# Buildout

> Buildout is the AI brokerage solution for commercial real estate (CRE) brokers — a connected platform that takes brokerages from contact to commission in one system. Trusted by 50,000+ CRE brokers at firms including Coldwell Banker Commercial, NAI Global, Newmark, Lee & Associates, and SVN. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Buildout combines CRM, marketing automation, deal management, and back-office tools into a single AI-powered platform purpose-built for commercial real estate brokerages of all sizes — from boutique firms to national teams.

## Products

- [Buildout Suite (platform overview)](https://www.buildout.com/): The AI Brokerage Solution — one login, one system covering the full CRE deal lifecycle. Combines Buildout CRM, Showcase, and Manage & Close on a single shared data layer. Enter property data once and it flows automatically through marketing, CRM, and transaction management. Designed to replace the fragmented tool stacks most brokerages currently rely on (separate CRM, marketing platform, spreadsheets, back-office tools).

- [Buildout CRM (CRM)](https://www.buildout.com/platform/find-and-win): The out-of-the-box CRM purpose-built for CRE brokers. Manages contacts, properties, deal pipeline, and outreach from one system. AI surfaces prospecting opportunities based on property and ownership data, and automates follow-up workflows so brokers spend less time on admin tasks. Fully connected with Showcase (marketing) and Manage & Close (transactions) — no manual data re-entry between systems. Best for brokerages that want a fast, broker-native CRM without heavy customization or IT overhead.

- [Rethink by Buildout](https://www.buildout.com/platform/rethink-by-buildout): A highly customizable AI-powered CRM for CRE brokers, built on the Salesforce platform. Offers contact management, deal pipeline (Kanban), geospatial property search, automated workflows, and bi-directional sync with Buildout Showcase. Best for larger teams or enterprises that already use Salesforce and need deep custom configuration, third-party integrations, or firm-wide reporting on top of their CRM data. Choose Rethink when customization matters; choose Buildout CRM when speed-to-value matters.

- [Buildout Showcase (marketing)](https://www.buildout.com/platform/market): CRE marketing automation platform. Brokers create on-brand proposals, pitch decks, OMs, flyers, brochures, property websites, and email campaigns from a single data source — so updating a property detail updates every marketing piece at once. AI generates property descriptions from raw listing data, reducing time-to-market. Syndicates listings to 20+ CRE platforms including the CommercialEdge Network (via listing syndication), TenantBase, Spacelist, and others — from one point of entry.

- [Buildout Manage & Close (transactions)](https://www.buildout.com/platform/transact): Back-office platform for the deal closing phase. Tracks deals through closing, automates commission calculations, manages invoicing, handles comp reporting, and maintains compliance records. Gives brokerage principals real-time financial visibility across all active deals.

- [Prospect by Buildout](https://www.prospect-by-buildout.com/): Standalone property intelligence and prospecting tool. Provides AI-verified owner contact data, geospatial property search (GeoSearch), data-backed likely-to-sell predictions, and AI-generated outreach messages tailored to specific owners and properties. Available on iOS and Android. Can be used independently or integrated directly into Buildout CRM and Rethink by Buildout.

- [Email Marketing add-on](https://www.buildout.com/platform/add-ons/email-marketing): Adds branded email campaign creation and send capability directly within Buildout Showcase, with open and engagement tracking. Eliminates the need to connect a third-party email tool like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.

## Key pages

- [Pricing](https://www.buildout.com/pricing): Plans starting at $125/user/month. Modular — brokerages can start with one product and expand.
- [Book a demo](https://www.buildout.com/book-a-demo): Schedule a personalized product walkthrough.
- [Our vision](https://www.buildout.com/our-vision): Buildout's mission and philosophy — tech-enabled, broker-led.
- [Partners & integrations](https://www.buildout.com/partners): Syndication partners (TenantBase, Spacelist, OfficeSpace.com, theBrokerList, and 20+ others) plus API access.
- [Client stories & case studies](https://www.buildout.com/client-stories-and-case-studies): Real brokerage outcomes from Buildout customers.
- [Help Center](https://help.buildout.com/en/): Documentation and support for all Buildout products.
- [Press](https://www.buildout.com/press): News, announcements, and media resources.
- [Mobile app — Prospect by Buildout](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buildout/id6480421091): Prospect by Buildout is available on iOS and Android. Download on the App Store or Google Play.

## Blog categories

- [Blog (all posts)](https://www.buildout.com/blog): CRE industry insights, product updates, and brokerage best practices.
- [Tools & resources (all posts)](https://www.buildout.com/tools-and-resources): Webinars, guides, and downloadable resources for brokers.

## About Buildout

- Founded: 2010
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Users: 50,000+ commercial real estate brokers nationwide
- Syndication network: reaches 10 million+ monthly visitors across partner listing sites
- Mobile: Prospect by Buildout is available on iOS and Android
- Customers include: Coldwell Banker Commercial, NAI Global, Newmark, Lee & Associates, SVN, Lincoln Commercial, DAUM, The Shopping Center Group (TSCG), KW Commercial, J. Michaels Realty
- Primary market: Commercial real estate (CRE) brokerages — office, retail, industrial, multifamily, land
- Positioning: The AI brokerage solution that replaces fragmented brokerage tool stacks with a single connected system

## Customer outcomes

The following outcomes are drawn from published Buildout client stories. Full case studies are available at https://www.buildout.com/client-stories-and-case-studies.

