Everyone knows someone who loves a...Realtor

Hi Holly,

I see you're in Reston!  My company's office is in Reston although I work in Arlington/Alexandria mostly.  Glad I caught your post ;-)

Justin

I like that commercial too! And it's true, you can apply that to people knowing real estate agents. How clever.

What a great post. It is easy to get self absorbed in our own world and it can be refreshing to see the big picture and world may be bigger than you. Bravo.

Holly, The first friend that goes with another agent stings the most.

 My clients and friends are much more upset when someone they know does not use me.

Always having enough business in your pipeline is the answer. No one "gives' you a buyer or a listing. It must be earned.

And to quote a terrific agent in Reston,Virginia:

"I believe buying or selling real estate should be a GREAT EXPERIENCE!"

  Will you be at ReBar?

I always praise and encourage faithfulness like this! What a great post!

When friends/relations choose another agent, there can be so many reasons...I never take it personally. I'm grateful when hired, and sometimes, I'm grateful NOT to be hired.

I hope all my clients enjoyed their experience as much as possible. I get a ton of referral business, so I think that they are!

Loyalty is key in our business.

Good point.  It is funny that many who get into the business expect instant loyalty from all friends and family when their friends and family might have had a long standing relationship with a REALTOR.

Great post, thanks... Maintain relationships and you maintain referrals:)

Excellent post.  Loyal clients are important.  Referral business is great and is easier than finding clients on my own.

Great post!!! Its going to stick in my head for rest of the year specially with all the family holiday events coming up.

You are right, everyone knows a realtor and many feel "pressured" to work with a friend or family member but this is not always the best idea. I often receive business from folks who want to use a third party instead because of the myriad of situations that can pop up during any transaction. Nice post and i like your attitude about loyalty, I feel the same way!

Holly:  I, too trust that Sellers/Buyers return to me when a Realtor is needed.  The first thing I try to do is put my shoes in theirs; I become their sister, their best friend, their daughter, their business partner, whatever is needed to build up that trust factor...I work for them...and show it.  Thanks for the thought-provoking post.  debra 

I too have devoloped a thick skin.  I don't take it personally if a friend chooses to do business elsewhere.  Perhaps they don't want me to know their personal financial information and as a friend, I respect their choice.  Some of the time I do get business or referrals from friends so it's 50/50. 

On one occasion a friend of mine was in the process of buying his first house and the loan officer really screwed up. The buyer (my friend) was not going to have enough cash to close.  He was about $1000 short.  (Long story) He was coming to the end of the purchase contract and had no time left to spare.

Sometimes a friend goes elsewhere for business and calls you when they are in trouble.

I was able to get him into a new loan product and get it funded in less than a week.  I credited him a portion of my commission in escrow  to cover some of the closing costs so he could get his house.  It's not like I would do that very often but this friend also worked on computers for a living and had fixed mine several times at no charge to me.  He'd only let me give him a beer for his work.  As a friend, I was happy to give back. I told him I wouldn't feel bad about him working on my computer when I needed it in the future.

Did he send me referrals and come back to me years later?  You bet he did!

I once worked for someone who's logo was "all of my clients are friends and all of my friends are my clients."  He would then look at you straight in the eyes and say "Martin - why don't you go out and make a new friend?"

It's tough to swallow sometimes, but it does happen and, as you said, the important thing is that they don't go it alone.

That's a great attitude Holly. Our profession needs more people with that outlook.

Nice post and a very positive outlook.

I can't remember where Alan got that phrase about the cat?  Everyone seems to know a few and I hope that my clients feel they can come back to me for help or direction.  Sometimes, you can't help everyone that you know!  Good post.

Very true Holly. No matter how solid you are...some people do not like working with friends. However, I am lucky to have only experienced this once.

Holly:  I completely agree.  If a meet someone, be it a friend, someone at an open house, etc., who says they have a Realtor I encourage them to use that individual if they've done a good job for them in the past.  I would want them to be loyal to me, so why not want them to be loyal for this other individual?