Our Concepts
What is Tiny Stack?
A Tiny Stack is a minimalist approach to AI-powered real estate—using just 2-3 lightweight, well-connected tools (like an LLM + automation platform + your CRM) to achieve 80% of what expensive enterprise platforms promise, at a fraction of the cost.
Understanding Tiny Stack
The tech industry constantly pushes agents toward complex, expensive all-in-one platforms. The Tiny Stack concept pushes back: you don't need a $500/month suite of tools. You need 2-3 well-chosen tools that connect together and that you actually master. Less is more when "more" means complexity you never use.
A typical Tiny Stack for a real estate agent consists of three layers: (1) an AI brain (ChatGPT or Claude), (2) a connector (Zapier, Make, or API integrations), and (3) your business tools (CRM, email, social media). These three layers, properly connected, handle content creation, lead response, market analysis, client communication, and workflow automation—covering the vast majority of AI use cases.
The power of a Tiny Stack isn't in any single tool—it's in how they connect. When your CRM triggers an API call to Claude, which generates a personalized response that routes to your email, you have an autonomous workflow built from simple, affordable components. The HOME Framework helps design these connections: each tool handles a specific phase (Hero context from CRM, Materials from your files, Execute through the AI, Output through your channels).
The Tiny Stack philosophy aligns with the 80/20 Rule: a focused set of mastered tools outperforms a sprawling set of barely-used ones. Master your stack deeply, build reliable workflows, and expand only when you've maximized your current tools. The agents who get the most from AI aren't the ones with the most tools—they're the ones who best understand the tools they have.
Key Concepts
Tool Minimalism
Achieve maximum results with the minimum number of tools—typically 2-3 core tools rather than 10-15 subscriptions.
Smart Connections
The value isn't in individual tools but in how they're connected—data flowing between tools creates automated workflows.
Deep Mastery over Breadth
Knowing 2 tools deeply produces better results than knowing 10 tools superficially.
Tiny Stack for Real Estate
Here's how real estate professionals apply Tiny Stack in practice:
Solo Agent Tiny Stack
A complete AI-powered practice for individual agents using three affordable tools.
Stack: Claude Pro ($20/mo) + Zapier Starter ($20/mo) + your existing CRM. Total: $40/month. Capabilities: AI-generated listing descriptions, automated lead responses, batch content creation, market analysis drafts, email sequence generation, social media content—all connected through Zapier automations that move data between your CRM and Claude.
Team Leader Tiny Stack
A scalable AI infrastructure for real estate teams that maintains simplicity while supporting multiple agents.
Stack: ChatGPT Team plan ($25/user/mo) + Make.com ($9/mo) + team CRM. Each agent gets custom GPTs (Listing Writer, Lead Responder, Market Analyst) pre-loaded with team Context Cards and brand voice. Make.com handles workflow automation. The team lead builds the prompts and workflows once; every agent benefits.
Content Machine Tiny Stack
A focused content production system for agents who prioritize marketing and social media presence.
Stack: Claude Pro ($20/mo) + Canva Pro ($12/mo) + Buffer ($6/mo). Workflow: Use Claude to batch-generate a month of content (posts, captions, hashtags, blog outlines). Move to Canva for visual creation using AI-enhanced templates. Schedule everything through Buffer. Monthly cost: $38. Monthly output: 30+ social posts, 4 blog articles, weekly email newsletter content.
Automation-First Tiny Stack
For agents focused on building autonomous workflows that run with minimal daily input.
Stack: OpenAI API ($10-20/mo usage) + Make.com Pro ($16/mo) + CRM with webhooks. Build workflows that run automatically: new lead → AI qualification → personalized response → CRM update → follow-up scheduling. Weekly market data → AI analysis → formatted report → client distribution. Your AI practice runs largely on autopilot.
When to Use Tiny Stack (and When Not To)
Use Tiny Stack For:
- Starting your AI journey and choosing your first tools
- Feeling overwhelmed by tool overload—too many subscriptions, too little mastery
- Budget-conscious agents who want maximum AI capability per dollar
- Building AI infrastructure that's sustainable and manageable long-term
Skip Tiny Stack For:
- Enterprise-level operations that genuinely need specialized platforms
- You've already mastered your core stack and identified specific needs requiring specialized tools
- Compliance requirements mandate specific tools or platforms
- Your brokerage provides and requires specific technology stacks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Tiny Stack?
A Tiny Stack is a minimalist approach to building an AI-powered real estate practice using just 2-3 well-connected tools instead of expensive, complex platforms. The typical Tiny Stack combines: (1) an AI brain (ChatGPT or Claude), (2) a connector/automation platform (Zapier, Make, or n8n), and (3) your existing business tools (CRM, email, social media). These three layers, properly connected, handle 80%+ of AI use cases at a fraction of the cost of all-in-one solutions.
How much does a Tiny Stack cost?
A full-featured Tiny Stack typically costs $30-60/month: AI subscription ($20-25), automation platform ($10-20), plus your existing CRM and tools. Compare this to enterprise AI real estate platforms that charge $200-500/month. The Tiny Stack approach delivers comparable capabilities for tasks like content creation, lead response, and workflow automation—with more flexibility and customization.
What's the best Tiny Stack for a new agent?
Start with the simplest stack: (1) ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro ($20/mo) for all AI text generation. (2) Your CRM (whatever you already use). (3) One scheduling tool for social media. For the first 30 days, just use the AI directly—get comfortable with prompts using the 5 Essentials framework. In month 2, add Zapier or Make to start connecting tools. Build automation gradually as you identify your highest-impact workflows.
When should I add more tools to my Tiny Stack?
Add tools when you've genuinely maxed out your current stack's capabilities for a specific need. Signs you need a new tool: you're doing significant manual work that could be automated but can't be with current tools, or a specialized tool offers dramatically better results for a high-frequency task (like AI virtual staging for listing-heavy agents). The rule: exhaust current tools before adding new ones.
Sources & Further Reading
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