For our new home, we've personally selected (and purchased) many of the touches for our home: tile, cabinets, windows, doors, even the metal shell of the home! And countertops are of course a key part of the home, and finding the right materials were a challenge, but what helped that process was partnering with a great local stone fabricator shop.
And how did we find that fabricator 400 miles away from where we currently live? My engineering coworker used to live near our new home, and she knew a guy :) A little online research confirmed for us her experience with him, and we hired him. It's been a much longer process than any of us expected, but he's been patient and kept our stone slabs (which he drove from Maryland to Columbus Ohio to pick up) safely stored, and has always been quick to respond when we've needed his expertise.
A past client loved his work, made the recommendation/referral, and even better for him, no advertising dollars spent to gain us as clients. Sounds like something we want as real estate agents, loan officers, home inspectors, etc. Do the job well for our clients and they can be the best advertising in the world!
Once upon a time in our pre-ActiveRain days our agent to agent referral process was mainly via the RE/MAX referral network. There would be some hints in the directory as to what the agent was like, their sales, designations, etc, but there was a lot of trust being placed in the brand prior to making any interview calls. And generally, it worked out pretty well.
Fast forward and ActiveRain became a big part of our real estate life, and in turn, the primary source for every real estate referral we place.
Why?
Because this community provides insight far beyond what any directory or designation can provide.
Interact with people long enough and sooner or later if their online persona is a facade, the facade will crack and you'll show us the "real" you.
If politics means more than professionalism, you'll show us.
If drama is your routine way of life, you'll show us.
If points mean more than building relationships, you'll show us.
If doing shady stuff is okay with you, you'll show us.
If you're always the victim, you'll show us.
And the other side of the same coin,
If you're able to deal with challenging circumstances and keep your cool, you'll show us.
If you know your profession inside and out, you'll show us.
If you've got passion for what you do, you'll show us.
If people mean more than points, you'll show us.
If doing the right thing means more than another commission check, you'll show us.
And all of this "showing us" over the years and years we've been here gives us great confidence in placing referrals. Is it a foolproof system? Nope, it's not 100%, but it's close to it.
But once someone shows us they're NOT who we thought they were and the trust is broken, word gets around, and facts aren't forgotten. There are always alternatives for our referrals.
A referral is one of the most valuable things you can give me because I know the reputations of BOTH you and me ride on how well I take care of your friends, family and clients. And if I have a good reason to know I'm not the best fit for your referral, I'll let you know and help you find another agent locally that will be a great fit for your referral.
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,
Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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