Do I Need a CRM if I Only Have a Few Deals?

The real worth of a CRM is often questioned among wholesalers, flippers, and landlords who are just starting out. The truth is, even with just a handful of deals, the real estate CRM platform can save you thousands of dollars in lost opportunities, missed follow-ups and messy spreadsheets.

Key Takeaway:

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management Software) is worth it even for small investors because it makes organization easy. You can utilize an automated system to follow up with leads on time, thereby improving your efficiency and increasing the likelihood of closing more deals. Missing even one $10,000 wholesale deal costs far more than the cost of a CRM for wholesale real estate.

Bottom line: If you are handling more than one lead, you need a CRM.

Why do small investors hesitate to use CRMs?

Most new investors think CRMs are only for big players managing 50 to 100 deals at a time. New investors like wholesalers, rehabbers, or even buy-and-hold landlords hesitate to use CRM software because of three main reasons:

1. Cost Concerns – Spending $99/month feels unnecessary when you are new and deals are small.

2. Complexity – Fear that CRM software is too technical or time-consuming to set up.

3. ‘I Can Use Spreadsheets’ Mindset – Belief that Excel or Google Sheets are free and good enough.

But the flip side is that most don’t even realize that a single lost deal wipes out years of CRM costs. Every missed follow-up or lost seller lead can cost you thousands more than the CRM subscription.

Q: What happens if you don’t use a CRM?

A: Your business becomes messy and inefficient without an investor-focused CRM. Most wholesalers end up relying on spreadsheets that start crashing down once they scale. Important follow-ups with sellers and buyers are missed, and deals that could have been closed are lost. On top of that, communication gets scattered across texts and emails. There will be no central system to keep track of everything.

In short, the risk of not having a CRM is much higher than the cost of getting one. If you are serious about avoiding these pitfalls and want to see the true worth of a CRM, check out our detailed guide on [Do Affordable Real Estate CRM Platforms Deliver Real Results in 2025?].

The real cost of only a few deals

You might feel spreadsheets are enough if you are handling only 3–5 deals right now. But consider this math:

A single wholesale assignment deal averages $10,000–$20,000 profit. A $99/month CRM costs $1,188 per year. So, one missed follow-up with a motivated seller can cost you 10–20x the annual CRM price.

Now you decide, which loss hurts more?

Case study example of overlooking the importance of real estate CRM platforms

John is a new wholesaler who managed 5 seller leads in Excel. He forgot to follow up with one motivated seller because his sheet did not remind him. Another investor swooped in and made $15,000 from that deal.

Later, John switched to an investor CRM. The system automatically reminded him to follow up with leads. Within 90 days, he closed two deals he would have otherwise lost and earned $25,000.

That is the reason you should choose a CRM because it ensures orderliness, which equals profit.

Image 1: Cost of a Missed Deal vs Cost of a CRM

Q: Can’t I just use a general CRM like Hubspot or Salesforce?

A: Investing in a generic CRM is a bad move because it won’t fit your workflow. Generic CRMs are built for software sales, not real estate. Stop wasting hours customizing a sales CRM. Why pay for 30 sales related features when you use only 5? If you don’t want to keep side spreadsheets for property details, get a demo of Pete REI.

According to NAR, homes are now taking 27 days on average to sell. The numbers are up from 22 days last year. It means you get more time to beat the competitors. So, make the smartest investment decision and close deals faster with a CRM.

Why an investor-specific CRM beats generic CRMs

The differences are crystal clear when comparing generic CRMs with the best CRM for real estate wholesalers:

Designed for real estate

Generic CRMs are built for everyone which makes them too broad. An investor CRM, however, is purpose-built for real estate wholesalers, flippers, rehabbers, landlords, and buy-and-hold investors. This ensures every feature matches the way investors actually work. Forbes reports that the real estate industry lags behind in technology adoption. Hence, specialized tools would be helpful for those who are trying to stay competitive in the market.

Easy setup

Generic CRMs take weeks of customization, often requiring consultants or endless tweaking. An investor CRM is a plug-and-play that you can set up in minutes with templates built for real estate.

Image 2: User-friendly interface of Pete REI CRM for hassle-free navigation

Pricing that makes sense

Perfect Fit for Wholesalers & Flippers

Generic tools speak in corporate sales language and investor CRMs use terminology and workflows that investors actually use. Pete REI workflow is suitable for those who are wholesaling, flipping, wholetailing, or managing buy-and-hold rentals.

A generic CRM will always feel like forcing a square peg into a round hole. An investor-specific CRM saves time, money, and prevents missed deals by giving you a system built for your business model.

Q: How Does a CRM Help If I Only Have 3–5 Deals?

Juggling seller leads, buyer lists and follow ups is unavoidable even if you have only 5 deals. So, get Pete REI CRM where you can see every deal in one dashboard. You can get alerts for follow-ups and automate reminders so you never miss a motivated seller. You get an amazing personal assistant for less than the cost of a tank of gas each month.

Final Takeaway

Yes, you need a CRM if you only have a few deals. Remember, the cost of not having one is far higher than the subscription.

Pete REI CRM saves investors time, removes clutter, and helps close more deals compared to generic CRMs. So, stop juggling Excel tabs and start investing smarter. Try Pete REI, one of the best real estate CRM platforms today.

FAQ Section

Q1: Is CRM software worth it for small investors?

A: Investing in a CRM is definitely worth it for small investors. Even a single missed deal can cost you thousands of dollars, which far outweighs the monthly cost of a $99 CRM subscription. You stay organized with a good CRM. Choose Pete REI to track leads and follow up consistently even when you are managing multiple projects.

Q2: How does a CRM help if I only have 3–5 deals?

A: You can utilize a CRM to:

1. Track all seller leads in one dashboard.

2. Receive automated follow-up reminders.

3. Reduce missed opportunities.

4. Save time on administrative tasks.

Q3: Which CRM is best for small real estate investors?

A: Investor-specific CRMs like Pete REI CRM work best because they are built for wholesaling, flipping, and buy-and-hold investing. This CRM is tailored for real estate and makes pipeline management easier.

Q4: What if I only do 1–2 deals per year?

A: A CRM is still valuable even if you only close a couple of deals annually. You can put your leads and follow-ups in one place and reduce the risk of missing opportunities. Start with a basic plan that fits your volume and scale up when your business grows. Schedule a free demo to get hold of the most amazing tool to stay organized.

Q5: Can a CRM really save me time and increase profits?

A CRM can save you significant time and potentially increase profits by automating tasks. You will spend less time on administrative work and more time closing deals. Organized data also means faster decision-making, more deals and ultimately higher returns.