How fast should a realtor respond to a new lead?

Direct answer. A realtor should respond to a new inbound lead in seconds when possible, and inside five minutes at the outside. Waiting thirty minutes is associated with a collapse in qualification odds. During showings, that standard is only real if a system texts back for you.

Last updated August 30, 2026

What the research actually said

The Lead Response Management study reported in Harvard Business Review is the citation everyone uses: speed is not a nice-to-have. It is the deal.

HBR: The Short Life of Online Sales Leads

What to do Monday

Measure missed calls for one week. Honest count.
Put text-back on the cell that buyers actually dial.
Stop judging “lead quality” until first response is fixed.

Ready to stop leaking conversations?

Three installs, clear prices. Most producers pick the 60-Second Response Install: $4,000 setup + $750/mo, with a guaranteed 60-second text-back.

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