
  • Contact Matching: The CRM provides access to a database of buyers uploaded by other users who potentially meet specific criteria. This feature enables users to connect with potential buyers and engage in meaningful discussions.

Moreover, CRM also emphasizes collaborative features and a high degree of customization.

Please note that the information provided is based on a general understanding, and for more specific details about Left Main REI, it is advisable to contact their support team.

Get Started with Salesforce Checklist

Download the e-book and get your team ready for Salesforce migration and CRM implementation while avoiding common pitfalls.

Full Name
Work Email

Why Choose Salesforce as Your Commercial Real Estate CRM?

  • #1 CRM platform for 12 consecutive years with proven enterprise-grade reliability
  • Unlimited customization capabilities to match CRE workflows and requirements
  • Native integration with CRE tools like property databases and MLS systems.
  • Scalable architecture supporting solo brokers to large commercial real estate enterprises
  • AppExchange marketplace with pre-built CRE solutions like AscendixRE
  • Advanced automation for deal workflows, commission tracking, and multi-stage transaction management
  • AI capabilities of Einstein Analytics and AscendixRE AI Suite for advanced data analysis and in-CRM automation
  • Enterprise security with permission-based access controls and data protection compliance
  • Trusted by 150,000+ companies worldwide, including over 90% of Fortune 500 companies

With that said, let’s explore to whom and how this innovative CRM solution can help build trusted relationships with clients and drive sales success.

 

 

Who Salesforce Commercial Real Estate CRM Can Help

Salesforce is a multi-faceted CRM solution that can be customized and tailored to the needs of different real estate specialists. Whether you’re a tenant rep broker or investment sales broker, run property management or work in RealTech company – Salesforce has functionality for everyone in the real estate and CRE industry.

 

Who Salesforce Commercial Real Estate CRM Can Help | Ascendix

Who Salesforce Commercial Real Estate CRM Can Help | Ascendix

A properly implemented Salesforce-based CRM can save you at least 10 hours a week on prospecting and creating meaningful business connections while helping you expand your client pipeline through smart automation and data collecting.

Salesforce helps seasoned realtors manage leasing and transaction processes,  acquisition/disposition, and investment operations and accelerate business growth by optimizing key processes and concentrating on what really matters to your business.

For non-professional real estate investors that decided to buy a property for investment, the system that can automatically calculate loan-to-cost or cash-on-cash cash flows and automatically sort them will become a real lifesaver as well.

Looking To Unlock the Power of Salesforce for Your CRE Business?

Try AscendixRE. It’s an easy-to-use and secure CRM for CRE brokers built on Salesforce. Request a demo.

What Are the Benefits of Salesforce for Commercial Real Estate?

Some of the main Salesforce benefits for commercial real estate are:

  • Shared client database tracks customer preferences for more personalized interactions.
  • Process automation eliminates manual data entry, commission calculations, and task assignments.
  • Complete customization allows configuration of fields, workflows, and views to match specific CRE business processes.
  • Permission-based security provides role-based access controls to protect sensitive deal information and client data.
  • Extensive integrations connect your CRM with property databases, MLS systems, DocuSign, and other essential CRE tools.

In this passage, we’ll provide you with a detailed fair examination of Salesforce pros and cons.

 

Benefits of Salesforce Commercial Real Estate | Ascendix

Benefits of Salesforce Commercial Real Estate CRM | Ascendix

Shared Client Database

With a shared client database, you can track customer preferences and motivations, facilitating personalized interactions. This enhances the overall customer experience, improves lead conversion rates, and contributes to subsequent sales success.

 

Automation of Key Processes

By leveraging a Salesforce-based commercial real estate CRM, you can streamline and automate key aspects of your sales, marketing, customer service, and back-office operations.

No need to manually input new data into a database, manually calculate commission splits for real estate brokers, or manually assign tasks to team members. With automation, these processes can be handled faster, saving you time and effort.

 

Transparency of Organizational Processes

Utilizing Salesforce for commercial real estate enables you to leave behind missed opportunities and lost prospects. With its transparent system, you can avoid overlooked leases or forgotten leads. The system will remind you to follow up with real estate leads and helps to set up a proper cadence.

 

Configuration & Customization

Salesforce offers a wide range of customization options, including system configuration, code customization, and integration of external apps and components.

Simple customizations like module renaming or creating custom views can be easily performed by teams without extensive technical expertise. For more complex optimizations, it may be necessary to seek assistance from Salesforce developers.

