How to Connect with Referral Partners

Referral ScriptAs a real estate agent, your vendor network is a coveted source of referrals. Property managers, financial advisers, contractors and other home trade professionals are all great partners. Not only do these professionals have contact with potential clients at key stages of the decision cycle to buy or sell, but they can also send you more quality referrals because they understand the difference between a qualified & unqualified lead.

While you likely have some contacts already, its important to formalize the relationship and always establish new connections. If you aren’t sure about how to approach potential referral partners – here’s a simple script to get started:

“My name’s _________ and I’m from __________ (Your Office). I’m calling because I’m putting together a list of businesses and to help my clients with their ___________(home/new area/finances). Clients always ask me for recommendations – so I’m providing them with my list and promoting these businesses through my marketing. I heard great things about you from _________ and was wondering if I can include your business in my list of recommendations?”

If Yes…

“Great! These referral relationships are so important for helping our businesses grow. And I want to ask that if in exchange for me promoting your business & referring my clients to you – if you’d refer people you know that are considering buying or selling to me?”

You can adapt this script to elaborate more on the relationship you’d like to build, but whenever you approach potential referral partners make sure to highlight:

  1. That you’re looking to build long-term relationships
  2. Your high level of service, and that you’re wanting to connect with businesses that have these same standards
  3. The benefits of the relationship for both parties

While this script is simple – its a powerful tool for connecting with professionals that can grow your client list. Who are your most valued referral partners?

How I’m Strengthening My Vendor Network & Driving New Revenue

Jason WaltersAs a real estate agent, Jason Walters knows his role goes beyond getting the deal signed: He provides clients with expert advice and guides them through every stage of the buying or selling process.

Part of that expert advice is connecting clients with the trusted vendors they need – like landscapers, financial advisers & contractors.

That’s why he shares his list of recommendations via his branded smartphone app, ClientLinkt Connector. His clients can download the app from their app store, see Jason’s profile, and have his list of recommendations always at their fingertips.

For Jason – it’s a perfect way to add client value, stay top of mind, and strengthen referral relationships with his vendor network. Vendors like moving companies, landscapers & home stagers know that referrals from real estate agents are key for their business and love that they’ve earned a spot on Jason’s list.

But the benefits aren’t just strengthened referral relationships.

Many of Jason’s vendors have selected to advertise in his app. By choosing to advertise – they get extra exposure to Jason’s clients & prospects who are looking for businesses just like them and Jason is able to generate new revenue.

Within just months, he’s already paid for the cost of his app and created a steady stream of residual income. Jason doesn’t have to worry about collecting advertising payments or setting up the ads because the process is fully automated. He simply logs into the ClientLinkt web manager, selects which vendors he’d like to invite to advertise, specifies the ad rate, and hits send.

His vendors can sign up to advertise, and Jason can withdraw advertising revenue from his account anytime. In under 30 minutes, and with just a few clicks – he’s able to generate new revenue from the vendors he’s already promoting to his clients.

“My ClientLinkt app has been a huge success. Clients love that my vendor list is always at their fingertips, and I’m generating income from my advertisers every month – without increasing my workload.”

You can get started with ClientLinkt here, or contact sales@clientlinkt.com with any questions!


*Real estate agents should consult with their real estate association to ensure compliance with regulations in their area regarding referrals & joint advertising.

Building Referrals from Your Professional Network

Building Your Referral NetworkDo you have a vendor network? A list of business professionals that you refer clients to and that send referrals your way?

For most top producing agents, their professional network of trusted service providers is the most lucrative referral source. So, if you aren’t actively growing & strengthening your professional network – here’s how to do it.

Why Does it Matter?

Business owners understand the importance of referrals. They know referrals are the backbone of any successful business,  and they’re willing AND wanting to find referral partners. Better still, they understand the difference between a qualified and unqualified lead – and will send you  more profitable, easy-to-close referrals than referrals from past clients.

