> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.leaf360.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Switching from another CRM

> Moving your team off another CRM and onto Leaf360, in the order that actually works: stages first, then your pipeline, then your database, then your loan origination system.

Leaving a CRM you've outgrown doesn't have to mean losing what's in it, or re-typing thousands of contacts by hand. Follow this order and you won't end up redoing setup work you already did.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set up your stages before anything else">
    Your sales pipeline, loan pipeline and business partner pipeline all hang off stages, so build those first. Changing them later means going back and remapping everything you've already touched. See [Why you should set up your stages before anything else](/faq/setup-stages-first) and the full reference on [Pipeline Stages](/mortgage-crm/pipeline-stages).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Shape your pipeline around how your team actually works">
    Once your stages exist, turn them into the pipeline and focus bars your team will use every day. [How to customize your sales pipeline in Leaf360](/faq/customize-sales-pipeline) covers focus bars for leads, loans and referral partners.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Bring your database in">
    Export your leads and business contacts from your old CRM as a CSV, then bring them in with [Import Data](/mortgage-crm/import-data). A row that matches a record you already have updates it instead of creating a duplicate, so it's safe to import a small batch first and check the counts before running the rest. [How to move your database into Leaf360](/faq/import-your-database) walks through the same importer end to end.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your loan origination system">
    If your loans live in Arive or Encompass, connect it next so your loan data and statuses stay in step, rather than living in two places. See [Integrations overview](/integrations/overview), [Arive](/integrations/arive) and [Encompass](/integrations/encompass).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Why this order

Stages come first because nearly every other screen reads from them: focus bars, mass actions, SLA rules and the stage picker on every record. Importing before your stages exist just means remapping everything you already brought in. Connecting a loan origination system comes last, because it's easiest to match its statuses once your own pipeline is already built.

<Note>
  For a guided walkthrough of first-time setup rather than a switch from another system, start with [Start here](/get-started/start-here) instead. It covers the same steps in the same order, plus adding leads one at a time and turning on notifications.
</Note>

## Related

* [Why you should set up your stages before anything else](/faq/setup-stages-first)
* [Pipeline Stages](/mortgage-crm/pipeline-stages)
* [Import Data](/mortgage-crm/import-data)
* [How to move your database into Leaf360](/faq/import-your-database)
* [Integrations overview](/integrations/overview)
* [Start here](/get-started/start-here)