How AI Doubled Real Estate Leads in 12 Months

12/09/2025
How AI Doubled Real Estate Leads in 12 Months

Listen "How AI Doubled Real Estate Leads in 12 Months"

Episode Synopsis

Shawn Hayes transformed LJ Hooker Southwest WA from a single office to a 4-location, 73-person operation – and AI tools played a massive role in their growth. Here's exactly how they did it.



Key Takeaways:





SMS campaigns sharing neighbourhood sales data get 10x more responses than "want an appraisal?" messages



AI doesn't replace the personal touch – it creates more time for meaningful connections



One-on-one training beats group sessions for tech adoption



Start with early adopters, let success stories convert the sceptics


Chapters
Chapters

00:01:28 From trainee to operations manager – Shawn's 23-year journey
00:03:50 The Darwin market surprise – high-rise apartments and off-the-plan sales
00:06:53 Current operation: 73 staff across 4 offices
00:09:24 First AI experiments – from fear to amazement
00:12:16 The indispensable AI tool: Rita SMS automation
00:14:25 Pull vs push marketing – why value-first messaging works
00:18:36 How AI handles responses (and when humans take over)
00:21:03 The "suggested call list" feature that finds hidden opportunities
00:24:29 Four types of AI users in organisations
00:26:21 30-minute one-on-one training sessions that actually work
00:30:04 Measuring AI impact on appraisal requests
00:31:35 GoList: The lead allocation tool that saves hours daily
00:35:03 Implementation advice: Soft intros beat hard sells
00:40:25 Why personal touch matters more in an AI world



Resources Mentioned:





ChatGPT - AI assistant for content creation and analysis (http://openai.com/chatgpt)



RiTA – SMS automation and lead nurturing (https://www.cotality.com/au/products/rita)



GoList – AI-powered lead allocation system (https://www.golist.com.au/)



Rex Software – Property management and CRM platform (https://www.rexsoftware.com)



REIWA Innovate Conference – A ground-breaking event about the future of Real Estate (https://members.reiwa.com.au/s/innovate)



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About Shawn Hayes

Regional Operations Manager at LJ Hooker Southwest WA. 23 years in real estate, from receptionist to managing 73 staff across Bunbury, Collie, Busselton and Dunsborough offices.





LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-hayes-528829115/)



Facebook: Shawn Hayes – LJ Hooker Property South West (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578757919631)



Website: LJ Hooker Southwest WA (https://southwestwa.ljhooker.com.au/)



Contact: 08 97 91 6880



Email: [email protected]



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The weekly show where Australia's top real estate operators reveal how they're reinventing the industry. Hosted by Samantha McLean, featuring practical strategies from agents, agency owners, and industry innovators who are driving measurable results.



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