Home > Blogs > Ann Bellamy > BuyNowHardMoney

You are who you recommend

By Ann Bellamy

Services for Real Estate Pros with Hard money lending for investors in NH and MA

March 10, 2011 01:53 AM

I think it's important to make a distinction between referrals and recommendations. Because if we recommend someone who doesn't deliver, it reflects poorly on us. It affects our credibility, and that's really important these days.

So in the interest of reminding myself to be careful who I recommend, I'm going to give an example of both.

"I know three real estate agents who work in the area of Anytown. I haven't worked with any of them, below is their contact info so you can reach out and interview them to find someone who is a good fit.

Suzie Q (insert contact info)

Joe Blow (insert contact info)

John Q (insert contact info)"

I hope it's quite evident that I consider the above a referral.

"Below is the contact information for Irving Inspector. I have worked with him several times and he has always done a good job for me, Please feel free to connect with him to see if he can help you. (Insert contact info)"

The above is my idea of a recommendation. If Irving doesn't respond to a request, or does a poor job, I would hope that the person to whom I gave the information would let me know. Or the reverse, if they did a great job. Nice to know that you have helped both parties.

Now, what about when you have been asked for referrals for someone who provides a service, and you have worked with the person but weren't happy?

Do you give out the contact information with the caveat that you were not happy with the service?
Do you say you don't know anyone?
Do you give out the contact information but make no reference to whether you were pleased or not?
Do you say "Yes, I do know someone, but I can't recommend them."
Do you simply refer someone else if you do know more than one person providing that same service?
Do you warn people away?

I guess it brings up the need to be very careful. I remember a few years ago I incorrectly told people that person A had done something that I perceived to be unethical. I later found out that I was wrong, that in fact person A had done nothing wrong, and that I was the one who didn't understand. I then tried to the correct the erroneous information, but who knows how much damage I had done.

So recommendations - or the opposite - can cut both ways. Which one of the options above do you subscribe to, and how would you handle the situation?

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(26)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Chris Olsen

Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH

Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Ann -- I am very selective and careful about making recommendations, let alone referrals. If an allied service provider screws up, they are instantly off the list. If there is no one to recommend, Angie's List can be another source.

Mar 10, 2011 03:29 PM

John Michailidis

Real Property Management of Sarasota & Manatee - Sarasota, FL

Real Property Management of Sarasota & M

You are right . . . Excellent blog post! Thank you for sharing it with us!

Mar 10, 2011 04:16 PM

Nancy Williams

Coldwell Banker Homestead Group Select Professionals - Harrisburg, PA

This is definitely an area to tip-toe around carefully. I've had folks in the trades that did, say three great jobs in a row suddenly turn into the floor-finisher from you know where. I like how you said, "Fell free to connect with them", kind of making the intro but letting the other person know to carry on from there.

Mar 10, 2011 05:35 PM

Irene Kennedy Realtor® in Northwestern NJ

Weichert - Lopatcong, NJ

Ann,

I make clear the difference when I pass along names. If unhappy with someone, that name comes off my list although I never mention the elimination.

Mar 10, 2011 11:47 PM

Ann Bellamy

Hard money lending for investors in NH and MA - Tyngsboro, MA

Lending to real estate investors since 2006

thanks, everyone, for the comments. Larry, I appreciate the suggest, this was my first feature!! Many thanks.

Mar 11, 2011 12:28 AM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Ann, good explanation of the distinct differences between a referral and a recommendation. A recommendation can weigh heavily on a persons credibility. However, a good recommendation can bring many future rewards. Good discussion!

Mar 11, 2011 01:24 AM

Barb Szabo, CRS

RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH

E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

If there is someone I know that I wold not recommend I just don't. No need to even bring up the name.

Mar 11, 2011 02:23 AM

Tammie White, Broker

Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN

Franklin TN Homes for Sale

I had a situation with a friend at church. She hired a contractor to do some work for her and he did a terrible job. Later I was asked for a referral and they specifically mentioned this contractor. Rather than say don't use him, I said, I said, "I know Suzy Jones used this contractor, call her for a recommendation". I was able to avoid saying something bad and she got a first-hand account rather than hearsay.

