How to Ask (Not Beg) For Real Estate Referrals
In a world of all the fancy marketing methods, the most successful real estate agents leverage their networks and utilize referrals.
In fact, getting a real estate referral is considered part of closing the sale.
Asking for referrals can feel awkward or even desperate. Follow these tips to effectively use your connections without begging or pestering.
Closing Table
When a client is sitting at the closing table signing a full-price offer to sell their home, it is probably one of the happiest moments of their lives.
Take the initiative and ask them for a referral to their friends and family. The client will already be in a great mood, and their contacts will be excited to hear they got a good offer for their house.
Make Your Clients Market for You
Win-win situations are always ideal. One of the ways to do this is by turning previous clients into walking billboards.
The best way to make clients market for you is by sending them branded gifts. After you've assisted them with buying or selling a home, bring a t-shirt with your company's name or a nice water bottle.
A lot of people won't want to wear or sport gifts that have a real estate agent's name, number, or face on it. Think of something clever or trendy that will stand out or make someone ask questions.
If your marketing gifts are effective, they should be asking you if they can send a referral your way.
Establish Yourself as an Industry Expert
There's a good chance clients are following their real estate agent on social media.
Just because they have finished a transaction with a real estate agent, doesn't mean they are out of the market for relevant information.
Homeowners are always learning (sometimes the hard way) and wanting information about maintenance, policies, and local news that could affect their house.
By sharing relevant information pertaining to homeownership, a former client will see their real estate agent as an expert.
A good social media post encourages engagement that can lead to a conversation opening the door to ask for a real estate referral.
Personal Follow up Leads to Real Estate Referrals
Don't let the relationship with a client pass after a deal is completed. Follow up with them and get updates on their new home over coffee or lunch.
Connecting with a client after a purchase provides an automatic conversation starter and an easy natural transition into asking for referrals.
Meetings in person are more successful than texts or emails.
Discounts
Everyone loves full-price service at a discount. Offer a discount on your commission for future real estate deals if they provide referrals.
Offer the discount to the referrals, too. Watch your network and connections expand with these offers.
Master of Referrals
These tips provide a smooth way for any agent to ask for a real estate referral without feeling desperate or uncomfortable.
If you want to learn more about how to market your brand and generate leads, contact us today.
Your fellow agents will be asking for your secrets in no time. Go ahead and trade them for referrals.
