To choose an AI automation partner, bring one real task and watch how they explain it back to you. A good partner uses plain words and asks how you work today. If you cannot follow the plan, you will not be able to check the result either.
Pick a task that takes too much of your time, such as replying to portal leads. Show the partner how you do it now, including the messy parts.
Ask these six questions about your task
- Ask what starts the task.
- Ask what the tool can read and what it can change.
- Ask where it saves the result.
- Ask who checks the work before it reaches a buyer.
- Ask what makes the tool stop.
- Ask who fixes it if a step fails at the weekend.
Write down the answers. Then ask the next partner the same questions, so you can compare them fairly.
Ask for past work that is close to your task
A demo should show a full task from start to end, with real steps in real apps. Ask to see what happens when a lead replies halfway through. Ask for a past project in real estate if you can, because portals, viewings, and deal forms have their own problems.
Be careful with results. A good partner will tell you what was built and what they can actually prove. Our case studies show what we built and where a person still checks the work.
Get the cost and the handover in writing
Get the scope in writing. Check the setup fee, the ongoing fee, and any usage fees. Ask who owns each account and what you keep if you stop the service. Our guide to automation you own has a simple test for this.
Ask for notes on how to run the tools. Ask how new work and repairs are priced. You can compare what lead follow-up automation costs as a starting point.
Try a small build before you commit to more
Test one task before you add more. Include a blank field or an error in your test. Ask whoever will use the tool to try it and check the result. If the task is lead response, read how to test an AI lead response tool first.
You should ask us these same questions. See what Contact to Contract includes, or book a call and bring your task with you.
Questions
What should I look for when choosing an AI automation partner?
Look for someone who can explain your task in plain words and show past work close to it. They should tell you who checks the work, what makes the tool stop, and who fixes it when a step fails.
Who should own the accounts and the tools?
You should, wherever you can. Ask who owns each account and what you keep if you stop paying. With us, you keep the tools we build, and they run in accounts you control.
What does your own service cost?
For one realtor, it is from USD 1,200 setup, then USD 350 a month, with teams and brokerages priced on a call. Software, paid data, ads, and print are outside costs that you pay yourself.