So, Dude, Don't Accept My Referral!

Good morning Michael. Regardless of the recommendation it pays to "Vette" the agent. Sometimes the answer is "next"! I have done it several times over the years when active. Enjoy your day and search for someone who cares.

Hello Michael - finding the right-for-you match can be difficult.  For buyers looking for the ideal property.  And/or the right real estate agent to assist them in that search.   When connections are made, it can seem like magic but in reality (and realty) it often takes time. . .   Good luck to you and your clients.   

Michael Elliott it must be nice for this Agent to have so much business that he can be picky about what referrals to accept.

Michael, I always consider an agent to agent referral a double obligation.  I owe any client everything I can do for them, and understanding that another agent's reputation also rides on the referral they gave me.  Critical to get it right for both our sakes.

That is pretty crazy. I have agents who have said no because it is not an area they are comfortable with (I love that), but no one has every put me through the paces like that...weird. 

It amazes me how some agents can be when looking for a GOOD referral partner. Thanks for sharing, make it a great Saturday and enjoy your weekend!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Wow Michael, what is wrong with that agent.  We should all show respect for other Realtors and If they are now wanting a referral they should just say no.

I have referred several clients and never had an agent act like that. I have had agents refer em to someone else because that is their niche, and it can be a specialized market, for example trailer homes near the beach. Not sure how far north you are looking but I referred a client of mine to someone in my brokerage and he seems to have done a good job selling their home. I will send you his details.

Good morning Michael,

So good to call the agent and vet them! It's so important because you want the right fit for your client. Surprised at this agents response but NEXT is the perfect word that summarizes your conversation!

Thank you, Michael, for sharing your experience with the referral process—it highlights the importance of professionalism in our industry! I appreciate your dedication to finding a quality agent for your client and setting a high standard for the service we provide.

Michael Elliott  I so appreciate your post,  like you I do not just accept a referral from another agent, I reach out to them directly, watch the response time to respond to my call, voice mail, email etc.   and if they do not meet my standards I move on to the next one. I have been blessed on this platform received quiet a few referrals and they turned out well and when I gave out referrals same positive result occurred, Endre

Sounds like that agent is picky about things and wants something specific handed to him/her on a plate, haha.

Good morning, Michael... when I want to send a referral to an agent I don't know, I do put them through their paces, however, nicely. And I expect to be put through mine if someone wants to send me a referral. The only times I turn down a referral is if it's outside my geographic area and/or the referral's criteria are totally unrealistic for the market.

When I receive a referral from another agent- I feel an obligation to both that client as well as to the broker that provided the referral. Unlike Streeteasy Building Expert leads- this is likely to be a genuine referral client. I want to ensure I am being respectful to all involved. 

I once received a referral from an agent down in the Carolina's, a referral I probably should have respectfully declined. They were looking to sell their townhouse, a few blocks from me- but the townhouse was an SRO (Single Room Occupancy) which is sort of equivalent to a boarding house. The overwhelming majority of banks won't finance these types of properties- as they carry tremendous risks related to rent stabilization not to mention the owner was pushing for a price that didn't reflect the SRO status. The issue was the owners were still using the house as an Air BnB- which was far riskier than the owner wanted to acknowledge (due to the rent stabilization laws). So not only was the owners behavior risky, but most of the time the house wasn't accessible for showings. I ultimately declined to move forward and they went through a couple of brokers- finally selling 4 years later at a price that reflected the SRO status-not at all what they wanted.   They were very nice people, but weren't realistic. I learned a lot insofar about how I want to handle agent referrals going forward in my business. There is a respectful way of approaching the situation, while also properly vetting the potential client. 

Michael Elliott - I have received many referrals and I can't complain about any of them. Unfortunately, with the new way we have to do business, I'm a little skeptical about having to pay referral fees these days. It's something I'll have to decide when the time comes. 

Yes! Find someone else to service your referral. An agent who drives away business is not a good referral partner.