How to Get Started

To get referrals from professional service providers, start by making a list of industries. Don’t limit yourself to ones you already have contacts in – think outside of who you already know and do business with.  And don’t just stick to industries that are directly involved in the real estate transaction. Plumbers, contractors, florists, car dealers, even local restaurants can all be great partners. Remember – the point is to expand your network to find potential clients that you otherwise wouldn’t meet.

Find Partners

Now, in each industry – list a potential business owner/contact that could be your referral partner. Don’t know anyone in the industry? Ask clients who they currently use and trust, ask over social media, or do a quick search on Yelp for a highly rated business in the category.

Make Contact

Call up these potential partners and introduce yourself (if you don’t already know them). Explain that as a real estate agent, you’re often asked by clients for referrals for great businesses and that your building out your list of recommendations. Ask if you can meet to discuss potential opportunities and learn more about their business.

Build Rapport, Build Relationships

Remember, real estate is about relationship. Build rapport with these service providers & business owners – learn about what they do, their business history, who they work with. By understanding their business, you can send better referrals their way and they’ll send better referrals to you. If you want to build a lasting relationship where they’re actively referring their clients t0 you – it isn’t just about exchanging a business card.

Track

Just like all of your leads, you should track your referrals. Keep a tally of the referrals you receive, who sent them, time to close, and the purchase price. This way you can evaluate who your best referral sources are, and how you can better foster these relationships.

Don’t Let it Slide

Building and fostering relationships with trusted service providers & local businesses is not a one time thing. Follow up with your contacts on the referrals you’ve exchanged, invite them to your client appreciation events, send a holiday card, go for lunch. Looking to find new referral partners?? Call up the landscaper your last client was raving about or the new florist that opened down the street.

Have you built out your network of service providers? Who are your most trusted referral partners? 

Building Your Real Estate Team

real estate network

In real estate, no man is an island. Whether we like it or not, as real estate agents we rely on various service providers to help us get to the closing table and ensure our clients are happy with the home buying or selling process. Therefore, establishing a strong professional network of lawyers, lenders, contractors, and other home service professionals can increase your productivity and help you become the agent of choice. Here’s how your professional network can catapult your career.  

Securing Listings

Securing real estate listings is stressful for any agent, especially those working in highly competitive markets. In listing presentations, highlight your vendor network – including home stagers, landscapers, painters and other home service professionals that can get a home ready to market. This establishes your credibility and the benefits of choosing you as their listing agent.  

Preparing Buyers

Home buyers – especially first-time buyers – likely don’t have a mortgage broker, real estate lawyer, appraiser or moving company. Connect home buyers with these professionals to help them with every step of the process and ensure their dream of home ownership becomes a reality. Plus, this way you won’t get stalled when clients are ready to submit an offer.  

Getting Homes Ready to List

If you want to reduce your closing time (and who doesn’t???), getting homes ready to list quickly is key. Great relationships with painters, landscapers and other home service providers will get your listings ready to sell. Better yet, home service professionals love working with real estate agents because it’s a great lead source.  

Homeowner Satisfaction

As a real estate agent, your job doesn’t end when the purchase agreement has been signed. Homeowner satisfaction is key for securing repeat clients and referrals. Share your vendor network with past clients so they can access trusted home service providers that you’ve vetted. Better yet, let your past clients know of deals and specials that these painters, landscapers or home decorators are offering. This provides new value after you close and increases home value for past clients.

 

At the end of the day, a strong network should be based on business relationships that benefit all parties. How do you build your real estate team?


To share your vendor network with current & past clients via your own branded mobile app, visit www.clientlinkt.com 

Driving Referrals from Past Clients

Real estate agents are constantly looking for better marketing strategies to drive leads. They’ll experiment with everything from Zillow, Craig’s List, FSBO, social media, AdWords, mail outs – the list goes on. But any real estate agent knows that their best lead source is their current client base. For agents to in business 16+ years, 40% of their business comes from repeat clients and another 21% comes from referrals.

 

But driving referrals and repeat business means staying top of mind with past clients.

