Peace to you too!
Do you have any family or friends that work in fine dining restaurants? Do you have a good relationship with some folks at some restaurants that you eat at frequently? Well, do they know how important direct referrals are to your business?
Here's the main question; do any of these restaurants have real estate books in them?
If they do, then, those are the ones that have potential to be a goldmine of referrals for you!
Just let your referral source know that you would love to help anyone that they see looking through the real estate books or talking about buying or selling a house while waiting for a table or waiting for their food to come. Just say, "If you ever see a customer looking through a real estate book or hear them talking about real estate, please mention my name and ask them to call me for a great realtor choice! I love referrals!" Don't assume your friends know this.
I recently hear a broker say his neighbor and good friend listed his home with another realtor and when he asked him why, he said that he did not think he wanted to list it for him. Both knew about the impending move and either made the first move... Since the seller never got a call about listing it from the broker, he picked up the phone and called another agent thinking the neighbor didn't want to intrude or to be bothered... You know what they say about assuming things!
I recently hear a broker say his neighbor and good friend listed his home with another realtor and when he asked him why, he said that he did not think he wanted to list it for him. Both knew about the impending move and either made the first move... Since the seller never got a call about listing it from the broker, he picked up the phone and called another agent thinking the neighbor didn't want to intrude or to be bothered... You know what they say about assuming things!
Anyway, back to the restaurant sources; these guys can be your best referral sources for years to come if you will take the first step and talk to them!!
Also, in addition to asking for referrals, make sure to give them plenty of your business cards too! You can even write a note on the back to remind them "thanks for the referral!"
One last thought on this. Remember that if you get any leads from this source, they are likely to be a better quality lead because they can afford to eat at a fine dining restaurant. The finer the restaurant, the better!!
Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage
Senior Advisor - Helping you GROW your business!
www.activerain.com./luckydog1 - SC
www.activerain.com/luckydog2 - NC
http://samthompson.phhmortgage.com/
Great post Sam. This is very true. Not only are they probably more qualified, but think how many different people a waiter or bar tender see's everyday? Unreal.