AI in real estate: which tasks to automate first
Updated
Across the 1.8 million US jobs in real estate, the work scores 44 of 100 for AI exposure, weighted by how many people do each job. AI can take on about 744 hours a year per full-time person, 37% of a working year. The task that frees the most hours across the industry is to record type and cost of maintenance or repair work, about 68 hours a year for each person who does it.
- AI exposure, weighted by employment
- 44 out of 100 Moderate exposure
- Hours AI can take on
- 744 hours a year per full-time person
- Task time AI can do today
- 17% AI speeds up another 51%
Tasks to automate first
The 15 tasks where AI can take on the most hours across real estate: how exposed each task is, how much of the job it takes and how many people do that job. Hours are per person in the role that does the task. How we score each task.
| Task and who does it | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work. Logging repair type and cost is structured data entry. Done by maintenance workers. | 80% AI can do it 68 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers. Ordering from catalogs and suppliers is routine digital work. Done by maintenance workers. | 70% AI can do it 61 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare detailed budgets and financial reports for properties. AI can draft budgets and reports; manager verifies figures and assumptions. Done by property managers. | 65% AI helps 68 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Maintain records of sales, rental or usage activity, special permits issued, maintenance and operating costs, or property availability. Recordkeeping and activity logs are structured digital data work. Done by property managers. | 75% AI can do it 66 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare and administer contracts for provision of property services, such as cleaning, maintenance, and security services. AI can draft service contracts and compare terms; manager negotiates and signs. Done by property managers. | 60% AI helps 59 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Estimate costs to repair machinery, equipment, or building structures. AI can draft estimates from quotes, site visit needed. Done by maintenance workers. | 55% AI helps 46 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Direct collection of monthly assessments, rental fees, and deposits and payment of insurance premiums, mortgage, taxes, and incurred operating expenses. Collections and payables run in software; manager handles exceptions and approvals. Done by property managers. | 55% AI helps 55 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Market vacant space to prospective tenants through leasing agents, advertising, or other methods. AI can write listings and ads; showing and closing stay with people. Done by property managers. | 55% AI helps 52 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. AI can search manuals and suggest diagnoses, technician decides. Done by maintenance workers. | 45% AI helps 39 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Solicit and analyze bids from contractors for repairs, renovations, and maintenance. AI can compare bids and summarize quotes; selection needs human review. Done by property managers. | 55% AI helps 48 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources. Property search matching is largely automated by MLS and AI tools. Done by real estate agents. | 80% AI can do it 67 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams. AI can read diagrams and draft repair layouts. Done by maintenance workers. | 40% AI helps 33 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures. AI can draft designs, but builds and testing stay physical. Done by maintenance workers. | 35% AI helps 30 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases. AI drafts standard contracts from templates; agent reviews and signs. Done by real estate agents. | 70% AI can do it 60 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Act as liaisons between on-site managers or tenants and owners. Routine status updates can be drafted; liaising requires human judgement. Done by property managers. | 40% AI helps 37 hours a year for each person in the role |
What stays with people
32% of the task time across these roles needs a person, and the output of the rest still needs someone to check it. The tasks below take the most of that time.
- 17% AI can do it
- 51% AI helps
- 32% Needs a person
- Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions. Maintenance workers, 12% exposed
- Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges. Maintenance workers, 8% exposed
- Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices. Maintenance workers, 8% exposed
- Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment. Maintenance workers, 4% exposed
- Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery. Maintenance workers, 5% exposed
Adoption path
Start with the tasks where AI helps a person, then automate the routine ones, then give whole workflows to agents with a person approving the output.
Teams in this industry
The business functions in real estate, by share of the workforce, with each one's exposure.
Roles in real estate
The 20 largest roles, each linked to its task-by-task score. Shares come from the BLS industry staffing estimates, May 2025. Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, bookkeepers score highest at 67, janitors lowest at 14.
- Maintenance workers, 17.8% of the workforce, score 21 out of 100
- Property managers, 14.2% of the workforce, score 48 out of 100
- Real estate agents, 8.9% of the workforce, score 54 out of 100
- Rental clerks, 5.2% of the workforce, score 57 out of 100
- Office clerks, 4.8% of the workforce, score 60 out of 100
- General managers, 4.1% of the workforce, score 44 out of 100
- Janitors, 3.6% of the workforce, score 14 out of 100
- Secretaries, 2.9% of the workforce, score 66 out of 100
- Bookkeepers, 2.8% of the workforce, score 67 out of 100
- Maintenance supervisors, 2.7% of the workforce, score 44 out of 100
- Accountants, 2.6% of the workforce, score 60 out of 100
- Real estate brokers, 2.3% of the workforce, score 57 out of 100
- Landscapers, 1.6% of the workforce, score 11 out of 100
- Maids, 1.5% of the workforce, score 8 out of 100
- Receptionists, 1.5% of the workforce, score 62 out of 100
- Security guards, 1.4% of the workforce, score 26 out of 100
- Customer service representatives, 1.3% of the workforce, score 74 out of 100
- Administrative supervisors, 1.2% of the workforce, score 55 out of 100
- Financial managers, 1.2% of the workforce, score 49 out of 100
- Digital marketers, 1.1% of the workforce, score 62 out of 100
Questions about AI in real estate
Which tasks should a real estate business automate first?
The first task to automate is to record type and cost of maintenance or repair work (80% exposed). Next come the tasks to order parts, supplies (70%) and to prepare detailed budgets and financial reports for properties (65%). Together they free the most hours across the industry.
How many hours can AI save a real estate business?
About 744 hours a year per full-time person, 37% of a 2,000-hour working year. For a team of 10 that is about 7,440 hours, the time of 3.7 full-time people. The figure is the share of task time AI can remove today, weighted by how many people do each job.
Which roles in a real estate business are most exposed to AI?
Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, bookkeepers score highest, at 67 of 100, and janitors lowest, at 14. Each role's page lists its tasks one by one.
Will AI replace jobs in real estate?
AI can do 17% of the task time across these roles today. Another 51% gets faster with AI while a person stays in charge. 32% needs a person. One task that stays with people is to perform routine maintenance.
Where should a real estate business start with AI?
With the quick wins: approved assistants for the tasks AI helps with, under a written AI policy. Then automate the 5 tasks on this page AI can do end to end. An AI audit maps the tasks in your team and ranks them the same way this page does.
Next steps
Find the tasks to automate first in your team
We map the tasks in your business, score each one the way this page does and build the automations that pay back first.