1,197,042
Not really, but I do want to know them personally, at least a quick chat. do they answer their phones at first try?
etc. etc
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Peter Mohylsky, Beach ...
Miramar Beach, FL
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Dan & Laurie Pittsenba...
Bellingham, WA
1,052,176
Typically, I want to hear from someone else that I DO know that the agent will do a great job. I don't put all that much stock in online reviews, and production stats may not tell all either.
I would want to see that their website is decent. The client will want to check them out too!
If an agent I know says "I would use him in a heartbeat, in fact I have!" that is what I want to hear.
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Ryan Huggins - Thousan...
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Dan & Laurie Pittsenba...
Bellingham, WA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
1,390,113
When I place an agent referral, I usually do so with someone I know personally or through my professional channels.
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Dan & Laurie Pittsenba...
Bellingham, WA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
5,229,439
Most often, I trust my peers with a recommendation if I don't already have a referral partner in the destination city.
I do not put any stock in online reviews because I've seen too many agents post reviews that everyone KNOWS are false.
On a side note - I prefer to ask my clients going in, if we can share their contact information with new prospective clients. [I've never had anyone say no.] When you hand a referral agent your ACTUAL sales data/list with contact information for every single one of your past clients from the past year, that is powerful.
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
1,844,271
Since I have been around here for awhile I would go to the area & see who I know or recognize. Then check website & possibly online reviews.
No I don't verify production. I wouldn't bother.
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
469,510
No, like others have indicated, I typically go through people I know. It's important to me to get a good match for my client than what their stats are.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
5,104,931
I check websites. I don't verify production... I don't want anyone asking me about mine and it's like asking someone how much money they earn... not very polite. I can tell from website presence and a conversation with an agent what they are all about. As for on-line reviews... I take them with a grain of salt. It's like asking for references... will you provide a reference from someone who is happy with you?
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
4,571,967
ActiveRain membership does have advantages and virtual networking has put me in contact with possible referral sources. Some have played the role of a second set of eyes/ears beyond my own impression. The process is definitely collaborative combining many of the methods you mentioned.
That said, some online reviews can be doctored or influenced unnaturally.
Finding that ideal match depends on one's relationship with the person(s) being referred. The right real estate match often relies on sixth sense/intuition gleaned from reading how they participate here(if applicable) or in a telephone conversation . I don't recall using dollar production as a criteria but have looked for market knowledge as well as other factors.
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
1,311,367
I have not had occasion to place a referral for quite a while. I would call the local Keller Williams office and ask to speak to the Team Leader. I would ask the Team Leader for a recommendation. If that did not work out, I would do an internet search for an acceptable referral partner. I would have a conversation with that person before placing the referral.
Of course, I would search the AR membership roster, also.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
2,684,009
Website.
State license board for complaints, suspensions.
Personal phone call.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
John Juarez
Fremont, CA
921,504
On-line reviews .... Oh yea, we all love those. Let's let zDevil provide that information.
Check their website? I don't know that creating a website or buying a website is reflective of agent ability to navigate the perils of real estate. I may reflect how much they are willing to spend on make a first impression...without effort.
Verify production? Sally Sells billboard on US19 states she sells over 500 homes a year. What is not to like?
Referring a client involves doing one thing, and one thing only.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
3,383,334
If I can find someone here on Active Rain, I feel I will know more about how they do business....if they are posting about business, that is.
Otherwise, I hit Zillow and look at homes sold and reviews.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
2,781,123
It is now the norm to investigate anyone for any reason and in professional circles failure to do so reflects poorly on the one who did not do so....
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
3,344,906
All except one referral was made to someone I know and trust. The one that I did not know, found online, answered all the questions correctly and I was confident they were the right fit, but in the end, my clients were not happy with the agent, indicting "You spoiled us, Kathleen. She does not do have of what you did for us."
I do all the vetting possible. For the most part, with anAR Referral, I already believe they will take excellent care of referrals.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
1,543,613
No. Because I only place with agents I know.
Fortunately I know hundreds around the US and Canada after 21 years of networking and training with them.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,502,898
I generally don't refer to someone I don't know. Either from interactions here or personal knowledge. At the worst case, I'll get a recommendation of the same from someone I do know. In that instance, I'll have a more in depth discussion with them beyond "this is what's up with my client/friend, can you help them."
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
3,164,119
that' is a "it depends" answer. Depends on how well I know the agent or if I had to go on line to find one. If I don't know anyone in the area then I do rely on reviews and check their website. Hard to check production when you can't see in the MLS, but I do look at their solds on zillow. Which reminds me I need to catch mine up.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Diana Dahlberg
Pleasant Prairie, WI
3,587,835
I refer out to people I know or have been referred to me as 'I'd use him/her in a heartbeat'. As for reviews, no I don't read reviews and production isn't what I'm looking for as often times it's misleading and/or just not complete. I want someome to take as good as care of my clients that I'm referring because they trust me and know that I know the business. Typically it will be an AR agent or a CRS agent.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
3,125,396
I look at my national database of trusted sources and here for referrals. Numbers really do not mean much, in my opinion, especially on Z. According to that site, I have not sold anything...ever!
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
900,118
First, I look for proximity to the desired geographic area, then interview the person by phone to get a sense for how they might operate and how well they know their market. I also check AR, to see if there are any posts and if so, if they sound intelligent.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
2,390,155
#1 I look for their activity right here on AR. #2 I call them and have a good visit.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
1,239,801
# of transactions completed. Complaints. In some case background search.
Top agent, 1% self promoted top agent means nothing. Prove to me your license is in active status, no lawsuit, restriction.
Few people search an agent through their website anymore. In fact, top realtors don't bother maintain a website. Billboard, TV commercials, listing signs get the traffic. On referalls it is only through the word of mouth. On AR a few members blog more often than they have time to take a referral.
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
6,392,929
Are any of those things ever reliable?
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,583,278
I would not refer to an agent unless I knew their workethic and their production by reading their posts.... I have referred to one agent here.... Lottie Kendall ... I gave her name to an agent from another office in another town who called me to ask if I knew of an agent in that area of California.... they loved Lottie ....all of them...
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,772,575
I get on the phone and talk to them, yes I check their website, and no I don't really focus on online reviews...so much BS both positive and negative. I think I am a good judge of character...A
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
679,404
I have done referrals in a variety of ways. Of late, I will only refer to an agent I have already worked with or got a high referral from someone I trusted. I do not use reviews nor check their website.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
7,835,329
I would usually look for Platimum Club agents at RE/MAX. That level requires commission income of $250,000 during the year. They know what they are doing and often have teams.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
763,783
I find the most prevalent company in the community and speak with the owner, broker or manager to create a rapport. I discuss my client and ask them to find the best agent that can serve my client's needs.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
4,935,567
Good Point, I do not but will now.
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
3,416,038
I first look for someone i know, then someone i heard of then may search out. I like reading their blog then giving them a call to get to know them.
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA
628,764
Speaking with the relocation department of a quality firm usually identifies the agent who will be the best fit if I don't know an agent personally in the market place
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ActiveRain Member Support
Seattle, WA