Work hard.  Do a good job.  Close a deal.  Get referred to another buyer or seller.  Repeat.

That's the way it should, can, and does happen.  You can pay hundreds of dollars to hundreds of coaches who will all tell you the same thing: Try to build your business by referrals.

Last Thursday after finishing up settlement on a townhouse in Northern Virginia, my clients were thrilled.  As I handed them a stack of business cards and politely asked them to please spread the word about my services to their friends and colleagues, they said:

"Sure.  Oh by the way, we've already passed your name along to some friends, is that okay?"

Is that okay?

That's more than okay... That's music to any REALTOR's ears.

The week before, my wife and I were heading to dinner at Food Matters in Cameron Station when we bumped into some clients of mine who had purchased a home in that community a few years ago.  As we started talking, they laughed and said:

"Brian, we were just talking about you 30 minutes ago.  My brother is thinking about buying a condo in D.C. and I told him all about you."

We invited them to join us for dinner and the next day the brother called me and we plan to meet up soon.

You want to pass my name along.

Please do so. 

I'm open for business.

Send them to my website.

Send them to this blog.

Give'em my phone number (703-626-0715).

Just don't keep me a secret and keep me all to yourself. 

After all, you won't need another home for at least 5 or 6 years, right?