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Did you ever Talk to the Client you Referred to Me?

By
Real Estate Agent with Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 REB.0759001

Did you ever Talk to the Client you Referred to Me?

Referrals are a recognition of good marketing and sound business practices, whether from former clients or from our online presence. I have been fortunate that I have gotten several referrals recently and almost all have been well qualified. There have been a couple lately that have me wondering if the referring agent had ever talked to their client.

Did you ever Talk to the Client you Referred to Me?

A referral is sent when an agent has someone that has a need outside the immediate sphere of an agent. Presumably that person is selling due to relocation and the agent offers to find a qualified agent in the new area that will take care of the needs. This is preferred over having a relocating client have to scramble to find someone to help them. If the referring agent does their work properly, the new agent will have the contact information as well as the need essentials of the client so that the search can be started well in advance of making the move.

With some of the referral contacts I have received, it’s as if I were doing blind marketing to solicit business. The prospect did not recognize my name and was not expecting a call. The agent that sent the led was all too happy to ask for their referral fee, but that seems to be the extent of their research.

The transition from one agent to another should be seamless and communication done well in advance so that the client recognizes that people are trying to help them. This makes them less apprehensive about the new agent and less negative with the move.

If you get a referral from me, that is the extent of the work that I will do in advance. Find the time to do the same for the ones you send out.

 Did you ever Talk to the Client you Referred to Me?

 

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Edward (Ed) Silva
Broker Associate

Serving Central Connecticut Sellers and Buyers

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Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Good morning Ed,

I do agree, it should be seamless and professional.

Nov 30, 2013 03:32 AM
Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
Ed, I agree: some referrals are not ready, willing & able to buy or sell yet.
Nov 30, 2013 04:28 AM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

I just went through this... spent several hours reaching out to people that had no interest in hearing from me- and the referring agent had never spoken to them- EVER!  It was a waist of time and i was going to pay a  full referral commission...  Where should this line be drawn?

Nov 30, 2013 04:41 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I have a referral out to a seller in another state.  So far, I've been very helpful.  I take referrals with a grain of salt.  I don't want to take on anyone just because so-and-so referred them.  

Nov 30, 2013 05:07 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

There is a real difference between a "referral" and a "lead."  A lead is just a name and a number.  A referral is where there has been conversation with the potential client, about their needs and a little prequalification, before passing it on as a true referral. 

Nov 30, 2013 06:25 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I always feel good about a CRS referral for instance, and I have gotten excellent referrals over my career. There are always a few that are from agents who troll the internet like one I got out of Colorado, but by the time I received that one it was two days after a legitimate referral had come in from this same client. I will call all of them back and take it from there.

Nov 30, 2013 06:46 AM
Rosie Crow
Serving Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City - Sugar Land, TX
Exceeding Expectations. Delivering Results
I ask pre-qualifying questions to get a feel for the buyers before I refer them to the agent. The person referring needs to at least do their homework in advance.
Nov 30, 2013 06:49 AM
Catherine Ulrey
Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR
Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Gosh, I sure hope they talk to the lead before sending out the referral!  How unprofessional.

Nov 30, 2013 10:32 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

A very good point was made above about the difference between a lead and a referral.

Nov 30, 2013 11:28 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Ed, some referrals are just a coincidence - you know someone who wants to buy somewhere - you find the agent in that area - and just refer out! Happens so much in this age of Internet marketing.

I sure want to refer out someone WHO I KNOW to WHOM I TRUST!

Nov 30, 2013 12:47 PM
Deepak Chauhan Asso-Broker, MLO
Versailles Property - Irvine, CA
Your Solution-Oriented Realtor

I agree with Praful, two conditions ... knowing and trusting at the same time.

Nov 30, 2013 01:00 PM
Aaron Hofmann
Atlanta Communities - Smyrna, GA
aka Mr. Smyrna Vinings

Definitely need some ground work laid there and it's to the benefit of the referring agent as well. If you don't make it a warm lead, it will reduce the chances the buyer/seller works with the agent that you referred and thus reducing the chances that you receive a referral.

Nov 30, 2013 06:47 PM
Donald Reich
Madison Specs - New Rochelle, NY
Cost Segregation Specialist

If you don't have a good relationship with the source of the referral, then you really cannot assume anything about this customer. Get to know the customer, pre-approve the customer, feel him out, the way you would any othew new customer.

Nov 30, 2013 07:12 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I couldn't agree more that the transition should be seamless and done well in advance.  That makes the client feel well taken care of, which is what we want !

Nov 30, 2013 09:51 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Ed, a lot of referrals don't work out because they are not qualified referrals. Just getting a name is often just a name.

Nov 30, 2013 10:26 PM
Jeff Fritzson: Frisco Real Estate Pro
Jeff Fritzson Real Estate, Ebby Halliday Realtors - Frisco, TX
Your Success is My Focus!

Hi Ed - it is not just about sending a referral but providing a service to your client or customer. Forwarding a qualified referral versus a prospect are two completely different things as mentioned many times above. I will gladly pay a referral fee for a qualified referral. Providing me a warm lead or a prospect is worth a Starbucks thank you card and if it works out perhaps something additional but not 25% of my commission.

Dec 01, 2013 01:00 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

That is the wrong way to send a referral for sure.  How disappointing for you on the other end.  You are right, they are more than happy to extend their hand out for the referral fee!

Dec 01, 2013 11:33 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Ed ... Congrates on the AR feature and FEATURED at:

Dec 02, 2013 09:31 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Interesting point... I go out of my way to make sure anyone I refer to another agent knows who I'm referring them to and why.

Dec 02, 2013 08:24 PM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Ed- Every referral you and I have done has been pretty well sussed out ahead of time - very smooth, thank you!

Dec 06, 2013 12:33 PM