Referrals for Life

Think of the last time that you were given or gave a referral. What prompted you to do this? Did you ask for a specific product or service referral from a friend or family member because you were in need of something/someone reliable? Were you looking for the best or most inexpensive route? Did you go out to dinner, have your carpet cleaned,  or your car serviced and have such a great experience you wanted to share it with a friend?
 Some of us give referrals naturally, giving them freely to others whether we are solicited or not. Other people have to have a very strong positive experience not within what we would consider "the norm" to be able to give a recommendation to someone else, without being asked. This experience that you have that can cause you to give a referral to someone whether good or bad, positive or negative can have a huge impact to that product or service. Living in a small community where there are many local and home based businesses many tend to thrive off of the positive experiences they get and want to share this with other local people, or people who are new to the area or interested in relocating here.
Why do we refer other people? It reaffirms our self worth. It makes us feel good to enrich or help someone who is needing a service or experience and we want to give them that great experience that we had, or tell them about the bad one in order for them to avoid any unnecessary hassle that may occur.
Knowing your product or service and your area well you are better able to service and provide the kind of service that breeds loyalty and deserves repeat and referral clients and customers. Giving value to these relationships you build from the clients and customers you encounter without any expectations but with integrity and exceptional service to each and every one as if they were your best friend or family member will naturally have them talking about you to others.
In my 12 year career as a Realtor and living here in San Tan Valley for 11 years,  I have seen many people get undesirable results with the people that they have chosen to work with to help them make one of the most important decisions in buying or selling a home. Yesterday I was speaking with an acquaintance of mine I ran into at the grocery store who bought a home about 3 years ago from another agent.  I asked her about her experience and if she would refer that agent to others, before I gave her my business card. She said that she hasn't and wouldn't refer him to others because she didn't feel that since she was buying a relatively inexpensive home that he gave her the time, dedication or insight that she wanted or needed. Sure he helped her buy a home but could her experience have been better, she said it could have.

When I chose to become a Realtor, I was clear that the industry did not need another typical Realtor,  but what it needed was a person like me.  A person who gives (1) information with clear interpretation, (2) insight that protects, (3) inspiration that encourages (4) judgment rooted in experience, (5) meaning behind each decision, (6) relationship with service and (7) conscious guidance based on integrity.

As a independent contractor who happens to sell homes I provide a service that I want to be recognized as great. I want to provide the service that enable me to give that under promised over delivered sense of "wow, she really cares about my needs/ wants" feeling to each and every client that I encounter, whether I am selling the $19,000 lot or the Million Dollar Home.