By James Todman, Founder of AgentHype. Updated October 2026.
The short answer
Yes. Across AgentHype campaigns, switching from a manual CMA offer to Instant Appraisals lifted appraisal leads by 29%, and some campaigns doubled their lead volume. Homeowners want an answer now, and the agent who gives them one first starts the relationship ahead.
How Instant Appraisals works
- A homeowner sees your ad and requests a price update.
- An instant estimate is sent by SMS from your own phone number, using property data from realestate.com.au in Australia and realestate.co.nz in New Zealand.
- You call a homeowner who has already seen a number and knows roughly where their home sits.
Why it beats the manual CMA
A manual CMA can take hours or days. In that time the homeowner cools off, another agent calls first, or the CMA simply gets forgotten in a busy week. An instant estimate removes the delay entirely.
It also changes the first call. Instead of a cold introduction, the conversation is about the estimate: what is driving it, what would move it up, and why an in-person appraisal gives a more accurate number. That is a far easier route to getting through the door.
"What if the estimate is wrong?"
This is the first question most agents ask, and it is a fair one. Data based estimates do not know about the new kitchen, the view or the cracked slab. That is why the message is written to set expectations. It explains that the figure is based on the latest data, that it cannot account for renovations or the quality of the home, and that you would like to call to discuss what it would achieve if taken to market.
Agents tell us the gap is actually useful. "The data says $1.3m. With the kitchen renovated, the one down the road sold for $1.5m. Let me show you how that compares." That is the conversation you want to be having, and the estimate starts it for you.
Does it replace a proper appraisal?
No. The online estimate is a starting point. It opens the conversation, and the agent's local knowledge, sales evidence and inspection turn it into an accurate appraisal. Owners understand that, and many book the in-person appraisal precisely to get the real number.
Can I switch it off?
Yes. Some agents prefer to send every price update personally. Instant Appraisals can be turned off, and leads will still come through to you instantly by text and email to call.
Cost per lead
Across 20 Instant Appraisal campaigns running in October 2026, the average cost was $21.53 per appraisal lead.
The bottom line
Instant Appraisals give homeowners what they want, when they want it, from your number. That is something most agents in your area are not offering, and it shows in the lead volume.
Next step
Book a free growth audit to see Instant Appraisals running for your suburbs.
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