When responding to an internet sales lead, you can’t move too fast. Even waiting a few extra minutes often allows a competitor to slip in and hijack your opportunity. Recruiting moves at a slower pace. If you call prospects two minutes after they apply, you’ll probably weird them out! It’s good to let some time pass, but not too much. Here are some contact rules high-performing recruiters use for new-to-real-estate prospects: Reply in Less Than 12: Reply to applicants/interested prospects within 1 to 12 hours after they apply. Engage in Less Than 24: Engage applicants/interested prospects in live conversations within 24 hours after they apply. Meet in Less Than 72: Meet face-to-face with qualified recruiting prospects within 72 hours after they apply. Try following these rules for a couple of weeks and measure the change in your recruiting funnel. You’ll not only see your funnel start to grow, but you’ll also find the quality of prospects start to increase. Why? The most talented prospects respond to being treated professionally.