Domu - Email Parsing Integration

Domu is a leading rental platform specifically focused on the Chicago market, generating thousands of inquiries for property managers in the Chicago area every day. Fast response times are critical for converting these leads into signed leases. While Domu doesn't offer a native API integration, Propel automatically handles Domu leads by parsing the email notifications you receive when prospects inquire about your listings.

How Propel Works with Domu

When a prospect inquires about a rental property on Domu, you receive an email notification in your inbox. Propel monitors your inbox for these emails and automatically:

1. Parses the email to understand the Domu email format
2. Extracts prospect information including name, email, phone number, and inquiry message
3. Identifies the property mentioned in the inquiry
4. Understands the request using AI to determine what the prospect is asking about
5. Responds automatically with personalized information about the property
6. Logs the conversation in your Propel dashboard for tracking and follow-up

This all happens automatically without any manual intervention, ensuring you never miss a Domu lead.

Works for Property Management:

• Rental Properties: Propel handles inquiries about rental listings, answers questions about availability and pricing, and schedules tours
• Chicago Market: Propel understands Chicago-specific rental terminology and market considerations
• Multi-Property Portfolios: Propel can handle inquiries for multiple properties and route them appropriately

Domu Email Format

Propel recognizes and parses Domu emails in formats like:

Subject: New Lead: [Property Address]

Contact Information:
Name: [Name]
Email: [Email]
Phone: [Phone]

Property: [Property Address]
Inquiry: [Message]

Propel's AI understands variations in Domu's email format and can extract the relevant information regardless of minor formatting differences.

What Propel Extracts from Domu Emails

From each Domu lead email, Propel automatically extracts:

• Prospect Details: Name, email address, phone number (if provided)
• Property Information: Address, listing ID, or property name mentioned in the inquiry
• Inquiry Content: The prospect's message or questions
• Additional Context: Move-in date preferences, budget, number of occupants, or other details (when available)

This information is used to create personalized responses and is logged in your Propel dashboard for tracking and follow-up.

Common Questions from Domu Leads

Prospects from Domu typically ask about:

• Move-in Date: When is the property available for move-in?
• Application Process: What is required to apply? How long does approval take?
• Deposits: What is the security deposit? Are there other fees?
• Utilities: What utilities are included? What are tenants responsible for?
• Availability: Is the property still available? When can I see it?
• Pricing: What is the monthly rent? Are there any specials or discounts?
• Pet Policy: Are pets allowed? What are the restrictions and fees?
• Amenities: What amenities are included (parking, laundry, gym, etc.)?
• Neighborhood: What is the neighborhood like? Safety, walkability, public transit access

Propel automatically answers these questions using information from your property listings and can provide accurate, up-to-date details about availability, pricing, and property features.

Domu-Specific Considerations

Domu presents unique challenges that make automation essential:

Chicago Market Focus: Domu is specifically focused on the Chicago rental market. Propel understands Chicago-specific considerations like:

• Chicago's strong tenant protection laws
• Rent control and stabilization regulations
• Neighborhood-specific questions (safety, public transit, schools)
• Chicago rental terminology and market norms

High Volume, Fast Response Expectations: Domu is one of the leading rental platforms in Chicago. Prospects expect responses within minutes, not hours. Research shows that responding within 5 minutes increases conversion rates by 9x. Manual response times of 2-4 hours mean you're losing leads to competitors who respond faster.

Structured Lead Format: Domu sends well-structured lead emails with consistent formatting, making them ideal for automated parsing. This reliability means Propel can extract information accurately and consistently.

Application-Focused Inquiries: Many Domu leads are further along in the decision process and ask specific questions about the application process, deposits, and move-in requirements. Propel can answer these detailed questions automatically, saving you time on repetitive responses.

Neighborhood-Specific Questions: Chicago prospects often ask about neighborhoods, safety, public transit, and schools. Propel can answer these questions using information from your property listings and knowledge about Chicago neighborhoods.

Setting Up Domu Integration

Since Propel works with Domu through email parsing, setup is straightforward:

Step 1: Connect Your Email Account

1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations in Propel
2. Connect your Gmail or Microsoft 365/Outlook account
3. Grant Propel permission to read and send emails

For detailed instructions, see:

• Gmail - Email Provider Setup
• Microsoft 365 - Email Provider Setup

Step 2: Configure Your Mailbox

1. Go to Settings > Mailboxes
2. Create a new mailbox or select an existing one
3. Choose the email account where you receive Domu notifications
4. Propel will automatically monitor this inbox for Domu emails

Domu emails typically come from noreply@domu.com or similar addresses. Propel automatically recognizes these senders.

See Setting Up Your First Mailbox for detailed instructions.

