My sphere of influence is not so good....?

Question

Well, I have no idea how to grow my sphere of influence. About 2 years ago I got my real estate license, I sent out messages and announcements that I was in real estate and still 2 years later I have to get a call from someone in my sphere of influence. I would really like to have a referral only business because it brings the most reliable people to you. I have heard all the typical answers to this like "keep sending them newsletters and stuff...", "go talk to them...", and whatever the typical answers and since I already know and use these methods that are not working for me please don't give me the same answers, what I want to know is if someone did something inconventional that helped drive referrals to you. Thanks!!

Answer 1

After reading you "sphere of influence" it sounds more like a "mailing list" It takes a lot of work to set up a list of contacts. A simple mailing, even the complicated mailings is nothing more than JUNK MAIL that most people throw out. You have to look at human nature. People don't come to you unless they feel comfortable with you. What have you done for them. It sounds like you read a couple of books and think that you know it all. If you really did you wouldn't be here asking some of the most basic questions. It sounds like you are stuck on yourself and you are not really providing any customer service.PP

Answer 2

Let's look at this from another direction...
You are new to an area (relocated for spouses job). You decide to obtain a real estate license. You have no local sphere of influence (SOI) because you are new to the area. What do you do?

You could create a SOI by joining a few local clubs or organizations of interest to you. For example; bowling league, book club, cooking class, PTA, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Volunteering is also excellent.

You could choose a field or real estate and establish yourself as the expert (a certain development, farms, golf course properties).

You could establish a strong Internet presence (you should do this no matter what). Interactive content rich web site. Blog. etc. There are many excellent, low-cost easy to use real estate web sites (contact me if you need the names of a few).

You could contact your broker and join a 'team'.

Referrals come from excellent service. Concentrate on providing the best service for each and every client you have and referrals will follow. All you need is one satisfied client to start the ball rolling.

Answer 3

I might say: greater than 2000 years in the past: empires within the mid-east subject (modern-day Iraq and Iran, Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Lebanon) plus Greek zero-500 AD Roman Empire 800-a thousand Roman and the Viking approx. 1270-1370 AD The Chinese 'Yuan' Dynasty that have been truthfully Mongols From approximately 1400-1650, The Spanish, and no more volume the Portugese 1700s for a couple of many years: The Netherlands 1750-1900 British Since 1900 USA (besides potentially, and arguably 1936-1945 Germany, 1987-ninety Japan) Probably China from 2050

Answer 4

It depends.

What state are you in?

In California you can offer a referral fee to persons who sent you buyers or sellers.
Use your MLS to find what others are not. Check listings for date listed and track the listing for changes. When it gets within 30 days of the listing expired visit the property for a preview. This is a good time to get all the resident phone numbers before the listing agent deletes them when the listing expires. Then take clients (I use friends) every 3 or 4 days. Be the first one with a re-listing packet on the doorstep before 7:00 a.m.

Another favorite of my is to go to colorforrealestate.com. Check out the bookmarks. These are great hand outs to kids in grocery stores etc. Donate them to school carnivals and for other free hand outs.

Please feel free to contact me with additional questions.

Good Luck,
Chris C.
Real Estate Broker/Lender