Featured in CRE Secrets: How ChatGPT Is Changing the Way We Do Real Estate Forever
AI in commercial real estate is already transforming how top brokerages operate.
In this CRE Secrets interview, Topher Stephenson—COO at Aspire Commercial and author of Chat CRE—breaks down how his team automates leasing, lead gen, invoicing, and marketing using custom GPTs and no-code workflows.
In this episode of CRE Secrets, Topher joins Aviva to share how AI in commercial real estate is streamlining leasing, lead gen, invoicing, and marketing, giving brokers and ops teams a clear path to multiply results without multiplying overhead.
Drowning in Deals, Drowning in Admin
Commercial real estate professionals are pulled in a dozen directions—juggling marketing, compliance, deal flow, and ops. Key tasks like creating invoices, writing broker bios, or scripting drone videos are often:
- Done manually (and painfully slow), or
- Not done at all
That inefficiency? It’s where time goes to die.
And it’s exactly where AI in commercial real estate can create immediate leverage.
How Aspire Cracked the Code with Custom GPTs
Topher and his team didn’t just bolt on AI tools. They built custom GPTs and automations around their real workflow pain points, focusing on what actually drained their time.
1. Content in Minutes, Not Hours
“We have GPTs that write social posts, bios—even drone video voiceovers,” Topher says. “Upload the brochure, and it pulls out all the data.”
✅ Start here: Custom GPTs that generate listing scripts, property descriptions, and captions straight from marketing brochures.
2. Invoicing Without the Headache
When a new hire struggled to create invoices from leases, Topher didn’t train, he built. A GPT now asks for commission rates and billing terms, then generates the invoice draft.
“Now, the lease gets entered into our PM system. The API pulls terms, and an invoice draft hits my inbox—automatically.”
✅ Stack used: GPT + cloud API + project database = faster, error-free billing.
3. Scalable Marketing With a Fraction of the Time
- Bios for new hires? Auto-generated.
- Social media posts? Batched and edited.
- Drone videos? Scripted from uploads.
These micro-wins add up to major consistency.
4. No More Guesswork. No More Bottlenecks.
“We’re not replacing people with AI—we’re removing the things no one has time to do right,” Topher explains.
✅ The outcome? Fewer dropped balls, faster execution, and consistent delivery across marketing, ops, and compliance.
This workflow is a perfect example of how AI in commercial real estate can improve both consistency and output, without increasing your team size.
The big takeaway:
AI in commercial real estate isn’t just about automation—it’s about making sure important work actually gets done.
Want Leverage? Start Where You’re Losing Time
Topher’s advice: skip the flash. Start with what frustrates you most. A few common areas where brokers and ops teams win with AI:
- Invoicing from leases
- Broker bios and onboarding docs
- Repetitive emails and scripts
- Compliance summaries or reminders
Then build a GPT, or hire someone who can.
“You can’t outsource your process thinking,” Topher warns, “but you can absolutely automate the repeatable work.”
Why Aspire Switched from Zapier to Relay
While Zapier and Make.com are still staples, Aspire migrated to Relay, a platform built specifically for chaining GPT-powered actions.
“Relay just flows better when GPTs are involved. Zapier is adapting, but Relay was made for this.”
✅ Tip: Use Relay to pass GPT outputs directly to your CRM, email, and leasing systems, no more manual patching.
Q1: What’s the easiest way to start using AI in commercial real estate?
A1: Begin with repetitive, rule-based tasks like bios, invoicing, or brochure-based scripts.
Q2: Can AI replace my admin or marketing staff?
A2: No, it removes repetitive work so your team can focus on strategic, revenue-driving tasks.
Q3: What tools did Topher Stephenson recommend?
A3: GPTs, Relay for automation, and cloud-based PM systems with API access.
Q4: Is this just for large firms?
A4: Not at all. Solo brokers and boutique teams can implement custom GPTs with just a few hours of setup.
Q5: Where can I get more insights like this?
A5: Subscribe to CRE Secrets for real-world tech strategies and interviews with top operators in the field.
🎧 Want More Real-World Strategies?
Whether you’re a broker, operations lead, or marketing strategist, the next edge in AI in commercial real estate isn’t more hustle, it’s smarter automation powered by GPTs that work 24/7.
Tune in to CRE Secrets with Aviva and explore even more at The Warehouse Hotline. If you’re ready to take your next step toward financial freedom, we’re here to help you grow.
