This article walks you through creating an Insider search alert step by step. A search alert automatically notifies you when a listing that matches your customer’s needs is published in Insider, so you don’t have to browse listings yourself. A search alert is always linked to a single customer, and you can create multiple search alerts for the same customer’s different needs—or for different customers.
Creating a search alert doesn’t take long. Filling in the basics (customer details, location, and price range) takes just a couple of minutes, and you can add more detailed criteria in a few minutes more.
1. Overview
A search alert is a saved search created for a customer. It automatically matches against all listings in Linear—both public listings and those published in Insider. When a new matching listing comes on the market or an existing listing is updated, the search alert creates a match and sends an email and an in-app notification in Linear to the contact person.
Search alerts can be used in Insider to:
- Find suitable listings for a customer even before they go on the public market
- Make your own customers visible to other agents for listings that match their criteria—without sharing any identifying details about the customer, such as their name or contact information
- Provide ready-made customer data to kick off negotiations in Insider
Good to know: A search alert is saved for one customer, meaning it works as an extension of the customer profile. The customer’s details always remain anonymous to other agents in Insider.
2. Before creating a search alert
With these preparations, creating the search alert will go smoothly and the matches will stay relevant.
2.1 Make sure the customer has been added to Linear
A search alert is always created for an existing customer. If the customer hasn’t been added yet, first create a new customer in Linear’s Customers section—or create the customer while creating the search alert (step 3.1).
2.2 Activate Insider
A search alert works in Linear in general for listings you have access to. However, to receive matches for Insider listings as well, both you and the customer’s contact person must have Insider enabled and the Insider terms of use accepted.
2.3 Consider the customer’s real criteria
The more precise the criteria, the better the matches. A search alert sends an email notification only for full matches—i.e., when the listing meets every criterion specified in the search alert. That’s why it helps to think in advance about which criteria are truly mandatory for the customer.
Tip: If the customer’s preferences are flexible, leave non-essential fields empty. This way, the search alert will find matches more broadly and good opportunities won’t be excluded due to overly strict criteria.
3. Creating a search alert step by step
3.1 Open the search alert creation view
In Linear, go to the Insider section. At the top of the listings page, you’ll find the New search alert button. Click it to open the search alert form.
You can also create a search alert from a customer card in Linear’s Customers section.
The search alert works the same way regardless of where you create it.
3.2 Select a customer
A search alert is always linked to one customer. Select the customer from the menu—or, if you create the search alert from the Customers section, the customer will already be preselected.
3.3 Select the contact person
Contact person is the Linear user who receives notifications about matches. By default, you’ll be suggested as the contact person, but you can change it if needed (for example, if another agent at your company is handling this customer).
Good to know: The contact person must be a Linear user. If you want multiple teammates to be informed about matches, use sharing of listing and customer permissions. The search alert contact person will always receive a notification, and in addition the listing agent and users who have been granted access to the listing will receive their own match notifications.
3.4 Give the search alert a descriptive name
The name is optional: if you leave it empty, the system will automatically generate a name like “Search 1”, “Search 2”, etc.
A descriptive name (e.g. “Family home in Eira, budget €700,000”) helps you later understand what each search alert was created for.
4. Choosing search criteria
4.1 Location (required)
Location is the only required criterion. You can enter one or more areas, such as a neighborhood, municipality, or postal code. The search alert will also find matches based on partial area definitions (e.g. Eira, Punavuori, Ullanlinna).
Tip: Make sure your location selection covers all the areas the customer is interested in. If the area is too narrow, you may miss good listings.
4.2 Price range
You can set the minimum and maximum price separately, or fill in only one of them:
- Both limits: the alert matches listings with a price between the limits.
- Maximum only: matches include all listings cheaper than the maximum.
- Minimum only: matches include all listings priced above the minimum.
Tip: If the customer’s budget is flexible, leave the range slightly wider. This way the alert will also catch listings where there may be room for negotiation.
4.3 Other search criteria
All other search criteria are optional. They are:
- Minimum and maximum floor area (in square metres)
- Minimum and maximum year built
- Number of rooms (you can select multiple, e.g. 3 rooms, 4 rooms)
- Property type (apartment building, terraced house, detached house, semi-detached house, loft, detached house (housing company), holiday home)
- Overall condition
- Land ownership (owned, leased, optional)
- Heating system
- New development (yes/no)
- Lift/elevator (yes/no)
- Balcony (yes/no)
- Sauna (yes/no)
- Private shoreline (yes/no)
Good to know: Every criterion you fill in is included in match scoring. The more specific the criteria, the better the match quality — but you will also get fewer matches. A property alert match is created only from full matches.
4.4 Private and public notes
At the end of the form, you can optionally add:
- Private notes: these are visible only to you and to Linear users who have access to the customer. Notes are useful for internal context (e.g. “no flexibility in the customer’s budget”) or other reminders.
- Public notes: these may be visible to the other party’s agent when reviewing matches in the Insider context. This is useful for clarifying the customer’s preferences in a way that supports the matches.
4.5 Save the property alert
Once you have filled in the required information, save the property alert. The system will immediately start comparing it against existing listings, and any matches found will appear in the Insider section. Any email notifications are sent with about a 15-minute delay so that multiple matches can be bundled into the same message.
5. Editing and deleting a property alert
5.1 Editing
You can edit the alert criteria at any time. Editing reruns the search, and new matches will appear as soon as the system has processed the updated criteria.
5.2 Deleting
You can delete a property alert when it’s no longer needed (e.g. the customer has found a home). Deleting also clears that alert’s matches.
Good to know: The system doesn’t have a separate “pause” function. If you want to pause an alert temporarily, we recommend deleting it and creating it again later.
6. If something goes wrong
6.1 I’m not receiving emails about matches
The most common reasons:
- The alert has not produced any full matches. Check the Insider section to see if matches appear in the list.
- Email notifications may be turned off in your user settings. Check your user settings to make sure property alert notifications are enabled.
- If you’re expecting matches from Insider listings, make sure both you and the customer’s contact person have Insider enabled.
6.2 The alert gives too many matches
Add more specific criteria. For example, number of rooms, property type, or a maximum floor area can narrow down results effectively.
6.3 The alert doesn’t give any matches
Try loosening the criteria:
- Expand the location by adding nearby areas
- Widen the price range
- Remove individual narrowing criteria (e.g. year built or sauna)
Good to know: The property alert shows only full matches in email, but the match list in the Insider section may also show partial matches.
6.4 I want to change the contact person
Edit the property alert and change the value in the Contact person field. New matches will be sent to the new contact person immediately.
Tip: For example, if you’re going on holiday, you can set the colleague covering for you as the contact person for your property alerts.