Professional Networks

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

Like any real estate agent, you’re constantly searching for new leads and better prospecting methods to grow your business. For most agents, driving referrals from past clients is a key strategy – since 42% of home buyers find their agent through a referral from a friend or family member. But what if you could tap into a new referral source that sends you high quality leads?

Any agent would quickly jump at the possibility. So what’s this untapped referral source? Your network of trusted service providers and local businesses.

As a real estate agent, you have an intricate web of professional contacts to deliver great service to your clients and make the buying or selling process as smooth as possible. While your team of vendors can help you secure listings and get clients ready to purchase, they’re also an untapped source for referrals.These professionals include everyone from mortgage brokers, financial advisors, lawyers, contractors, home decorators and landscapers.

Think about it – you regularly refer clients to these professionals, but are you working with them to have referrals sent your way? You should be educating your professional contacts about the types of clients you work with and letting them know how they can benefit by sending clients your way.

Here’s how some of these professionals can become your most valued lead source:

General contractors, painters & handymen that prepare clients’ homes for sale
Financial advisers that help clients plan for a home purchase
Mortgage brokers & lenders that work with savvy homebuyers getting pre-approved before shopping
Property managers that know landlords planning to sell

To really capture referrals from your professional network, remember that they won’t just happen automatically. First, make sure you engage with your contacts regularly so you aren’t forgotten – think about your initiatives for staying in touch with past clients. Then, when you receive referrals from your professional network make sure to keep them updated on sale progress and what’s going on – remember that the client was theirs first. At the end of the day, remember that you get what you give. Sending business two-ways makes for a stronger networking relationship and will help deliver superior service to clients.

If you’re interested in strengthening your professional network, check out QuickLinkt’s referral management tools for real estate agents or share your professional network with past clients via your own branded mobile app with ClientLinkt.

Building Your Real Estate Team

Your Referral Blind Spot