Temporary Email for Real Estate: Browse Properties Without Harassment

The Real Estate Lead Machine

**How real estate leads work:**

1. You view a property online 2. To see full details or schedule showing, you provide contact info 3. Your info goes to listing agent AND buyer agents 4. Both agents (and their teams) follow up 5. Your info stays in CRMs for months or years 6. You may be "dripped" marketing indefinitely

**The aggressive follow-up:** - Phone calls (multiple, often immediately) - Emails (drip campaigns for months) - Texts (increasingly common) - Retargeting ads (they bought your data)

**Why it's so intense:** - One home buyer = $5,000-15,000 commission - Agents work on 100% commission - Speed to lead determines who gets the client - CRMs automate relentless follow-up

**Your info spreads:** ``` You → Listing agent → Buyer's agents (may be sold as lead) → Real estate portals → Mortgage partners → Moving companies → Home service companies ```

When to Use Temporary Email

**Perfect for:** - Casual browsing (dreaming, not buying) - Initial research phase - Learning about an area - Checking comparable values (curiosity) - Researching vacation properties - "Just looking" at open house registrations - Investment research

**Use real info when:** - You're ready to actually buy/rent - You want agent representation - You're pre-approved for mortgage - You want to schedule showings

**The test:** Are you ready to receive 20 phone calls this week about buying a house? - Yes → Real contact info - No → Temp email

Navigating Real Estate Sites

**Zillow:** - Browse saved searches: Temp email OK - Contact agent: Will trigger follow-up - Request showing: Agents will call relentlessly

**Realtor.com:** - Similar to Zillow - Tied to NAR, agents very responsive

**Redfin:** - Slightly less aggressive - Still follows up via email - Their agents are salaried (somewhat less pressure)

**MLS Access (through agent):** - Requires real email (ongoing relationship) - Only use when ready to work with agent

**Open houses:** ``` Sign-in sheet: "Required for security" Reality: Lead generation Option: Leave temp email or decline They can't legally require your info ```

**Property research sites:** ``` County assessor: Usually no email needed Tax records: Public, no email Sold comps: May require account ```

The House Hunting Timeline

**Phase 1: Dreaming (0-6 months before buying)** - Use temp email for all sites - Browse freely without consequence - Research neighborhoods, prices, trends - No commitment, no harassment

**Phase 2: Getting serious (3-6 months out)** - Get pre-approved for mortgage (real info) - Start using dedicated house hunting email - Create Zillow/Redfin accounts - Begin seeing properties

**Phase 3: Active search (0-3 months out)** - Work with specific agent - Use real email for that agent - All other inquiries still filtered

**The transition:** ``` When you find THE agent you want to work with: - Provide real contact info - Let them know your timeline - Set communication preferences - Work exclusively with them

Everyone else: Temp or dedicated email ```

Managing the Onslaught

**If you used real email too soon:**

**Immediate damage control:** 1. Reply to unwanted agents: "I'm working with an agent already" 2. Unsubscribe from portal emails 3. Set phone to silence unknown numbers 4. Update portal preferences to "Not actively looking"

**The magic phrase:** ``` "I appreciate you reaching out, but I'm working exclusively with another agent." ```

Most agents will stop (NAR ethics require it).

**For the persistent ones:** ``` "Please remove me from all contact lists. I am not interested in your services." ```

**Going forward:** Create dedicated house hunting email when ready: ``` househunt2025@gmail.com - Use for all real estate - Check when actively searching - Abandon when you buy ```

Related Real Estate Signups

**Mortgage pre-approval:** - Never use temp email - This is a financial relationship - Triggers credit pull (serious inquiry)

**Moving quotes:** - Temp email definitely - Moving companies are aggressive marketers - Get quotes, let email expire

**Home services (inspection, title, etc.):** - Temp email for initial research - Real email when actually hiring

**Home improvement ideas:** ``` Pinterest/Houzz: Temp email for account Design consultations: Temp email for browsing When hiring: Real email ```

**The pattern:** ``` Just researching? → Temp email Actually engaging service? → Real email ```