Mar 11, 2011 03:16 AM

Marco A. Greco

CRONE REALTY LTD., Brokerage - Hamilton, ON

Good post. The one that I would never recommend is a mover, as there are always some problems, and then the client blames you for recommending them to the mover.

Mar 11, 2011 04:39 AM

Connie Harvey

Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN

Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Ann, First let me congratulate you on your feature! Very well done. Now, to answer your question. If I have had a bad experience with someone I will candidly say so. I will also admit if I've heard good things about them from others. Thus the person is free to do what ever they want. I do not openly refer anyone that has done a bad job for me or any of my clients.

Mar 11, 2011 05:09 AM

Tom Waite

Thomas Waite Real Estate Broker - Cypress, CA

So Cal-Apartment Bldg Investments

Ann:

Great blog and wonderful insight for agents to consider.

Keep up the good work and

keep tackeling the tough issues.

Tom

Mar 11, 2011 05:53 AM

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400

The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY

Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Ann, We only recommend or refer when we are asked. Those that we have done business with in the past and have received positive feedback about are the ones we would suggest.

Mar 11, 2011 10:36 PM

Elliott S. Topkins

Topkins & Bevans-etopkins@topbev.com - Boston, MA

Massachusetts Real Estate and Title Atty

Ann--This is an excellent post and you deserve the Featured rating. I guess everything really turns on terminology. I am in a BNI Group and we give "referrals". In our parlance, a referral is much different than a "lead". A referral, at least in my thinking, is a recommendation. I would never "refer" someone in whom I did not have trust. I have referred business to you, because you come across as honest, bright and knowledgeable. That is what I am always looking for, and those are the only people I refer to others.

Mar 12, 2011 08:08 AM

Tim Peterson

Wisconsin Realtor Safety and Concealed Carry Classes - Madison, WI

Realtor Safety Training Classes

Hi Ann-great post but I think sometimes consumers see them as the same thing-thanks

Mar 12, 2011 09:12 PM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Ann, congratulations on your FEATURE! Good job!!! I agree with you 100% about referrals. I am very careful when I make referrals. After this feature, I know you will have a great day!

Mar 13, 2011 12:30 AM

Laura Giannotta

Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Your Realtor Down the Shore!

Ann, a well deserved feature. I'm very careful when I recommend someone. After I recommend, I usually call the person so I get the two sides...the recommended and those that took the advice.

Mar 14, 2011 12:35 AM

Monica Carosi

New York, NY

Great post and very good distinction. I like to recommend professionals, but first i make sure that they will treat my client with the same curtesy and attention I treat them. Once I have recommended someone, I always check how he/she did with my client. Client satisfaction is the greatest guarantee for our success.

Great post, thanks Ann

Mar 29, 2011 01:18 PM

Michael McInnes

Keller Williams Check Realty - Prescott, AZ

MBA, Realtor | Prescott Arizona Homes for Sale

Just ran across your post and thank you for that. I recently referred a client to an agent that did a poor job and the client came back to me very upset. Looked like the referred agent failed to put my clients property on their respective MLS for over two weeks. The lesson learned for me was not to take the referral opportunity lightly. It would have behooved me to do a bit more research on the individual agent as well as suggested other agents to be interviewed for my clients business.

Jun 27, 2011 05:57 PM

Roberta (Bobye) Chasey

Chasey Realty Inc. - Holmes Beach, FL

GRI,ePRO,SRES,SFR

This is really helpful. It can be a tricky thing, referrals. Thanks for the post.

Jul 13, 2011 07:52 AM

Rachel Meissner

Keller Williams - Austin, TX

I definitely think that buyers and sellers aren't fully aware of the distinction. And for agents, it's sometimes difficult to tell which is which. By recommending someone, it's sometimes a referral (and vice versa).

Aug 26, 2011 06:45 AM