I’ve Used CRMs for 39 Years. Here’s What Actually Matters.

1986. Ronald Reagan was president. Top Gun was in theaters. And I was one of the first real estate agents in my market with a PC, a modem, and something called ACT 1.0.

Most agents were still using Rolodexes and paper planners. I was building a computerized contact database.

That early adoption changed everything for my career. Not because the technology was fancy—it wasn’t. But because I actually used it every single day.

Fast forward 39 years. I’ve watched the CRM landscape explode from simple contact managers to AI-powered, cloud-based, omnichannel engagement platforms with predictive analytics and blockchain integration (okay, I made that last one up, but give it six months).

And you know what I’ve learned after four decades of using every CRM imaginable?

The fundamentals haven’t changed. But agents keep making the same mistakes.

My Dirty Secret: I Use a $6,000/Year CRM (But You Shouldn’t)

Here’s my confession: I currently use kvCORE as my primary CRM. It’s enterprise-level software that costs between $6,000-$18,000 per year.

Why? Because my brokerage provides it for free.

And here’s the question I get in nearly every class I teach: “Jerry, which CRM should I use?”

My answer surprises people: Not the one I’m using.

If my brokerage stopped providing kvCORE tomorrow, I’d switch to RealtyJuggler and never look back.

“Wait—you’ve been using CRMs since 1986. You teach technology classes. You wrote two books on AI for real estate. And you’d choose the $179/year CRM that looks like it was designed in 2005?”

Absolutely. Without hesitation.

Because after 39 years, I know what actually matters.

What I Learned Using ACT 1.0 in 1986

That first CRM—ACT 1.0—was primitive by today’s standards. No cloud sync. No mobile app. No AI. Just a digital Rolodex with the ability to set reminders and track interactions.

But it gave me a massive competitive advantage because I did three things:

1. I entered every contact immediately
2. I set follow-up reminders for everything
3. I actually opened it every single morning

That’s it. No sophisticated automation. No drip campaigns. Just disciplined database management.

I closed more deals than agents with fancier systems because I used mine consistently.

Thirty-nine years later, I watch agents make the exact opposite mistake: They buy sophisticated CRMs, get overwhelmed, stop using them, and wonder why their business isn’t growing.

The #1 Problem Hasn’t Changed Since 1986

Back then, agents would buy ACT or GoldMine, use it for two weeks, get frustrated, and go back to their Rolodex.

Today, agents buy Follow Up Boss or LionDesk, use it for two weeks, get overwhelmed, and go back to spreadsheets.

The software changed. The problem didn’t.

The issue isn’t features. It’s complexity. It’s overwhelm. It’s buying tools designed for teams of 50 when you’re a solo agent doing 12 deals a year.

Why I’d Choose RealtyJuggler If I Were Paying

Someone recently asked: “Jerry, if your brokerage stopped providing kvCORE tomorrow, what would you buy?”

Easy answer: RealtyJuggler.

Here’s my criteria after 39 years of CRM use:

1. Will I actually open this every single day?

I used ACT 1.0 daily for years because it was simple enough that there was no excuse not to. RealtyJuggler has that same simplicity.

Twenty-four icons. Click what you need. Contacts. Calendar. Prospects. Tasks. Done.

No 47-step automation workflows to build. No customization paralysis. Just the basics, executed well.

2. Can I afford it without resentment?

$179/year is $14.92 per month. Less than your Netflix subscription.

I’ve watched agents pay $200/month for CRMs they don’t use. Then they feel guilty, which makes them avoid opening it, which makes them feel more guilty. It’s a vicious cycle.

At $15/month, there’s no resentment. No pressure. Just a tool you use because it helps.

3. Can I get help when I’m stuck?

In 1986, if I had a problem with ACT, I’d call tech support and wait three days for a callback.

Today, I can call RealtyJuggler at (970) 672-3467 and a human answers. Immediately. Someone who actually knows the product.

That alone is worth the price in 2025.

What Enterprise CRMs Get Wrong

kvCORE is powerful. It does everything—website, IDX, lead generation, transaction management, automated workflows, predictive analytics.

But here’s what they don’t tell you: It’s built for brokerages managing hundreds of agents, not solo practitioners closing 15 deals a year.

These systems assume you have:

• Massive lead flow requiring sophisticated routing
• Staff to manage complex automations
• Time to learn enterprise-level software
• 50+ transactions annually to justify the complexity

Most agents have none of these things.