 

Predictive Analytics

With Salesforce for commercial real estate, you can conduct competitor analysis and identify correlations, providing specific insights for enhancing your business operations.

This knowledge empowers you to forecast trends in real estate market and offer timely service options, maximizing the likelihood of a successful sale.

 

Permission-Based Security

By prioritizing data protection and implementing strict access controls, Salesforce provides a secure environment for brokers to operate and safeguard their confidential information.

Additionally, this real estate CRM offers the ability to limit system access for specific departments. Salesforce administrators have the authority to control departmental access, granting unique codes for detailed information regarding sales deals, rates, and commissions, exclusively to the relevant brokers.

 

 

Consolidated Communication

This feature enables collaborative work and remote deal closures with different levels of privacy and access, allowing brokers to collaborate effectively while maintaining confidentiality and data security.

With a shared contact database, brokers can efficiently manage all their communication channels, including emails, phone calls, and chats, from a centralized location. They can also track important milestones and outcomes resulting from these interactions.

 

Centralized Listing Base

Initially, Salesforce’s standard functionality was not specifically tailored for commercial real estate, and features like listing portals were not readily available.

However, brokers now have three ways to leverage the benefits of the Salesforce platform.

The first approach is to utilize the standard Salesforce functions and configure them to suit your organization’s requirements.

The second option involves customizing fields and workflows to align perfectly with your corporate processes. In this case, it is advisable to seek professional assistance from Salesforce consultants and potentially developers to navigate through the customization process.

The third alternative is to opt for CRE-specific products built on the Salesforce platform, such as AscendixRE, PropertyBase or Left Main REI. These tools are preconfigured for brokers’ use, offering a cost-effective option compared to purchasing Salesforce licenses with the standard feature set.

However, if you plan to incorporate additional marketing automation or AI technologies available in other Salesforce Clouds like Pardot or Einstein Analytics, you may need to acquire the most advanced subscription plan offered by these CRE tools.

 

Lead Scoring and Sales Forecasting

This feature in Salesforce for commercial real estate provides insights into potential client preferences, helping you identify those more likely to purchase your products or utilize your services. By analyzing transaction history and detecting patterns, you can forecast sales probability.

However, it’s important to note that this feature is not available within the standard Salesforce functionality. It requires integrating additional marketing automation products like Marketing Cloud or Pardot to leverage these advanced capabilities.

 

Document Management

It goes without saying that this function makes CRM a single source of all document operations and helps ensure that all participants will have the same up-to-date version of files and can get them as soon as they need them.

 

 

Extensive Search Capabilities

With customized Salesforce search capabilities and the integration of apps like Ascendix Search, brokers gain the ability to locate individuals or entities with ease. Even if you only have limited information, such as the location on X street or in Y city, you can still find the desired person or company by conducting a radius search in Salesforce, for example.

Additionally, searching for contacts can be done efficiently by entering phone numbers, allowing you to retrieve contact names or company details within minutes.

Furthermore, the customized map search feature enables property searches from different perspectives. You can explore properties using the map view or street view, providing a comprehensive understanding of the properties in question.

 

Complete Integrability

Salesforce can be easily synchronized with various systems and third-party tools like map search apps, collaboration portals, or report generation tools, data visualization software, property databases, social networks, and email services, and many more.

The high volume of add-ons and extensions, as well as the flexibility of integration methods, makes Salesforce commercial real estate the most versatile platform on the CRE market.

 

8 Must-Have Salesforce Apps Your Business Needs to Boost Productivity

 

Massive Community Support Network

Due to its popularity, Salesforce developed the largest community of users, administrators, and developers – Trailblazers Community where all the professionals can get answers to their burning questions, and exchange ideas, and best practices. Also, this network is a great source for finding a Salesforce professional for your project and seeing them “in action”.

Disadvantages of Salesforce for Commercial Real Estate

If you are looking for tools that would cater to your unique real estate workflows (e.g. stack planning, publication of listings, commission tracking, brochure generation etc.), we do recommend you consider one of the above-mentioned CRMs, which have all Salesforce functionality while being geared to commercial real estate needs.

While Salesforce has enormous potential for commercial real estate businesses, you can maximize its value with professional implementation and customization services.

