The Buyer Said "Thank You!"...That Got Me Thinking About Referrals...

Wouldn’t you agree that the most efficient business model is working by referral and that most of our buyers haven’t the slightest idea of all the things we accomplish for them? Wouldn’t it make it simpler for buyers to refer us to other potential business if they HAD a better idea of exactly what we do for them? Yesterday, I kept the buyer informed of the way my day was spent on their behalf…and they said Thank You!

We met with their surveyor early and reviewed the new survey and flood elevation certificate. Then I saw their attorney to give him the Mylar and two copies to record the survey at the same time as the deed.

Rules have changed since the last vacant land deal we had and the attorney informed me that all surveys need County approval before recordation. He thought the charge would be anywhere from $125 to $350. Oh great, the buyers weren’t anticipating this charge. The attorney offered to take it to the courthouse when they had a chance to just see IF there would be any problem getting it approved. I took it to the courthouse since time is running short on the Buyer’s Due Diligence. The Planning Inspector explained that approval fees occur if someone is subdividing from an original tract. Thank goodness - no charge. Got his stamp of approval and returned to the attorney.

Afterwards I made arrangements for a septic evaluation for the property. We needed authorization from the seller to do that, so I got his contact information from the listing agent and got in touch with the seller. We met with him at the office, got the necessary signatures, ran a copy of the survey and application to the Health Department and now we’ll meet the county on site Thursday.

Our buyers are in Ohio. It’s a tremendous amount of running around even if you’re here. Being out of state and coordinating all these things would be extremely frustrating.

The job of REALTORS isn’t simply unlocking doors and handing out listing sheets. We’re here to do whatever needs to be done to facilitate the contracts and all the minutiae inherent with each deal. I know all of our buyers have appreciated that they made it successfully to the closing table but maybe we do them and ourselves a disservice to not let them know everything we are handling for them. How else are we able to establish a value for our service and to secure the ultimate treasure…more referrals?

Most of our business is through referral from clients who recognize the caliber and quantity of work we perform for them but perhaps we aren’t seeking the business in as intentional of a manner as I thought we were. What an eye opener it was for this buyer to email late in the day yesterday after hearing all we’d been through for them and begin the email with those precious words..."Thank You ! !”