By Mike Bodeen · 9 December 2019
During the process of buying or selling a home, we’re in our client’s life almost every day. A mutual trust and often, a friendship develops. And then, escrow closes, and shortly thereafter, we’re not so much in our client’s life, which is normal, mission accomplished.
But what some of our clients don’t remember, is that although the deal is done, we’re still here and we encourage our clients to contact us with any real estate questions they might have. I still receive periodic calls from California clients though I haven’t practiced real estate there since the mid 90’s.
But our value to you transcends the closing of your local real estate transaction. We have a virtual treasure trove of professionals such as a plumber, electrician, handyman, painter, mover, etc, that we can refer to you. Most of our clients and friends who have worked with us, know that we only refer the best lenders, title companies, home inspector, etc., during the buy / sell process. The reason for this is simple. Who we refer to clients shines a positive or negative light on us.
“But our value to you transcends the closing of your local real estate transaction.”
Our company, HomeSmart (HS), is the largest (by agent and sales production) real estate company in Arizona. Like all large businesses, HomeSmart has affiliated business relationships in place. We call them Smart Partners. HS has affiliations with lenders, title company, moving company, home photography, etc. HS makes every effort to vet a company and their reputation prior to “partnering” with them. Incidentally, the Home Warranty company, title company and lender we refer to our clients are not HS Partners. I understand our HS partners are also very good firms, but my philosophy is why mess with success.
As successful local Realtors we are constantly requested by companies to use their services, especially lenders and title companies. Many agents use the current politically infamous term, “quid pro quo,” or, if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours when referring someone to a client. I recall one very successful real estate agent who made it a requirement for anyone he would refer his clients to, that the person getting the referral had to refer a real estate client to him in order to “stay on his referral list.” It worked well for him, though he’s no longer in the industry.
How do you know that the company or individual we refer to you will be fair, honest, reliable and competent? Experience, mostly. They’re tried and true. For example, we’ve worked with a local escrow officer at First American Title for over ten years. Tammy is awesome and she rewards our referrals to her by going above and beyond to help us and our client. Without exception, our clients are always pleased with her services. That makes us look really good!
As a part of the HS Elite Group, The Bodeen Team also has access to dozens of other professionals and trades that have been referred to us by fellow HS Elite agents.
Takeaway? If you’re receiving this blog, you have the liberty to contact us anytime for that plumber, electrician, floor covering person, roofer, painter, handyman, or whoever. We’ll always give you our best recommendation. If we haven’t had any personal experience with the person or entity, we’ll let you know that as well, though the chances are good they were recommended to us by one of our Elite members
And by the way, if you know of someone who’s “thinking about” buying or selling real estate in the Valley, we would love the opportunity to make you look really good by doing a great job for them.
Jonathan: 602-341-9490
Mike: 602-689-3100