I bet most people don't think of contacting their real estate agents for questions outside of the need to buy or sell and the occasional referral.

I think there are many important reasons clients should contact their real estate agent and I do my best to remind them that I am more than just someone you can trust during your sale or purchase.  Here are some reasons you may need to contact me after closing:

1.  Your plumbing is backed up and your home warranty is no longer in place.  You are going to finally take out that orange formica in the kitchen and replace it with granite.  I have a great database of professionals that have provided me or my clients with excellent service.  Instead of calling a national company that is going to charge you a potentially unfair price for service, give me a call for anyone from landscapers to HVAC contractors.  In fact, from the time I started typing this to now, a friend of mine sent me an email asking for a shower recommendation!

2.  Uh oh.  You got your tax assessment and it's a whopping $50,000 more than you bought your home for.  I always remind my buyers to make sure and keep their HUD, or settlement statement, handy so that they can protest their newest assessment value in a quick and easy fashion.

3.  Uh oh.  You got your tax assessment and the county raised your taxes once again.  One thing I have done for my clients is to run comps for them and see what's actually going on in the neighborhood.  In Denton County (among others), your taxes cannot be raised by more than 10% per year.  I have seen amounts raised 9.8%...isn't that convenient!?  I have also seen tax values go down.  

4.  You closed on your house and there is a service that is available to help file your homestead exemption for $30.  Seems like a good deal.  NO-filing your homestead exemption is FREE and so very easy to do!  Go to the county website and print off the form and send it in.  Done and look at that, I just saved you $30!

Being more than just a REALTOR is what gets repeat clients and generates new business!  What other reasons can you come up with? 

*Tricia Hoffmann*

Team Nelson

www.TriciaHoffmann.com

972-740-4108 (direct)Tricia@TeamNelson.com

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34 Comments on Why Should You Contact a REALTOR outside of buying or selling?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
03
2011

I encourage my clients to call me about anything that has to do with their house.  In South Carolina that homestead exemption cuts their taxes in half so we discuss it at closing and I call them in January following their closing to follow up.  I also encourage them to call me if they decide to refinance and offer to read their GFEs to help them determine which lender has the best offer.
5:56am • #15
761,555 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great post......I get calls all the time...got one 2 weeks ago wanting to know how to get rid of bed bugs...their son lives in DC and they were headed up there to help him out. Have a great day!
6:51am • #16
653,568 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I do get people that ask for a referral fromtime to time. I agree that its a great way to stay in contact with customers and a way that will lead to more referrals overall.
7:50am • #17
1,049,150 Points 397 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great point Tricia. I want folks in my market to call me about anything related to their real estate. I am here to answer all of their questions regardless of whether they are buying and selling.
7:59am • #18
146,424 Points 2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Hi Tricia, Besides our sparkling personalities and infinite wisdom during the buying and selling process, we can offer our customers and clients so much more after closing. References for contractors and repair people definitely fall into that category. It's important for us to stay in touch with past customers so that they know we are here for them and so they'll remember our sparkling personalities and infinite wisdom and call us the next time they want to buy or sell. :)
8:09am • #19
175,749 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Great post. It demonstrates that we do much more than help clients buy and sell real estate. I also do a lot of referrals for home repairs and also people who have family members looking for rentals.
8:30am • #20
731,093 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Tricia, this is a great way to stay in touch with past clients. Good info!
9:23am • #21
188,828 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I am so glad to know that you all see our value as much as many of our clients do!  One of the reasons I got into real estate was because I like to help people and those types of phone calls are no exception!  
10:50am • #22
7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Tricia, That is a great post.  I love the unexpected high road apprach to service after the sale. 
11:40am • #23
164,402 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

In a similar vein, we receive phone calls from past clients and even agents looking for our opinion on the rental value of a home as a consideration before they purchase the home.  We always visit the property (or properties) in question and give our best advice on the likely rental rate we could garner as well as recommended improvements to the home to increase rental rate.  We will also share our views on disadvantages to the home, from a property management perspective.
12:15pm • #24
244,267 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

After the closing, I send a series of emails offering different reminders and tip to my new homeowners including a reminder about the filing of the homestead tax exemption.  I think that it is often the service after the sale that gives you the best referral base of business.  Offering something of value AFTER the closing is one way that you can differentiate yourself in your market.  Great advice!
3:26pm • #25
165,042 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Tricia - this is so true.  We need to be the "go to person" for anything related to real estate in our area.  You have a great service-oriented outlook!
4:25pm • #26
1,352,557 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tricia - I have gotten calls from my clients for very similar questions.  I think it's important that they know we can be a great resource for many things.
5:46pm • #27
1,347,742 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Tricia - what a great reminder of all the things we can do to assist our clients! There is more to being a realtor than selling homes!
7:32pm • #28
1,419,908 Points 52 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great points, Tricia. This is the time of year for tax assessment challenges in Las Vegas, and a good agent can provide valuable info to homeowners for this.
8:04pm • #29
763,730 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

This is so true. Buyers and sellers need to remember we have business partners that may be able to help them.
10:21pm • #30
JAN
05
2011
147,643 Points 9 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

This is a great post, Tricia!  I can't tell you how often I have asked clients to please call me before they make significant changes to their homes.  I think I will be singing this again this year.  Particularly now, with people being so cautious, it's a perfect time us to reconnect.
9:34am • #31
553,088 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Tricia~ Most folks don't realize what a great resource their Realtor can be.
12:02pm • #32
JAN
06
2011
1,309,282 Points 96 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I wish I thought of the idea to charge people to file their homestead for them. I could be a CaZillionaire by now!
9:56am • #33
FEB
07
2011
664,668 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great idea - something I would always do - but most folks do need reminders to call us!
11:11pm • #34

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Tricia Hoffmann

Highland Village, TX

More about me…

Your Home Free

Office Phone: (972) 317-5900

Cell Phone: (972) 740-4108

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Author Bio: Tricia Hoffmann is a real estate agent with Team Nelson and has been selling homes for free since 2005. Tricia has been chosen as one of D Magazine’s “Best Realtors” since 2011 and loves to help clients find the perfect home while saving them money.



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