Upstart Agent

13 Creative Sources for More Referrals

May 23, 2008 Marketing

As agents we all want more referrals, but often we feel like we’ve already maxed out every possible avenue. Here are some creative places to look for more referrals:

Sports Coaches: Many families have children in sports and these coaches are often the first to know of someone potentially moving. Find coaches in your area and get to know them very well.

Accountants: Find a few accountants to regularly network with, as they usually have many clients through tax season that may be interested in selling a home.

Appraisers: Fee appraisers often receive cold calls from people wondering the value of their property. Invite some of these appraisers out to lunch and start building business relationships with them.

Vets and Dog Groomers: When moving many people will need their dog’s medical and vaccination history. See if there are local vets who would be okay with having a stash of your business cards or brochures on hand.

Hair Salons: Beauty Parlors are famous for gossip - make sure you take advantage of this when getting your hair cut.

Home Centers and Contractors: Many people will start to make improvements to their home to get it ready to sell before they even consult a real estate agent. Having a few friends at home centers or that work in remodeling certainly can’t be a bad idea.

Become a Regular: Start eating regularly at a local restaurant and get to know the staff very well. They will automatically think of you anytime someone mentions real estate.

Country Clubs: If you can afford to belong to one, this can be a great source of meeting people - and often in the high price range of homes.

Storage Centers: People often use storage rentals when moving or getting ready to move. This could be another potential place to network and advertise with.

Foreclosure Managers: Personnel in the foreclosure department can be an excellent source of finding people who are in great need to sell their homes quickly.

Enlist Your Friends and Family: Every immediate family member and close friend should be trained to immediately give anyone thinking of selling or buying your name and offer to have you contact them.

Child Care Providers: Babysitters and Daycare providers often know many people in the community and are often aware of who may be moving.

Car Rental Agencies: It may be a good idea to make a few friends here as well, since they often deal with out of town and relocating customers.

Investors: Many real estate agents and investors wrongly think they can’t get along with each other. But if an investor buys someone’s home, they can’t help the seller find a new home. These same investors may also like updated market reports. Building relationships with investors is never a bad idea!

Have any other creative sources for referrals? Feel free to share them in the comments below.

Tags: creative sources for business, creative sources for clients, creative sources for referrals, get more clients, network better

Get More Clients Through Community Involvement

May 16, 2008 Marketing

Community Involvement is one of the easiest ways to gain listings, as well as help out your community as well. Here are some ideas on ways to gain exposure and more clients through community involvement:

1. Join your Chamber of Commerce:. Be active in these groups by attending meetings and networking socials and also following up with the people you meet to build relationships.

2. Join Business Networking Groups. These groups usually consist of members from a wide variety of fields. By attending meetings regularly and building relationships with others in the group you can significantly increase your referral business.

3. Look for groups that have similar interests: A good site to find groups with common interests is Meetup.com. You can meet people who enjoy activities such as gardening, art, music, bowling, or other hobbies you are interested in.

4. Participate in community events: Many communities have fairs, community days, and other activities where you could set up a booth or table and meet many people in your area with real estate needs or questions.

5. Sponsor a good cause: Become an active person with area fundraisers and non-profit groups. Donating and volunteering your time to a good cause will not only make you feel good, but help you meet new people as well.

6. Where your pin: Always dress professionally and wear your pin or name tag everywhere you go. People will recognize you as a real estate agent or often use it as a conversation piece. The grocery store, post office, and bank can all become good places to meet people in your community.

7. Attend Meetings: While school board or township meetings may not be the most exciting ways to spend your time, it is a good way of getting to know the people who make decisions and also be on top of the latest development projects.

By practicing just a few of these techniques and expanding your social circle, it shouldn’t be before long before the clients and referrals start pouring in.

Tags: benefits of community involvement, gain more clients, get more clients, get more clients through community involvement