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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?
15-minute leak diagnosis. Calls, taps, content. Bring last month’s lead sources if you have them.