I use kvCORE because it’s free and I’ve spent decades learning complex systems. But I’d never recommend an agent PAY $6,000-18,000/year for it unless they’re running a team.

The Real Comparison: 1986 vs. 2025

What ACT 1.0 could do in 1986:

• Store contact information
• Set follow-up reminders
• Track interactions
• Generate call lists
• Print labels

What RealtyJuggler does in 2025:

• Store contact information ?
• Set follow-up reminders ?
• Track interactions ?
• Generate daily call lists ?
• Send emails and drip campaigns
• Sync with Google Calendar
• Track transactions from lead to closing
• Manage rental properties
• Calculate commissions
• Create flyers
• Video tutorials on every page
• Mobile access
• Cloud backup

Fundamentally? The same core functions that made me successful in 1986. Just better execution and more convenience.

But What About AI? Modern Features?

I teach AI classes. I wrote two books on using ChatGPT for real estate. I’m not anti-technology.

But here’s the hard truth: You don’t have an AI problem. You have a “I don’t follow up with my database” problem.

In 1986, ACT would remind me to call people. That simple reminder system built my business.

In 2025, agents have CRMs that can predict lead quality using machine learning, automate text message sequences, and integrate with their smart doorbell.

And they STILL don’t follow up with their database.

The problem isn’t lack of features. It’s lack of usage.

RealtyJuggler doesn’t have ChatGPT integration. It won’t write your listing descriptions with AI. It doesn’t predict which leads will close.

But it WILL remind you to call people. And if you actually DO that consistently, you’ll close more deals than the agent with the $300/month AI-powered CRM who never logs in.

Who Should NOT Use RealtyJuggler

Let me be crystal clear about who this isn’t for:

Skip RealtyJuggler if you:

• Run a team of 10+ agents needing enterprise workflows
• Close 50+ transactions per year and have staff to manage systems
• Want your CRM to generate leads (it doesn’t—it manages them)
• Need to impress clients with cutting-edge technology
• Get free enterprise CRM from your brokerage (like I do)
• Actually enjoy spending hours customizing software

But if you:

• Are a solo agent or small team (under 5 people)
• Close 5-30 deals per year
• Have tried multiple CRMs and abandoned them all
• Would rather sell houses than learn complex software
• Want something you’ll use for 365 consecutive days
• Need to buy your own CRM with your own money

Then stop overthinking this.

Full Transparency: I’m an Affiliate

Here’s my disclosure: I’m a RealtyJuggler affiliate. When you sign up through my link and purchase, we both get 2 free months.

So yes, I have a financial incentive to recommend this.

But here’s the thing: I could be an affiliate for dozens of CRMs. Most pay significantly more than “2 free months of $179/year software.”

I recommend RealtyJuggler because:

1. It’s what I’d buy if I were paying
2. After 39 years of CRM use, I know what actually matters
3. It’s the one I see agents actually USE consistently

That’s my litmus test for recommending anything: Would I buy it with my own money?

What 39 Years Taught Me

I started with ACT 1.0 in 1986. I’ve used GoldMine, Top Producer, Outlook, Salesforce, and now kvCORE. I’ve seen the industry evolve from floppy disks to cloud computing.

And here’s what I know for certain:

The best CRM is the one you’ll open every single morning.

Not the one with the most features. Not the one with AI. Not the one your top-producing friend uses.

The one YOU will actually use. Consistently. Daily. Without excusing or avoiding it.

For most agents, that’s RealtyJuggler.

It was true in 1986 when I chose simple over sophisticated. It’s still true in 2025.

The Challenge

Stop shopping. Stop comparing. Stop researching features you’ll never use.

Do this instead:

1. Sign up for RealtyJuggler’s 90-day free trial: https://www.realtyjuggler.com/?Source=jerry%40jerrykidd.com (no credit card required)
2. Spend 30 minutes watching setup videos
3. Add your top 50 contacts
4. Use it every single day for 90 days
5. Build the habit that will transform your business

In 1986, using a CRM daily gave me a massive competitive advantage.

In 2025, most agents STILL don’t use their CRM daily.

Which means the same advantage is still available.

The technology changed. The opportunity didn’t.

Is there something better than RealtyJuggler that’s simple, affordable, and functional? Maybe. If you’ve found it, I genuinely want to hear about it.

But after 39 years of CRM use, RealtyJuggler is the answer I give when agents ask what to buy.

Because it’s the same answer I’d follow if I were buying with my own money.

Start your 90-day free trial

(When you purchase, we both get 2 free months)