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Referrals - how you treat them

Real Estate Agent with JKA Properties (Meli G Realty & Investment Group)

October 25, 2008 04:57 PM

Hello everybody! I was just curious and wanted to pick your brain on what do you do when you get a referral? How do you reward your wonderful friend, past customer, neighbor, and everybody that thought enough of you and your service to send business your way?

Do you send out thank you cards, coupons, letters, a small gift? Let me now some of your ideas. I love when people go out of their way to help and I really want to show them that their help is very much appreciated so they can keep on remembering me and sending business my way, at the same time they know that I don't take it for granted :o)

Look forward to your ideas!

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Jeannie Kontis

Lancaster, PA

Hi Meli, (what a "honey" of a name!)

I don't usually send gifts, but I make a personal call immediately, and then follow up with a personal thank-you card and then later on an email. I will usually keep them up to date once we have found a house and settle on it, thanking them one more time.

Oct 26, 2008 09:14 AM

Meli Gerogianis

JKA Properties (Meli G Realty & Investment Group) - Clarksville, TN

Broker, CRS, ABR, SFR, CDPE, Licensed in TN & KY

Hello Jeannie and thank you for stopping by my blog. Do I detect a Greek somewhere in there? For those of you reading Jeannie's comment on "what a honey of a name" - my name means "Honey" in Greek :o)

Thanks for your input! I try to get them a gift card to a restaurant, but sometimes I wonder if there are better choices.

Oct 26, 2008 02:31 PM

Laura Watts

Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

Meli-One good way is to take the out to dinner or buy a dinner gift card for them to show your appreciation.

Oct 26, 2008 05:13 PM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Meli: Giving anything of value to anyone who is NOT a licensed professional Realtor everytime they give you a referral (I just learned) is a violation of RESPA. The fines can be $10,000. I think you should stick to thank you notes.

Oct 27, 2008 02:44 AM

Hi Chris! I know that giving something of value is a violation of RESPA, but aren't there things that are not really "of value" monetarily. If I sent some flowers, a box of candy, or like Laura said - take them out to dinner, would that still be a violation? I'm not paying them for it! Just a token of appreciation! And I agree that for the majority of referrals I get, a "Thank you" card, really is all that I need! But once in a while you have a special one that makes your heart melt, and you know you have to do something special! I think flowers can be an exception!

Oct 27, 2008 03:28 AM

Patty Carroll

Vancouver, WA

In our state we are not allowed to give anything for referrals, so we call them and thank them!

Oct 27, 2008 05:47 AM

Bill Gassett

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Hi Meli - I like to send someone that sends me a referral some kind of gift. Usually it will be some kind of gift certificate.

Oct 28, 2008 12:41 AM

Ann Allen Hoover

RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL

CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

It is very common practice around here to give a little something, but Alabama Real Estate Commission recently posted a big article addressing why this is a no-no. Scared the heck out of me! Most agents still don't realize it is a violation of law, but they can get you!

Happy Halloween!

Oct 31, 2008 08:37 AM

Referrals - how you treat them

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