A step-by-step migration guide for real estate agents (2026)
Switching CRMs feels scary because contacts are only part of the risk. For paid leads, the valuable pieces are source, property context, last touch, response timing, and the next action.
Good news: you can switch safely if you protect the lead-rescue data first. The goal is not just to move names and emails; it is to preserve the queue that tells you who to call before they go cold.
This guide covers migration from Follow Up Boss, kvCORE, LionDesk, BoomTown, Wise Agent, Top Producer, and any other CRM that exports to CSV.
Time required: 30-60 minutes for contact migration; longer if your old CRM hides notes or activity history
Difficulty: Easy if you can export CSVs
Lead-rescue priority: preserve source, timestamp, last touch, next action, and hot/cold status before canceling the old CRM
Before we dive in, you're probably here for one of these reasons:
Whatever your reason, the migration process is the same.
Every CRM has an export function. Here's where to find it:
| CRM | Export Location |
|---|---|
| Follow Up Boss | Admin → People → Export (top right) |
| kvCORE | Contacts → All Contacts → Export |
| LionDesk | Contacts → Bulk Actions → Export |
| BoomTown | Settings → Data → Export Contacts |
| Wise Agent | Contacts → Export → CSV |
| Top Producer | Contacts → Tools → Export |
| Chime/Lofty | CRM → Contacts → Export |
| Sierra | Contacts → Export All |
Download the CSV file to your computer. Don't skip this step—this file is your backup.
Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets. Check that you have:
Common issue: Notes might be split across multiple columns or combined in one. That's fine—you can clean this up or most CRMs handle it on import.
This is a good time to clean up your database:
A clean database = a faster new CRM.
Create your account on the new CRM. Before importing:
This takes 5-10 minutes for simple CRMs, longer for complex setups.
Most CRMs have an "Import" or "Upload CSV" option in Settings or Contacts.
During import, you'll "map" columns:
Take your time here. Correct mapping = clean data in your new CRM.
After import, spot-check:
If something looks wrong, most CRMs let you delete the import and try again.
Reconnect your tools:
This is usually the longest step (15-30 minutes) but only done once.
If you had drip campaigns or automations in your old CRM:
This is a good time to simplify—most agents have too many automations that rarely fire.
Will I lose my contacts when switching CRMs?
No. All major CRMs allow CSV export. Your names, phones, emails, and notes will transfer.
How long does it take to switch CRMs?
30-60 minutes for most agents. Export (5 min), import (10 min), verify (15 min), integrations (30 min).
Can I switch while under contract?
Yes. Set up your new CRM anytime. Use both during transition if needed. Cancel old one when contract ends.
What about my email history?
Email history usually lives in Gmail/Outlook, not your CRM. When you connect email to your new CRM, it often pulls in recent history automatically.
What if I have 10,000+ contacts?
Same process, just takes a bit longer to export/import. Consider cleaning before import—do you really need all 10,000?
What about deals in progress?
Export deals/transactions separately if your CRM allows. Otherwise, manually recreate active deals in your new pipeline. There shouldn't be many active at once.
If you are switching because paid leads are going cold, start by running the leak audit and building your first rescue queue before recreating every old CRM workflow.
Last updated: March 2026
Related: Esgrow vs Follow Up Boss | Esgrow vs kvCORE | Best Free CRMs 2026