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If Someone Refers a Client to You - Keep Them in the Loop

By
Real Estate Agent with Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado CRE# 40005863

One of the greatest compliments we can ever receive is a referral.  When someone reaches out and says, I just referred so and so to you, we need to get up from our desk and do a little celebration dance!  This means future business, but better yet, it means we did a stellar job for someone and it did not go unnoticed.  I love it when this happens.  

 

When I receive referrals, I try to communicate with the referring party to let them know how things are going along the way.  If a Realtor refers someone to me and I have agreed to pay them a referral fee, I ESPECIALLY want to keep them in the loop.

 

I never want my referring partner to think I am dodging them in any way shape or form.  I want them to know once we have reached milestones and especially inform them when the transaction is scheduled to close.

 

I recently referred a client to Realtor in the Colorado Mountains.  Since the initial referral, I have not heard a peep.  I have no idea if the home has been listed, is under contract or if it has been sold.  Not GOOD!

 

I am working with a seller who was referred to me from a Realtor in Carbondale.  About once a week, I shoot her an email to let her know where we are at in the transaction.  I don't want to leave her wondering if she made the right choice in picking me!!!

 

My point is, communicate.  Don't leave someone in the dark when they have paid you the best compliment of all times.

image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Comments (40)

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Belinda, I agree, while I wouldn't normally provide weekly updates, I certainly report on major milestones like contracts, appraisals, and most of all clear to close and closing dates. 

Jun 18, 2016 05:47 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Absolutely.....upon not hearing anything from someone we knew and thought was a trusted referral source....
"they didn't call me back last time..."  'Really ?  And you were going to tell me that when ?

Jun 18, 2016 07:25 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Belinda Spillman ,

Congrats on your well deserved featured post! You are so right...communicating and keeping the referring agent in the loop is not only the professional thing to do it is the right thing to do!

Jun 18, 2016 08:52 PM
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Agreed Belinda Spillman - I always communicate at least weekly, sometime more depending on issues that arise or as much as the referring agent requires! Very important

Jun 18, 2016 09:20 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Belinda, I have referred prospects to a couple of agents who never kept me in the loop.  I had to follow them repeatedly for any updates.  Needless to say, I would never refer to them again.

Jun 18, 2016 11:48 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I love the post. I hope agents will read this and take  your advice.

Jun 19, 2016 12:17 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

So true. Instead of hearing from the agent on a recent referral, I had to check in with the client to get updates. Never did hear from the receiving agent.

Jun 19, 2016 03:34 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

On two occassions, the referrals were unrealistic, know-it-alls.  How do you tell the referring party their referrals were over-bearing, demanding.  No reflection on the referring party at all.  YIKES   

And I agree that it's a PITA for the referring agent to have to run down / track it. 

Jun 19, 2016 05:22 AM
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Well put Belinda!  The surest way to get more referals is to keep the refering agent in the loop!  Don't drown them in the nitty gritty details (unless they ask for that), just a simple status.

Jun 19, 2016 05:48 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Thanks for sharing!

 

Communicate.  Don't leave someone in the dark when they have paid you the best compliment of all times.

Jun 19, 2016 08:48 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Communication is key Belinda Spillman and referring colleagues love being kept in the loop.  I am always pleased when they comment so highly on my communication, and sad to know that others have let them down.

Jun 19, 2016 02:19 PM
Sandy Williams
eXp Realty, sandy@sandywilliams.com - Sarasota, FL

I totally agree.  I asked the referring agent how and how often they want to hear from me.  A referral is as good as gold.

Jun 19, 2016 10:59 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Just like we keep everyone else in the transaction in the loop, we should always keep our referring partner in the loop as well! 

Jun 20, 2016 01:04 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Thanks for coming by guys.  It seems so simple yet so many refuse to do it.  Baffling.

Jun 20, 2016 07:55 AM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

You are so right Belinda Spillman   I am working a New York referral and things move differently in that State... rather than the State of Florida....that agent calls it the file from hell.  Nonetheless we are scheduled to finally close Monday 60 days after the closing date on the contract.

Attorneys do not get on the phone, only paralegals.

Many suggestions on this end to get things moving in the right direction.

Mission will soon be accomplished however long it takes and that agent is a jewel... even with those disturbing days marching toward the closing table.

 

 

Jun 20, 2016 09:03 AM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

I am really big on keeping people in the loop. It is a practice that is good for the present transaction and for a future one. 

Thanks for a great post.

Jun 20, 2016 09:43 AM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

I agree with you 100%. It doesn't take much effort to keep someone updated. Wish everyone felt that way

Jun 20, 2016 09:57 AM
Jill Winchel
Royal Shell Real Estate - The Koffman Group - Cape Coral, FL
We make it easy. You make it home.

Good advice for agents getting referrals. Good communication with current referrals should ultimately lead to future referrals.

Jun 20, 2016 10:46 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Communication is so important, especially when dollars or business relationships are involved. But even if the referral is just a good deed, I know I want to know the end result. I want to know if I contributed to business being facilitated. Makes me feel good to know I helped!

Jun 20, 2016 12:01 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Solid advice, best to keep everyone in the loop, especially when they are depending on your success in the deal.

It may be time to give this agent a call and find out how it is going.

Sep 19, 2016 03:18 PM