Save your spreadsheet as a CSV, match its columns in the Import clients window and bring up to 2,000 clients into your CRM, with duplicates updated rather than doubled.
If your clients live in a spreadsheet or another CRM, you can bring them into The NLS in one go. The import reads a CSV file, matches its columns to Name, Email, Phone, Notes and Property ref, and adds every client to your own CRM, assigned to you.
It is safe to run more than once. A client whose email or phone is already in your CRM is updated, not duplicated, and other agents' clients are never touched.
Before you start
- Your clients in a spreadsheet, with a name and at least an email or phone number for each.
- The file saved as a CSV. Excel files (.xlsx) need saving as CSV first. Commas or semicolons both work.
- No more than 2,000 clients per file. Split a larger list into files of 2,000 rows or fewer.
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Open Import clients
In your CRM, click Import clients, next to Add Client. A window opens where you choose your file, check how its columns are matched, and import.
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Start from the template if you can
Click Download the template (CSV) in the import window, or download it from thenls.com/?nls-import-template=1. It has five columns: Name, Email, Phone, Notes and Property ref, with example rows you can replace with your own clients.
Every client needs a name, plus an email or a phone number. Notes and Property ref are optional.
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Save your sheet as a CSV
In Excel: File, then Save As, and choose CSV. In Google Sheets: File, then Download, then Comma-separated values (.csv). Excel in Spanish saves CSV with semicolons, which is fine. A value in quotes can contain commas.
Note The import accepts CSV files only. An .xlsx file will not upload.
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Choose your file
Click to choose your file, or drop it into the box. The NLS reads your column headings and matches them for you. Underneath, you can see the first rows of your file and how many clients it holds.
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Check the column matches
Check each match. The NLS recognises common headings, for example Full name or Nombre for Name, E-mail or Correo for Email, Mobile, Tel, Teléfono or WhatsApp for Phone, Comments or Notas for Notes, and Ref or Referencia for Property ref.
If a heading is different, pick the right column from the list, or choose — not in my file —. The import button only switches on once Name, and an Email or a Phone, are matched.
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Import
Click Import clients. Every client is added to your own CRM and assigned to you, and is marked as coming from a CSV import.
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Read the summary
The summary shows how many new clients were added, how many were already in your CRM and were updated, and any rows that were skipped, with the reason for each, for example a row with no email or phone, or an invalid email.
Fix any skipped rows in your file and import it again. Clients already added are updated, not duplicated. Click Done — show my clients to see them in your CRM.
Good to know
- Up to 2,000 clients per file. A larger file stops at 2,000, so split it and import the parts one after the other.
- Importing twice is safe. A row whose email or phone matches one of your existing clients updates that client. Only your own clients are checked.
- Put useful context in Notes. Budget, area and timing in the Notes column land on each client's record, ready for your first call.
- Use Property ref for sellers whose property is already on The NLS, so the client and the listing are connected from the start.
- Keep the first row as headings. The matcher reads them; a file that starts with a client row will mis-match.
Questions about this
Is there a template for importing clients?
Yes. Download it here: https://thenls.com/?nls-import-template=1
It is also linked inside the import window as Download the template (CSV). It has five columns: Name, Email, Phone, Notes and Property ref, with three example rows you can replace with your own clients.
Watch how · 0:22 in the tutorial Import clients from a CSV43 · Import clients from a CSVRead the guide: Import your clients from a CSVCopy link
What file format does the client import need?
A CSV file. Commas or semicolons both work (Excel in Spanish saves CSV with semicolons), and a value in quotes can contain commas. Excel files (.xlsx) need saving as CSV first.
Watch how · 0:35 in the tutorial Import clients from a CSV43 · Import clients from a CSVRead the guide: Import your clients from a CSVCopy link
My spreadsheet uses different column headings. Will it still work?
Yes. The NLS matches common headings for you (for example Full name or Nombre for Name; E-mail or Correo for Email; Mobile, Tel, Teléfono or WhatsApp for Phone; Comments or Notas for Notes; Ref or Referencia for Property ref). You can change any match from its list, or choose — not in my file —. Import only switches on once Name, and an Email or a Phone, are matched.
Watch how · 1:08 in the tutorial Import clients from a CSV43 · Import clients from a CSVRead the guide: Import your clients from a CSVCopy link
What if a client in my file is already in my CRM?
They are updated, not duplicated. A row whose email or phone matches one of your existing clients updates that client, and the summary counts it as already in your CRM. Only your own clients are checked: other agents' clients are never matched or changed. So it is safe to import the same file twice.
Watch how · 1:54 in the tutorial Import clients from a CSV43 · Import clients from a CSVRead the guide: Import your clients from a CSVCopy link
