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Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Instead of selling a client database, keep your licensee in a referral company. Then, refer business to an active agent with a referral due on closing.  This option has worked for me.

Nov 20, 2018 10:36 AM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I would hire a business broker to make that determination, Karen. 

Good luck!

Nov 20, 2018 10:27 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

When I sold my business this year the value was calculated into the selling price of the company. I have no desire to share that information however Karen Deis 

Nov 20, 2018 12:21 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

What Debe Maxwell, CRS said. I know of no generic formular for our industry.

Nov 20, 2018 03:03 PM
Rainmaker
953,617
Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

My Database=Priceless!!

Nov 20, 2018 01:17 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Others have made some great points. 

Nov 20, 2018 11:28 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I agree with Mary Yonkers 

Nov 20, 2018 05:16 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

My clients are not for sale nor would I ever consider selling them or my database.  I would refer clients to another agent if I could find one I can trust to provide excellent service. 

Nov 20, 2018 12:57 PM
Rainmaker
554,600
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

I don't think there would be an accurate formula out there.  Not all clients are not created equal.  I don't think you can take the number of clients times an average commission, for example.  Some clients you know will be doing another transaction and/or are great ambassadors and are referring clients to you.  I'd think they would be worth more than the clients who don't respond to your follow up/stay-in-touch marketing.  

Nov 20, 2018 10:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Unknown. This has been a question a few times this year though.

Nov 20, 2018 10:12 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

How good is your DB, and when did you last talk to them?

Nov 20, 2018 09:28 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Debe Maxwell, CRS and Mary Yonkers gave a good anwer.

Nov 20, 2018 08:00 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

I am with Debe Maxwell, CRS 

Nov 20, 2018 07:26 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Businesses call this "goodwill" and is hard to pin down as well. Find something that makes sense and then sell it to yourself. If it flys, start there

Nov 20, 2018 05:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

My data base is not for sale.

Nov 20, 2018 04:20 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I was offered referral fees on completed transactions for my database. I did not accept it.

Nov 20, 2018 12:33 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Karen,

You have some good answers here.  One of our clients sold her business based on her website which was working for her as well as her contacts.  It is an iffy thing, aka good will. Good will database does not mean that your database will continue to do business with them...that is where the iffyness comes in.  A

Nov 20, 2018 11:38 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

You could make one up based on how much business you estimate you might get from that client base, then adjust it down to be conservative, or upwards if you're optimistic or if trying to sell your business.

Nov 20, 2018 10:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

This is outside of my realm, but I do agree with what Mary Yonkers said.  Unless you have an established brand, it may be better to just have a referral partner.

 

We did have a local brand out here, "Troop Real Estate", that was a big local name back in the day and had around 6 offices at the time it sold this year.  That made sense to sell and it went to an out of state C21 franchise.

Nov 21, 2018 10:00 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Mary Yonkers has a great idea.

Nov 21, 2018 06:13 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I think Debe Maxwell, CRS gave you a great answer.

Nov 21, 2018 04:20 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I like living on referrals.... that's what I do....

Nov 20, 2018 06:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Not really.

Nov 20, 2018 05:47 PM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I actually went to a two day seminar about buying and selling businesses.  To get top dollar for your database you need to know your numbers.  Know your marketing price per transaction.  Know your marketing budget.  Know your average sales price.  Be able to communicate your marketing plan to someone interested in buying it.  Basically, a list of names is meaningless if you don't have a plan to work it, and proof of how it pays off.

Nov 21, 2018 03:46 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

If you're keeping the database, the value would be easier to predict. If selling the database, there is not really any accurate way to determine value. The people on the database may have no interest in doing business with a new owner of the database.

Nov 21, 2018 09:19 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I have no clue.

Nov 21, 2018 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

no

Nov 21, 2018 04:40 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Good question

Nov 26, 2018 07:16 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I think Debe has a great answer!

Nov 25, 2018 07:22 AM