When Tools and Templates Actually Sell (And When They Don’t)
They look easy.
No coaching calls.
No long curriculum.
No live sessions.
Just build it. Upload it. Sell it.
But simplicity on the surface doesn’t mean simplicity underneath.
Because this path isn’t about teaching.
It’s about utility.
This Model Is About Use, Not Education
With tools and templates, you’re not explaining strategy.
You’re giving someone something they can immediately plug into their business.
For real estate agents, that might be:
A listing pipeline tracking spreadsheet
A commission and GCI calculator
A suburb farming tracker
A Notion-based CRM system
Canva templates for just-listed and just-sold posts
Swipe files for seller follow-ups
A structured listing presentation checklist
You’re not saying, “Here’s how to think.”
You’re saying, “Here’s what to use.”
That’s a very different skill.
What This Actually Requires
1. Deep Understanding of Execution Friction
You must know what agents struggle to do, not just what they struggle to understand.
For example:
Tracking follow-ups consistently
Measuring ROI on Meta ads
Organizing appraisal appointments
Keeping buyer pipelines active
Tools solve recurring operational problems.
Not abstract knowledge gaps.
2. The Ability to Package Process Clearly
A messy spreadsheet isn’t a product.
A Notion board you barely use isn’t a system.
If someone downloads your tool and thinks,
“Wait… what am I supposed to do with this?”
It won’t sell long-term.
A strong tool is:
Clear
Simple
Structured
Immediately usable
If it requires explanation to work, it’s not ready.
3. Comfort With Lower Price Points
Most templates and tools sell at:
$27
$47
$97
This is not a high-ticket play.
It’s a volume play.
You must be comfortable with:
Smaller transactions
Larger audiences
Occasional support questions
This model favors simplicity over depth.
When Tools and Templates Work Well
This path makes sense when:
You built something for yourself that other agents keep asking for
You don’t want to coach or teach, just provide
You’re solving a specific, repeatable task
You prefer maintaining assets over managing people
You want a lightweight offer in your ecosystem
If agents in your office constantly say,
“Can I get a copy of that spreadsheet?”
That’s demand.
If no one asks for it, that’s a signal too.
When They Don’t Work
Tools struggle when:
You haven’t used them extensively yourself
You’re guessing at what agents need
You want deep relationships with buyers
You prefer explaining concepts over delivering finished assets
Generic templates don’t sell in real estate.
Practical, battle-tested systems do.
Why This Usually Comes Later
Most agents try to create templates too early.
Before:
Coaching other agents
Seeing repeated questions
Refining their own workflow
The strongest tools are byproducts of repetition.
You solve the same issue 20 times…
Then you build the asset.
Not the other way around.
The Core Question
Ask yourself:
“Am I packaging something I’ve personally used and refined, or am I guessing?”
If it’s proven and repeatedly requested, tools can be powerful.
If not, you may be building in isolation.
And in the Choose Your Monetization Path (Not Everyone’s) journey, alignment always beats imitation.