Here’s how Salesforce customization services can transform Salesforce into a powerful CRE platform:

  • Custom CRE Feature Development. Salesforce can be compared to a blank canvas, which you can customize and tailor specifically to your business (also – because it does not have CRE functionality off-shelf). However, professional services providers like Ascendix can build industry-specific functionality directly in your Salesforce environment, creating a tailored solution that matches your exact needs.
  • Streamlined User Experience Design. For a newbie, Salesforce may seem not the most user-friendly platform, which is primarily caused by its extensive customization possibilities and a huge features range. Expert consultants can simplify Salesforce by creating custom dashboards, workflows, and interfaces specifically designed for your real estate team.
  • Accelerated Onboarding and Training. These are extremely important for getting the most of your Salesforce investment and utilizing all the features and capabilities. The key to this is comprehensive training programs and change management support, provided by professional CRM consultants, which will help your team quickly master the platform and start generating ROI faster.
  • Ongoing Administrative Support. Maintaining your Salesforce system on top of its performance may be quite a challenge, with three annual update releases regularly coming. Managed services can handle all Salesforce maintenance, quarterly updates, and optimization, allowing your team to focus entirely on client relationships and deal closing while ensuring your system runs smoothly.

Some disadvantages of Salesforce include:

Learning Curve

While Salesforce offers a substantial amount of free educational resources, including expert blogs, forums, and online communities, learning curve can be challenging due to the advanced nature of Salesforce.

Nonetheless, brokers cannot afford to dedicate hours to learning a new system. Their time should be focused on cultivating relationships and closing deals.

Fortunately, this challenge can be resolved through Salesforce consulting and user training sessions. These resources are designed to assist brokers in uncovering and mastering the intricacies of the platform, specifically tailored to meet their unique needs in the industry.

 

Not Very Intuitive User Interface

For non-tech-savvy users, Salesforce CRM isn’t as intuitive as it could be. Multiple features and complex logic of workflows within Salesforce can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, Salesforce offers extensive customizability, allowing users to configure the layout of basic tabs and rename essential modules.

Additionally, seeking assistance from professional Salesforce consultants like Ascendix can provide valuable insights and recommendations on optimizing the user interface and streamlining workflows. This ensures a more tailored and user-friendly experience for individuals navigating the Salesforce platform.

 

Complicated Salesforce Administration

Managing platform maintenance without experienced internal resources is quite challenging.

Salesforce administration entails tracking on all system updates following each Salesforce release (which occurs 3 times a year), resolving system issues, troubleshooting user problems, and educating teams on system changes.

Obviously, brokers can’t dedicate their time to these activities instead of focusing on business development strategies and client collaboration.

Fortunately, this burden can be effectively delegated to outsourced Salesforce administrators. With a wide range of engagement and employment models available, companies of any size, budget, and project complexity can find a suitable solution to handle their Salesforce administration needs.

 

Slow Product Support

Salesforce product support has been a topic of frequent discussion on various review platforms, particularly when it comes to immediate assistance or speaking with a live representative to address specific details. While Salesforce does offer 24-hour Premier customer support for an extra fee, it can still be challenging to access.

Salesforce consultants like Ascendix provide comprehensive multi-channel support and CRM concierge services that are available round-the-clock.

Our dedicated Salesforce support team is committed to promptly addressing any questions or issues that arise throughout the Salesforce implementation process.

 

 How to Implement Salesforce: The Definitive Salesforce Implementation Guide

 

Too Many Features for a Small Organization

While Salesforce’s versatility is often seen as a significant advantage, it can be overwhelming for small and start-up companies with its standard functionality. For these businesses, the system may have excessive features that are not relevant to their brokerage operations.

This is where Salesforce customization and configuration play a crucial role. By tailoring the system’s functionality to meet the specific needs of the commercial real estate industry, you can optimize and simplify the platform.

Our team of Salesforce administrators and developers is always available to assist you in adjusting the system according to your requirements.

 

 

The Bottom Line

Salesforce is a comprehensive tool with an exhausting list of benefits for commercial real estate. Despite its seeming complexity that can overwhelm you at first, Salesforce can become the best friend for your commercial real estate firm if you involve expert guidance.

If you choose to run your business on one of the pre-configured solutions built on Salesforce and adjusted to unique CRE workflows: AscendixRE CRM, PorpertyBase, Left Main REI, Apto, or REthink. These platforms have already been customized to meet the needs of CRE brokers and firms while having immense potential for the standard Salesforce software.

And if you are ready to welcome Salesforce CRM solutions into your reality and simplify the process of its implementation, then our consulting services will be the best fit for you.

