For real estate agents and brokers, time directly impacts earnings. If you handle Broker Price Opinions (BPOs), you’re well aware of how repetitive and time-consuming the process can be. That’s why the discussion around manual versus automated BPO workflows is gaining momentum.
So which option is right for you? It ultimately depends on your goals, your workflow, and your comfort level with technology.
Manual BPOs: Total Control at a Cost
In a manual workflow, you do everything yourself:
- Search for comps in the MLS
- Take and upload photos
- Fill out forms line by line
- Submit through the vendor portal
Pros of Manual BPOs:
- You retain 100% control over comps, pricing, and commentary.
- You can customize your reports based on each client’s needs.
- There’s no learning curve—just your standard tools.
Cons:
- Tedious and time-consuming
- High risk of human error
- Difficult to scale volume beyond 3–5 BPOs/day
Manual BPOs are best if:
- You’re just starting and doing low volume
- You want hands-on control of every report
- You’re working complex or high-fee assignments
Automated BPOs: Efficiency and Scale
Automation isn’t about replacing you—it’s about letting smart tools take care of repetitive tasks, such as:
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Automatically accepting new orders
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Importing comparable sales from the MLS
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Auto-labeling photos
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Pre-filling form fields
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Tracking performance over time
Pros of Automation:
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Complete more BPOs in less time
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Reduce stress and avoid late-night work sessions
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Minimize errors with consistent, standardized formatting
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Scale your workload to 10–20 BPOs per day, if desired
Cons:
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Less customization per report unless carefully reviewed
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Initial time required to set up templates and filters
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A short learning curve during setup
Automated BPOs are ideal if:
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You manage a high volume of orders
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You want to increase income without working more hours
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You’re focused on long-term business efficiency and scalability
The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds
Many successful agents use a hybrid approach that combines both methods:
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Leverage automation for order capture, form completion, and submission
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Manually review comps, pricing, and property condition notes before final submission
With BPO Flow, managing this hybrid workflow is simple—you automate the repetitive tasks while maintaining human oversight to ensure accuracy and quality.