First Essential
CRM and payments for real estate and property in the UK
A CRM for property and payments in one platform that helps estate and lettings teams catch every enquiry, keep leads warm and take payments quickly, with a real UK team behind you.
Leads go cold while you are out on viewings
An enquiry that waits an hour often books a viewing with someone else. Our CRM and payments platform helps busy estate and lettings teams reply quickly, keep every conversation warm and never lose a lead while they are out, without piling more onto the day. And there is a real UK team on hand when you need a hand.
What is a property CRM, and what is an EPOS or card machine for an estate agency?
A few plain definitions, because the words get used loosely and the jargon helps nobody.
A property CRM (customer relationship management system) is the single record where every applicant, buyer, vendor, landlord and tenant lives, along with every call, email and viewing. Instead of leads scattered across an inbox, a spreadsheet and a notepad, the whole pipeline sits in one place and chases the follow-ups you would otherwise forget.
An EPOS system (Electronic Point of Sale, sometimes called a till system) is what records and takes a payment, whether that is a holding deposit at the desk or an agency fee on completion. A card machine (also called a card reader or card payment terminal) is the device that takes a tap, chip or contactless payment in person. With us the two work together, and the card machine comes free when you take EPOS, so a deposit at reception is logged against the right deal automatically.
The point of joining them up is simple. When your CRM, your EPOS till and your card machine are one connected system rather than three separate subscriptions, nothing falls between the gaps and your team stops re-keying the same details three times.
The words you will hear
- Property CRM: one record for applicants, vendors, landlords and tenants.
- EPOS / Electronic Point of Sale / till system: takes and records payments at the desk.
- Card machine / card reader / card terminal: the device for in person tap and chip payments.
- Payment link: a secure link a client pays from their phone, no device needed.
- First Essential One: our all in one platform tying CRM, payments, marketing and bookings together.
A CRM for property: one record for every applicant, vendor and landlord
See every deal from first enquiry to completion, with pipelines and follow-up that quietly chase the things you would otherwise forget. Built for UK estate and lettings teams who are tired of juggling spreadsheets, inboxes and sticky notes.
An assistant that books viewings 24/7
Missed calls cost you buyers and tenants. The AI assistant picks up where you cannot, answering enquiries, sorting the serious leads from the time-wasters and booking viewings at any hour, so a Saturday-night enquiry is in your diary by Sunday morning.
Property websites that turn visitors into viewings
Listing sites and applicant portals that look sharp on a phone, a tablet or a desktop, and make it easy for a browser to become a booked viewing. Designed and built in the UK around the way your agency actually works.
Take holding deposits and agency fees with a card machine or a payment link
Take a holding deposit or agency fee in person on a card machine, or send the client a payment link they can pay on their phone in a few taps. Secure card payments from 0.3% keep a deal moving from offer to keys in hand. Rates vary by card type and business, and we confirm yours at setup. Take the card machine free when you add EPOS.
Whether you sell, let or manage, the platform fits how you work
One connected system, set up around the part of the business you run day to day.
Estate agents and negotiators
Catch every portal enquiry, book valuations and viewings without phone tag, and keep vendors warm from instruction to completion. The AI assistant answers the out of hours enquiries you would otherwise lose to a rival.
Letting agents and tenancy teams
Move applicants from enquiry to referencing to move in without anything slipping. Take holding deposits on a card machine or a payment link, and keep landlords updated automatically.
Property managers and lettings directors
See the whole pipeline across sales, lettings and management in one place, with reporting that shows where deals stall and which fees are still outstanding.
What you actually pay, with the small print other providers tend to bury
We would rather you saw the awkward questions up front. Here is how we compare with the way many providers package estate agency software and card payments.
| What matters to an agency | First Essential | Some other providers |
|---|---|---|
| Card payment rate | From 0.3%, confirmed at setup (rates vary by card type and business) | Headline rate that rises once you read the terms |
| Card machine cost | Free card machine when you take EPOS | Hardware fee or a hire charge added per month |
| CRM, payments, AI and website | One connected platform, one relationship | Separate subscriptions that rarely talk to each other |
| Free trial | 14 day First Essential One free trial, plus a free AI demo | Sign before you see it working |
| Support | UK based real people, 7 days | Overseas help centre or ticket queue |
| Setup | We set it up around how your agency works | Self serve, you do the configuration |
We have kept the right hand column general on purpose. We will not invent another company's figures. The honest point is this: ask any provider for their full card rate, their contract length and what happens when you want to leave, then compare. Card rates from 0.3% vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup.
An AI agent built around how property enquiries actually work
From a new applicant enquiry to a booked survey or viewing, the AI handles the back and forth so your team picks up at the right moment rather than chasing cold leads. It qualifies the interest, captures the details and moves the conversation forward, day or night.
Everything to win more instructions and lettings
Four tools that talk to each other, so nothing slips through the cracks and no enquiry sits unanswered.
First Essential One
One CRM for every applicant, vendor and landlord, with pipelines and follow-up that move deals from enquiry to completion.
Learn moreApp and Web
Listing sites and applicant portals that show your properties beautifully and turn visitors into booked viewings.
Learn moreAI Solutions
An assistant that qualifies enquiries and books viewings 24/7, so you never lose a buyer or tenant to a missed call.
Learn morePayments and EPOS
Take holding deposits and agency fees in seconds on a card machine, or by a simple payment link sent to the client.
Learn moreEverything an agency needs, under one roof
Frequently asked questions for estate and lettings agents
What is the best CRM, EPOS and card machine setup for real estate and property in the UK?
What does it really cost, and is the card machine free?
Is there a long contract or lock-in?
Can the platform book property viewings automatically?
How do estate agents take holding deposits and agency fees?
If we switch to you, how does moving across work, and is our data kept safe?
Will this work for both sales and lettings teams?
Ready to close more and chase less?
Book a free demo, no pressure, and see how it fits the way your agency works. Ask us about the free card machine with EPOS and your 14 day First Essential One trial.
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