Our 16+ years of CRE Tech experience together with customer relationship expertise helps us take on any Salesforce-related challenges and successfully overcome them.

Book a Free CRM Consulting call and we’ll help you tailor one of the best commercial real estate CRMs for your organization. 

Request AscendixRE CRM Demo

See how AscendixRE can help you close more deals and improve your prospecting.

Salesforce for Commercial Real Estate

What is a CRM in Commercial Real Estate?

A CRM for commercial real estate allows professionals to keep track of client information, including contact details, preferences, and transaction history. This information can be used to personalize communications and provide better service to clients. CRM systems can also help real estate brokers manage their sales pipeline by tracking leads and deals, setting reminders for follow-up tasks, and generating reports on sales performance.

Can Salesforce be Used for Commercial Real Estate?

Yes, Salesforce can be a powerful CRM tool for commercial real estate professionals who want to improve their customer relationships, streamline their sales processes, and increase their overall efficiency and effectiveness in the industry. With Salesforce for commercial real estate, brokers can manage their client relationships, track leads and deals, generate reports, and streamline their sales processes.

How to Choose the Best Salesforce-based CRM for CRE?

First, identify your specific CRE business type (investment sales, leasing, tenant representation, investing, etc.) and team size requirements. Then, analyze which key features of the software you will need to address them, for instance, deal pipeline management, property search capabilities, marketing automation, and integration options. Compare pricing models, implementation timelines, and ongoing support of existing Salesforce CRM for CRE options, and ensure the chosen platform aligns with your requirements, budget, and technical expertise level.

How Do Integrations with MLS and Listing Portals Differ Across Vendors?

Some Salesforce-based CRE CRMs provide direct API connections to platforms like LoopNet and CREXi while others require manual data imports. More advanced Salesforce CRMs for CRE, like AscendixRE, can include automated property data synchronization, real-time listing updates, and complete integration with other CRE tools, but more basic solutions may include only one-time data migration and setup or may require third-party middleware.

What Is the Best CRM for Commercial Real Estate?

The best CRM for commercial real estate depends on your needs, but top contenders include AscendixRE, which is purpose-built for CRE, and Salesforce, which is highly customizable but requires more setup. Other strong options include PropertyBase (focused on lead generation integration), Left Main REI (for real estate investors), and REthink/Apto (now part of Buildout) for teams prioritizing marketing automation and deal pipelines.

How Do Pricing and Commission Tracking in AscendixRE Compare to Propertybase?

AscendixRE has more affordable pricing (Salesforce license included) at $79-99/user/month, while Propertybase requires a minimum of 10 licenses at $79/user plus Propertybase GO starting at $349/month for up to 5 users. AscendixRE includes more robust commission tracking than Propertybase, which allows real estate brokers to set up commission rates for each agent and deal, calculate commission payouts based on deal value, and monitor payment status.

What Are the Key Differences in Customization Between AscendixRE and Rethink CRM (Buildout)?

AscendixRE offers superior customization capabilities backed by 26+ years of CRM consulting experience. Unlike other CRM providers, Ascendix team can perform data migration, system administration, and third-party tool integration. On the contrary, REthink CRM focuses on property and deal management with add-ons for advanced features, requiring separate Buildout marketing licenses for advanced functionality. AscendixRE, on the other hand, bundles all CRE workflows in one Salesforce-native platform without expensive upgrades or third-party add-ons.

How Do Customer Support Experiences Differ Between AscendixRE and Propertybase?

AscendixRE is highly appreciated for exceptional customer support, which includes 24/7 concierge service, onboarding training, and customization services. The Ascendix team supports clients every step of the way and can develop custom functionality, integrate with other systems, or safely migrate data from previous systems using in-house professional services teams.

PropertyBase faces significant challenges with customer support. While customers appreciate highlight functionality and customization capabilities, there are numerous negative reviews across platforms like G2, Capterra, AppExchange, and SoftwareAdvice specifically addressing poor customer support issues.

Share:

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (64 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment
First name *
Email *

Comments

Anna

Thanks for sharing such great information here, It really great & I appreciate your knowledge, your post taught me something new about staff augmentation. keep posting such great post in future.

Need Expert Guidance on How to Introduce Salesforce Functionality Into your Day-to-day Activities?

Learn how to boost your Salesforce Org features with our CRM Academy! Subscribe to our newsletter and get fresh CRM e-books, checklists, and tips & tricks right to your inbox!