We've heard of it - but that's called an "opportunity interview" - not a referral! 

Sounds like looking a gift horse in the mouth.  Strange.

If you look closely, such a response is from an agent with scorched fingers.

Fresh in their mind is how they got burned by a lead generation company that does that very thing.

I usually find 2-3 agents for the client to interview, then they make the decision.  

One possible reason - Los Angeles County is such a large area -- relocating buyers might be looking in a variety of neighborhoods/areas that might not be covered by a single agent.   I'm not sure how the question was asked but I might want to know if they were looking in different areas in addition to my primary market.   

Susan and David - I do the same as Joan Cox , and will give the client a couple of agents names to interview and let them make the choice who they decide they want to work with. After that, I will notify the agent they select, and prepare the referral paperwork.

As with many of the comments, it sounds as if the agent had been burned by a "multi-referral" agent in the past.  

Good morning Sally. A bit of a strange question. When I refer anyone to an agent, that is the only time the client is referred, unless there is some dissatisfaction.

A wonderful Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson seriously, some agents do so! To make sure that they get the referral check.

I can't think of sending referral to more than one agent.

I think that with broker-to-broker direct referrals that's unusual.  But with lead generation companies, that's the rule rather than the exception.

I wouldn't have even thought to ask such a question!

I have heard other agents do this and evidently the agent you called had it happen to them.

I've never heard of that.  That just seems like a crappy thing to do to someone.

Sounds like someone got stung

I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with that agent after that answer popped out of their mouth. I would never give a referral to 2 agents.

I am going through that myself right now. The referring agent has a win win situation going here Sally K. & David L. Hanson 

Sounds to me like you might have made a poor choice of referral agents with this one.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson I would agree. Why send it out to more than one referral simultaneously?

I do not either, but there are agents who DO.... one at a time.... if the buyer does not like the agent then we go to the next one....

I will NOT refer to multiple agents at once. If my top choice is not available or responsive in a reasonable timeframe, to the next. THEN intro to the buyer/seller. I want to extend the utmost respect to our referral partners so they will be there for us, and reciprocate.

Isn't it customary to refer a client to at least 3 agents and allow them to make a choice of who they want to work with? I would presume the reason is that out of the 3 agents, at least one of them will step up to the plate and help the client out, while the other 2 would probably not follow up by calling or emailing the client.

Sounds like a little self esteem!

If they had not gotten back in a timely fashion then it would be onto the next.