Realtor referral program - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

jlomama · 12-16-2007, 10:05 PM

We are thinking about starting a referral program for realtors, do any of you do that? If so, how do you work it and how is it working for you? We are a full service remodeling company but we also have a divsion of handyman services and we do a lot of work with that. We were thinking about really marketing that division to realtors. Any thoughts or suggestions?

dirt diggler · 12-16-2007, 10:55 PM

i do not do any work for real estate agents

(btw ... not all real estate agents are "realtors")

i could see it being good for exposure ... so why not?

on the other hand ... i think you would get alot of "we need this done as cheap as possible so we can sell"

Susan Betz · 12-17-2007, 01:19 AM

We've been talking about this too. Fences, particularly for large acreage, are expensive and really should be rolled into the cost of a property whenever possible. I've been thinking about offering realtors a percentage of the sell price, and wondering if this would conflict with any of their ethics (I really don't mean the ethics thing as a joke, even though it makes me giggle).

wackman · 12-17-2007, 05:15 AM

I think anything you can get your advertising and marketing into is a good idea if it doesn't cost much to do.

Personally I'm working on getting a list of all the realtors and real estate agents in my areas email addresses. I know a flyer service that takes flyers to every realtor but email is free, I can do it over and over and I think more people will read it.

The big lure of realtors to me is the buyers and sellers. They are both going into a new home and will likely want work done. If you can get in with the realtors then it's an easy transition to the buyers/sellers.

Wack

BACKWOODS · 12-17-2007, 07:43 AM

I have been working on this type of relationship for about 3 months now. All the agents seem very positive on the front end but I have yet to close a deal or even get a call to give an estimate for handyman or cabinet work. I know several of them personally so I don't know if it a slow market or my program to give them a quarterly check for the referrals.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it works for you.
Merry Christmas,
Steve

thoscon · 12-17-2007, 08:31 AM

I went so far as to join the local realtor board as an associate member.

I am allowed to search their MLS.

I began sending out emails, "Congratulations on you sale", "Good luck with your open house", "Here's wishing you a quick sale for your new listing".

Each email also talked about our handyman division.

Four or five realtors responded positively, no leads though.

Two realtors called me and blessed me out for bothering them!

One of them was a realtor that sends me unsolicited mail almost weekly including a tacky, boiler plate newsletter!

wackman · 12-17-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoscon

Two realtors called me and blessed me out for bothering them!

One of them was a realtor that sends me unsolicited mail almost weekly including a tacky, boiler plate newsletter!

Did you tell them off?! ****in hypocrites.

RidgeWalker · 12-18-2007, 09:16 AM

If you want to be used and abused go ahead and bid jobs for realtors. I've learned from experiance they only want scrubs to actually do the work but in buying agent obviously wants the highest bid available to use as a bargening tool at the closing table.

You'll find out very fast you'll be doing alot of bids and not winning any contracts.