 

So how do you stay connected?? Most successful agents have realized the importance of creating multiple touch points. Whether the strategy is formal or not, this can include:

  • a closing gift
  • home anniversary cards
  • email newsletters
  • invites to community events
  • holiday cards

The reasoning behind these touch points is that the more contact between an agent and past clients, the more likely past clients are to become repeat clients and send referrals the agent’s way.

 

While staying connected is the first step, real estate agents need to go beyond simple communication. Think about it – how many emails do you receive from businesses, community groups & politicians vying for your attention??? Marketers send over 838 million emails every year – meaning it’s only getting more difficult to get your messages heard.

 

Therefore, you need more than just regular contact – you need to stay relevant and provide real value after the sale.  Don’t think of your relationship with clients as simply buying and selling property – as a real estate agent you have a vast knowledge base on everything real estate related including market trends, decorating, landscaping, mortgages, community events and home maintenance. This is where you can provide real value to clients long after the sale to drive referrals and repeat business.

 

ClientLinktWhen you send past client newsletters or check-in, share your knowledge. Provide home maintenance tips, advice on landscaping or secrets to getting great curb appeal.

 

Better still, do you have a list of quality service providers and local businesses? Share your contact book with past clients so they can access trusted home professionals anytime. With ClientLinkt by QuickLint, you can share your list of vendors and local businesses with past clients via your own branded mobile app. Clients can access your list of preferred providers anytime – meaning you’re constantly offering real value long after the sale. Better still, you’re able to build your brand by having a constant presence on past clients’ Smartphone.

 

 

If you’d like to learn more about ClientLinkt visit www.clientlinkt.com or contact sales@quicklinkt.com

 

Strengthening Your Professional Network

Any successful real estate agent knows that their job goes beyond processing a transaction – it’s guiding clients through the entire buying & selling cycle. A real estate agent must answer complicated legal questions, give advice on schools, ensure clients get pre-approved, arrange home appraisals, bring in contractors and even make move in day stress free. This long list of responsibilities impacts a client’s experience, and ultimately an agent’s success rate.

 

The truth is that buying or selling a home is a team effort. Real estate agents have an intricate web of business connections that they work with – like lawyers, mortgage brokers, appraisers and moving companies.  Ultimately, the value of these service providers impacts client satisfaction and gets agents to the closing table. The real estate agent is the connection between each service provider and the client – they’re the center of the relationship and the driving force that ensures buyers and sellers are successful.

 

For real estate agents, this means that strengthening your professional referral network is critical for becoming a top producer.

 

Now, imagine you’re a buyers agent. You’ve just met Jenny & Jon – a recently married couple looking to buy their first home.

 

First things first – they haven’t been pre-approved for a mortgage. You refer them to Ben – your trusted mortgage broker that specializes in working with first-time buyers. Before you can even start to help Jenny & Jon find a home, your referral to Ben ensures your clients can afford a home and that you’re looking in the right price range.

 

Ben gets back to you – they’ve been pre-approved. Great! The first house you show them is a modern 4 bedroom. It mainly fits their wish list, but Jon & Jenny don’t love the location. Next, you tour a house that’s in their desired area but needs significant work. To get a better idea of the reno costs, you recommend touring the house with your trusted contractor.  After he discusses the work that’s needed, Jenny & Jon decide it’s too much.

 

You then find a home that you think might be just right for Jenny & Jon – it has good commuter routes and only needs a few small repairs. Jenny & Jon love it. Time to make an offer! You refer Jenny & Jon to your home inspector and put them in touch with a real estate lawyer. The house passes the inspection and Jenny & Jon’s offer is accepted! With the stress of buying a home, they really appreciate you guiding them every step of the way. Turns out, they hire the contractor that you introduced them to to renovate the basement on their new home.

 

 

As the story of Jenny & Jon shows, a strong professional network enhances any client’s experience and supports your job as a real estate agent. It’s these relationships that get you to the closing table, ensure every aspect of the real estate transaction is taken care of and leads to more referrals. How do you manage referrals with your vendor network??