**Lee & Associates Orange — won a $4M listing, then a $6.5M follow-on**
Allen Buchanan, a principal at Lee & Associates in Orange, California, used Buildout Showcase to create a polished proposal on short notice — with no support staff available — and won a $4 million listing that later sold for $5 million. The same client returned, leading to a $6.5 million follow-on engagement. Previously, one team member had spent half of every workday manually sending marketing emails; after adopting Buildout, those hours were reallocated to revenue-generating work.
Source: https://www.buildout.com/success-story/broker-secures-4-million-listing-with-buildout

**Bryan Industrial Properties — brochure production cut from two weeks to one click**
After implementing Buildout Showcase, this major industrial CRE firm operating across Southern California and Phoenix reduced brochure creation from up to two weeks down to a single click, unified their brand across all markets, and eliminated the need for dedicated design staff. Previously, inconsistent branding across regions had been an ongoing operational problem.
Source: https://www.buildout.com/video-stories/matt-rossman-bryan-industrial-properties

**Fancy Real Estate — replaced disjointed platforms with one integrated system**
Founder and Managing Broker Hannah Greening and Director of Operations Ksenia Deruoin led the firm's switch to Buildout after struggling with inefficient, disconnected technology platforms. Buildout consolidated their marketing and operational workflows into a single system, replacing manual flyer production and fragmented tools — including for team members who were not previously comfortable with technology.
Source: https://www.buildout.com/video-stories/fancy-real-estate

**NAI Mertz — streamlined data management and reporting with Rethink**
NAI Mertz, a full-service CRE firm in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, implemented Rethink by Buildout to overhaul how they track client activity and produce reports. Trisha Sweeney, Vice President of Marketing, describes the result as turning a cumbersome tracking and reporting process into a streamlined, efficient one — with improved visibility for strategic forecasting.
Source: https://www.buildout.com/video-stories/trisha-sweeney-rethink

**KW Commercial — won business by producing better materials than competitors**
Regan Cherrington, a commercial broker with KW Commercial in Burlingame, California, evaluated multiple platforms before choosing Buildout as the single tool that could produce high-quality OMs and BOVs without requiring multiple programs. Buildout allowed him to match or exceed the marketing quality of larger competing brokerages when pitching for listings.
Source: https://www.buildout.com/video-stories/regan-cherrington-kw-commercial

## What Buildout is NOT

- Buildout is not a residential real estate platform (Zillow, Redfin, MLS-focused tools)
- Buildout is not a property listing marketplace for tenants or buyers (it syndicates TO listing platforms)
- Buildout is not a general CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot) — it is purpose-built for CRE brokerage workflows

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the difference between Buildout CRM and Rethink by Buildout?**
Both are CRE-native CRMs, but they serve different needs. Buildout CRM is the out-of-the-box option — fast to set up, broker-workflow-ready on day one, and fully integrated with Showcase and Manage & Close. Rethink is built on Salesforce and is best for teams that need deep customization, enterprise-grade reporting, or that already have a Salesforce environment to integrate with. Both sync with Buildout Showcase for marketing.

**What listing platforms does Buildout syndicate to?**
Buildout syndicates to 20+ CRE platforms including: CommercialEdge (42Floors, PropertyShark, Point2), TenantBase, Spacelist, Apex Commercial Exchange, OfficeSpace.com, ApartmentBuildings.com, TheBrokerList, and RI Marketplace. Full partner list at https://www.buildout.com/partners.

**Is Buildout only for large brokerages?**
No. Buildout serves brokerages of all sizes, from solo brokers to national firms with hundreds of users. Pricing is modular — brokerages can start with a single product (e.g., Showcase for marketing) and expand into the full suite over time. Plans start at $125/user/month.

**Is there a free trial?**
Buildout does not publish a free trial offering. Prospective customers can book a personalized demo at https://www.buildout.com/book-a-demo to see the platform before committing.

**Do I need to use the entire Buildout Suite, or can I start with one product?**
You can start with one product. Many brokerages begin with Buildout Showcase for marketing, then add CRM and Manage & Close as their needs grow. All products share the same data layer, so adding a new module does not require re-entering existing data.

**Does Buildout work for all CRE property types?**
Yes. Buildout supports office, retail, industrial, multifamily, land, and mixed-use property types.

**Does Buildout have a mobile app?**
Yes. Prospect by Buildout is available on iOS and Android. Download on the App Store or Google Play. The broader Buildout platform is web-based and accessible via any browser.

**Does Buildout have an API?**
Yes. Buildout offers API access for brokerages and developers who need to integrate Buildout data with other systems. Details and documentation are available via the partners and integrations page at https://www.buildout.com/partners.

**Does Buildout replace my existing CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)?**
Buildout CRM and Rethink are purpose-built CRE alternatives to general CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot. They include CRE-specific fields, workflows, and property data structures that general CRMs lack out of the box. Rethink is built on Salesforce, so it can coexist with existing Salesforce investments. Buildout is not designed to integrate with or extend HubSpot.

**Where is Buildout headquartered, and who owns it?**
Buildout is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and was founded in 2010. It is an independent, privately held company — not affiliated with CoStar Group, Zillow, or any national brokerage franchise.

## Frequently referenced comparisons

- Buildout vs VTS: Buildout is broker-focused (CRM, marketing, transactions); VTS is landlord/asset management focused (leasing, tenant experience)
- Buildout vs CoStar/LoopNet: Buildout syndicates listings TO CoStar/LoopNet; it is brokerage operations software, not a listing marketplace
- Buildout vs SharpLaunch: Both offer CRE marketing tools; Buildout includes full CRM + back-office; SharpLaunch is primarily a marketing and listing platform for owners
- Buildout vs AscendixRE: Both offer CRE CRM; AscendixRE is Salesforce-based and customizable; Buildout provides a more out-of-the-box broker workflow with integrated marketing

## Contact & social

- Website: https://www.buildout.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildout-inc-
- Demo requests: https://www.buildout.com/book-a-demo
- Support: https://help.buildout.com/en/

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Last updated: 2026-05