Mike, you know everybody. I hear that all the time, but it's really an exaggeration. I do know a lot of people, and a lot of people know me, but when you've lived as long as I have, you get local tenure.
Most of the time, those comments come from a client who lean on me 
through and after their home sale or purchase. It's not unusual to have clients stay in touch for years asking who I would recommend for this or that, and I'm happy to play that role. I'm slow to offer recommendations, but those who make the cut are a cut above the majority.
There are a number of things a recommendation must meet in order to be included on my website or in my verbal recommendations.
- They must be honest, and that means honest on every deal every time without fail. There is so much dishonesty in our world that a recommendation that is consistently honest is gift to those who use him / her.
- They must be fair in their pricing. I once had a friend who did work on my vehicles. His wife decided to take over the billing for him, and on the first repair after she took over billing my bill included a 1000% charge for materials. I immediately confronted the charges, and I immediately dropped him as my mechanic. The pricing was no longer reasonable or consistent. I also stopped recommending him, and he went out of business shortly after that.
- They must be skilled. I don't care how honest a recommendation is, or how well he prices his services, if he can't perform world class services, it isn't worth it. Sub-par services can do more damage than good. The quality of the work must be the best money can buy.
- They must be consistent. That means every job must be done well, priced well, finished on time and guaranteed free of errors or flaws. Consistent quality and performance is an absolute every time.
- They must be good at communicating throughout every step of the process. It is so important for a homeowner to know what is going on throughout every stage of a project.
No one makes it on my recommendation list that I don't know personally. If I'm willing to put my name at stake to offer a recommendation, that recommendation must be the be the best of the best. I don't really know everybody, but I know the best of the best, and that's what's important.
Comments(8)