
How AI Doubled Real Estate Leads in 12 Months
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?" messagesAI doesn't replace the personal touch – it creates more time for meaningful connectionsOne-on-one training beats group sessions for tech adoptionStart with early adopters, let success stories convert the scepticsChaptersChapters00:01:28 From trainee to operations manager – Shawn's 23-year journey00:03:50 The Darwin market surprise – high-rise apartments and off-the-plan sales00:06:53 Current operation: 73 staff across 4 offices00:09:24 First AI experiments – from fear to amazement00:12:16 The indispensable AI tool: Rita SMS automation00:14:25 Pull vs push marketing – why value-first messaging works00:18:36 How AI handles responses (and when humans take over)00:21:03 The "suggested call list" feature that finds hidden opportunities00:24:29 Four types of AI users in organisations00:26:21 30-minute one-on-one training sessions that actually work00:30:04 Measuring AI impact on appraisal requests00:31:35 GoList: The lead allocation tool that saves hours daily00:35:03 Implementation advice: Soft intros beat hard sells00:40:25 Why personal touch matters more in an AI worldResources 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)Ready to Harness AI to Win More Listings?Get our free 5-day AI Crash Course and learn how to avoid 5 expensive business mistakes that lead to wasted time, lost listings and missed deals. Sign up now: https://aicourse.eliteagent.com/About Shawn HayesRegional 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 6880Email: shawn.hayes@ljhsouthwest.com.auAbout Thought LeadersThe 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.Discover More From Elite Agent & Samantha McLeanJoin the Spark Community for Innovation in Real Estate: https://spark.eliteagent.comSign up for The Brief for Daily Real Estate News: https://thebrief.eliteagent.comExplore AI Tools, Prompts and Workflows for Real Estate: https://aipoweredagents.comConnect with Elite Agent on SocialsInstagram: @eliteagentmagTwitter/X: https://x.com/eliteagentmagLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eliteagentmag/#EliteAgent #ThoughtLeaders #RealEstateAI #PropTech #AustralianRealEstate #ShawnHayes #SamanthaMcLean #LeadGeneration #PropertyManagement #RealEstateTraining #TeamManagement #LJHooker #SMSMarketing











