Key facts
- Average agent response time is 15 hours.
- 78% of buyers work with the first agent to respond.
- 5-minute response time yields ~80% conversion effectiveness.
The average real estate agent takes 15 hours to respond to a new lead, a delay that causes significant missed opportunities, according to industry data. A survey of 74 brokerages found that 41% did not respond to inquiries at all, and only 9% responded within five minutes. The National Association of Realtors reports that 78% of buyers choose the first agent who contacts them. Responding within five minutes is considered optimal, yielding an estimated 80% effectiveness in conversion, which drops to 10% for responses after 24 hours. Nearly 44% of real estate leads inquire outside of standard business hours.