Step 3: Add Your Property Listings

For Propel to provide accurate information in responses, make sure your property listings are up to date:

1. Go to Listings in Propel
2. Add or import your properties
3. Ensure availability, pricing, and amenities are current

You can import listings from:

• Data Sources (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)
• Manual entry via the Listings page

Step 4: Test the Integration

1. Send a test inquiry on Domu for one of your listings
2. Check your Propel dashboard to see if the email was parsed correctly
3. Review the automated response to ensure it's accurate and personalized

Automation Workflow

Here's how Propel handles Domu leads automatically:

1. Prospect inquires on Domu → 2. Domu sends email notification → 3. Propel detects email → 4. AI parses email and extracts information → 5. Propel creates personalized response → 6. Response sent to prospect → 7. Conversation logged in dashboard

This entire process happens within minutes, ensuring prospects receive timely, personalized responses even when you're not monitoring your inbox.

Domu Email Subject Patterns

Propel recognizes Domu emails by these common subject patterns:

• New Lead: [Property Address]
• New Inquiry: [Property Address]
• Lead for [Property Address]
• Inquiry: [Property Address]

Field Mappings

Propel extracts the following information from Domu emails:

• Prospect Name: Usually in format "Name: [Name]" or "Contact Information: Name: [Name]"
• Email: Format "Email: [email]" or in contact information section
• Phone: Format "Phone: [number]" or "Phone Number: [number]"
• Property Address: Usually in subject line or "Property: [address]"
• Message: In email body, often labeled as "Inquiry: [message]" or "Message: [message]"

Special Considerations

• Domu emails may include HTML formatting
• Some emails include property photos or links to the listing
• Lead source tracking: Look for "Source: Domu" or similar in email headers
• Property ID may be in email body or subject line
• Some emails include prospect preferences (move-in date, budget) when provided
• Chicago-specific information may be included (neighborhood, transit, schools)

Measuring Success

Track these metrics to measure your Domu integration success:

• Response Time: Average time from Domu email to first reply (target: under 5 minutes)
• Response Rate: Percentage of Domu leads that receive a reply (target: 100%)
• Parsing Accuracy: How accurately Propel extracts information from Domu emails
• Tour Booking Rate: Percentage of Domu leads that book tours (target: 30%+)
• Application Rate: Percentage of Domu leads that submit applications (target: 20%+)
• Conversion Rate: Percentage of Domu leads that sign leases (target: 15%+)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Domu send phone leads?

Domu primarily sends leads via email notifications. Some prospects may call directly, but most inquiries come through the platform's email system. Propel handles email leads automatically while flagging any phone leads for immediate manual follow-up.

Can I auto-reply to Domu leads with application links?

Yes, but timing matters. Domu leads often ask specific questions first (availability, pet policy, utilities). Propel answers those questions first, then offers to schedule a tour. After a tour is scheduled or if the prospect expresses strong interest, Propel can provide application links and information about the application process.

How do I handle Domu leads for properties I've already rented?

Propel can check your property database in real-time. If a property is already rented, the system can automatically respond with: "Thanks for your interest! This unit has been rented, but I have similar properties available. Would you like to see those instead?" This saves you from manually checking availability for every inquiry.

What about Chicago's tenant protection laws?

Chicago has strong tenant protection laws, including rent control and stabilization regulations. Propel can help ensure your responses comply with these regulations by:

• Providing accurate information about rent and fees
• Clearly stating application requirements and timelines
• Following fair housing guidelines in all communications

Can Propel handle inquiries about multiple properties?

Yes. If a prospect inquires about multiple properties or asks to see similar units, Propel can:

• Identify all properties mentioned in the inquiry
• Provide information about each property
• Suggest alternatives if their first choice isn't available
• Schedule tours for multiple properties if requested

How does Propel handle Domu's lead forwarding?

Domu may forward leads to multiple email addresses if you have a team. Propel can handle this by:

• Detecting duplicate leads across mailboxes
• Consolidating conversations to avoid multiple responses
• Routing leads to the appropriate team member based on your configuration

Troubleshooting

Propel isn't detecting Domu emails

Possible causes:

• Email account not connected
• Mailbox not configured or not enabled
• Emails going to a different folder

Solutions:

1. Verify your email account is connected in Settings > Integrations
2. Check that your mailbox is enabled in Settings > Mailboxes
3. Ensure Domu emails are arriving in the monitored inbox/folder
4. Check email filters that might be moving Domu emails to other folders

Information not extracted correctly

If Propel isn't extracting information correctly from Domu emails:

1. Check the email format in your inbox - Domu may have updated their format
2. Review parsed emails in your Propel dashboard to see what was extracted
3. Contact support if you notice consistent parsing issues

Responses not being sent

If responses aren't being sent to Domu prospects:

1. Verify your mailbox is enabled
2. Check response rules in Settings > Mailboxes to ensure responses are allowed
3. Review approval settings if approvals are required before sending

Related Integration Guides

Looking to integrate with other lead sources? Check out our guides for:

• Zillow - Email Parsing Integration
• Apartments.com - Email Parsing Integration
• Realtor.com - Email Parsing Integration
• StreetEasy - Email Parsing Integration (NYC-specific)
• Craigslist - Email Parsing Integration

Need Help?

If you have questions about integrating Domu with Propel:

• Support Email: partners@propelhq.io
• Documentation: Browse our complete documentation for more guides
• Getting Started: See Getting Started for setup instructions