AI Receptionist vs Human Receptionist: The Real ROI for Real Estate

Hiring a receptionist is one of the biggest fixed costs for a real estate agency. But is it the best use of your budget? Let's compare the numbers.

Cost Comparison

Human Receptionist - **Base salary**: $55,000 - $75,000/year - **Superannuation (11.5%)**: $6,325 - $8,625 - **Leave loading**: ~$2,000 - **Training**: $2,000 - $5,000 - **Workers compensation**: ~$1,500 - **Total**: $67,000 - $92,000/year - **Hours**: 38/week (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)

AI Front Desk (Frontly) - **Annual cost**: From ~$6,000/year - **Setup**: Included - **Training**: N/A - **Hours**: 24/7/365

Capability Comparison

A human receptionist can handle one call at a time. During busy periods (Monday morning, Saturday after open homes), calls queue and prospects hang up.

An AI front desk handles unlimited concurrent calls. Every call answered on the first ring, every time.

The Verdict

For most agencies, the ideal setup is AI handling after-hours, overflow, and routine enquiries, with your human team focused on high-value client interactions. This gives you 24/7 coverage at a fraction of the cost of additional staff.