The short answer
At ACE, we find homeowners in your market who are showing signs they may sell soon. ACE Data scores them high, medium or low intent and cleans the list. Then each homeowner gets a personal offer from you, and can unlock a real gift card for watching a short video about you or requesting a home value update. You call the ones who engage. Rewards are for engaging with you, never tied to listing, buying or closing.
The early signs a homeowner may sell
People leave clues when they're getting ready to move:
- Checking their home's value on home value sites, sometimes more than once.
- Browsing listings in their own neighborhood or in another area.
- Researching agents, moving companies or mortgage options.
- Life changes that often lead to a move, like a growing family or a new job in another city.
An intent signal means someone is likely researching. It doesn't mean they'll list next month. That's why the follow-up matters as much as the list.
Step 1: Build a list of likely sellers
ACE Data finds homeowners in the areas you serve who are showing those signs, and scores each one high, medium or low intent. Low-intent owners are usually dropped, so you focus on the people most likely to be thinking about a move. The list can refresh daily.
Before anyone is contacted, we verify phones and emails and scrub phones against Do Not Call lists.
Fair Housing first. ACE builds lists by geography and buying signals only, never by race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status or any other protected trait.
Step 2: Add the people already looking at you
Some of your best future sellers are already visiting your website. Most never fill out a form. ACE can identify website visitors, so you can follow up with people who already showed interest in you.
Step 3: Reach out with something useful, not a pitch
"Are you thinking of selling?" feels pushy to someone who's just curious. Lead with value instead:
- Watch. The homeowner gets a personal offer by mail, text or email and watches a 60-second video about you and the local market.
- Earn. A real gift card unlocks when they finish, like a coffee on you.
- Request a home value update. They can ask for a personal update on what their home might sell for.
Real estate commissions and states have their own rules on gifts and inducements. The reward is for engaging with you, never for listing, buying or closing. ACE reviews each campaign with you, and you should confirm with your broker and attorney.
Step 4: Follow up fast, then stay in touch
When a homeowner engages, call or text within minutes:
"Hi [Name], this is [Your Name]. Thanks for watching my video. I pulled a few recent sales near you that might be helpful. Want me to send them over?"
Most won't list right away. Add them to steady follow-up: monthly market updates, a yearly home value update and a check-in every few months. When they're ready, you're the agent they already know.
Step 5: Pair it with farming
Likely-seller lists work best alongside a steady farm area. The farm builds familiarity with every homeowner. The likely-seller list tells you who to call first.
What we've seen
Across ACE campaigns, engagement has ranged from about 5% to 28% across direct mail and digital. Results depend on your market and how quickly you follow up. These are past results, not a promise for your market.
When this isn't the right fit
- You want only homeowners who are listing next week. Intent signals point to people researching, not signed listings.
- You won't follow up over months. Many sellers take time to decide.
- You can't respond quickly. Owners who engage need a fast, helpful reply.
Learn more about ACE for realtors.
Frequently asked questions
How do realtors find people who want to sell their house?
Look for early signs like checking home values, browsing nearby listings and researching agents. ACE Data finds homeowners showing those signs and scores them by intent.
What is seller intent data?
It's information that shows a homeowner is likely researching a move, like checking their home's value or looking at agents. It means they're researching, not that they're ready to list.
How should I contact a homeowner who might sell?
Lead with something useful, like a home value update or recent nearby sales, not a pushy "Are you selling?" Then follow up steadily.
Can I give homeowners a gift card to talk to me?
Rules vary by state. ACE rewards are for engaging with you, like watching your video, never for listing, buying or closing. Confirm with your broker and attorney.
Is it legal to target homeowners with data?
Lists must follow Fair Housing rules and outreach rules like Do Not Call. ACE targets by geography and behavior only, and scrubs lists before anyone is contacted.
About the author
Jake Nicks is the founder of ACE (Actual Consumer Engagement), a customer acquisition firm in Frisco, Texas. He has 10 years in paid media and has directed more than $2 billion in ad spend. ACE's verified-action gift card technology is protected by U.S. Patent No. 11,847,634 B2.
See which homeowners near you are thinking about selling. On a free 15-minute call, we'll pull 50 people in market for what you sell in your area, live while you watch, scrubbed against Do Not Call lists. You keep the list. Claim your free 50