Mastering Real Estate Referrals: 8 Proven Strategies For Real Estate Agents

Of course, this is something you know only too well as a real estate agent. The good news is that you don’t have to search for your next clients on your own — you can rely on your network to refer potential buyers or sellers to you. Indeed, data from the National Association of REALTORS® shows that 43% of homebuyers and 65% of sellers found their agent through the recommendation of a friend, neighbor, or relative. If your referral game needs leveling up, though, don’t worry; we’ve got pro tips that you can implement ASAP.

Real estate referrals: setting yourself up for success

A client referral is a gift you do not want to squander. So make sure you’ve got the basics down so you can easily turn a referred lead into an actual client.

• Do you have a strong online presence?
  Getting a referral is only the first step; a prospect will still conduct due diligence to confirm if you are the right agent for them. And chances are, your real estate website and social media profiles are the first things they’ll check. Is your website visually pleasing and user-friendly? Do you regularly post informative and engaging content on your timelines? If the answer is “no,” even the hottest lead can turn cold.

• Are you “searchable” online?
  What if a prospect wants to research you online but can’t find your website? That just goes to show: having a website is one thing, but making it visible online is another. That’s why agents and brokers require expert search engine optimization (SEO) so they can appear near the top of Google searches — a spot associated with credibility and authoritativeness.

• Do you offer excellent service?
  This should go without saying, but excellent service naturally leads to referrals. Going above and beyond to impress a client is a surefire way to turn them into loyal advocates.

Eight ways to get more real estate referrals

As the saying goes, word of mouth is the best advertising. And with the real estate referral marketing ideas below, your sales pipeline will always be full of leads.

1. Ask for referrals
   The most obvious tip is the one many agents are most likely to skip. If you’ve delivered excellent service to a buyer or seller, you’ve earned the right to ask for a referral. Timing is important, though: try to ask for referrals soon after closing the deal when a client’s impression of you is at its highest. Customers often know other people who are buying or selling a property, so it never hurts to ask.

2. Get customer reviews
   If you have a real estate website, you’ve got an excellent platform to host customer reviews. The trick, though, is getting feedback from past clients in the first place. Why? A positive review can help you attract potential clients because it offers a first-hand account of what it’s like to work with you. In essence, reviews are personal recommendations amplified by the power of the internet — and what agent wouldn’t want that? To help you with this task, we’ve written a comprehensive guide.

3. Host a housewarming party
   Speaking of going the extra mile, consider throwing a party to welcome your client to the neighborhood. Not only does this help you leave a good impression, but it also introduces you to a client’s circle of family and friends, some of whom may be in the market to buy or sell a property.

4. Keep in touch with past clients
   Your service shouldn’t end when you close a deal. Stay in contact with your past clients so you’re always in their mind space. That way, if they know someone who needs to buy or sell a house, your name will be on the tip of their tongue.

5. Create a referral program
   Part of the challenge of getting referrals is that most agents don’t have a system for it. So here’s an idea: why not create a formal real estate referral marketing program that you can push to all your clients past or present? You can offer small but useful rewards or gift checks as an incentive. Even better, create a tier so that clients who reliably refer new clients get better rewards.

6. Network, network, network
   It’s unsurprising that networking plays a big role in real estate; after all, this industry is a high-touch business. As such, you need to carve out time to mingle with others to bolster your chances of getting referrals. There are many ways of doing so: attend industry events, host your own events, volunteer at charities, attend local celebrations, etc. The more you get your name and brand out there, the greater the possibility that you’ll get a recommendation.

7. Work with other out-of-town agents
   Don’t just mingle with people in your community — build out a network of agents in other states, too. These professionals can point buyers in your direction if they wish to move to your market. And you don’t have to make frequent out-of-town trips to start this network; you can create or join an existing Facebook group of like-minded Realtors. Agent referrals are a crucial source of real estate referrals every REALTOR should have in their arsenal.

8. Partner with allied professionals
   It takes a village to buy or sell a home as you’ll likely work with mortgage lenders, contractors, interior designers, real estate lawyers, relocation companies, and appraisers among others. All of these can refer you to people who are no doubt looking to buy a home. Another professional who can clue you in on a potential client? Divorce lawyers. After all, when couples split up, the family home is either sold or one of the spouses moves to another house.

Amplify your real estate referrals, supercharge your bottom line

There are so many ways to get real estate referrals. Even better, Agent Image can help you elevate your online presence so you can make the most of buyer or seller recommendations.

For a FREE consultation, call 1.800.979.5799 or send a message here.