TOPIC: Looking for suggestions on building my agent referral network...

How do you guys meet agents you have no prior relationship with, then convince them to refer your services? I am curious what you have had success with.

You can email me if you want to keep it private...click on the email icon under my profile.

Thanks in advance.

I meet new agents all the time, but I do not go to there office begging for business.

For instance I met the sellers agent by handling setting up the times for a radon test and general inspection as the buyers agent seemed to busy or had other engagements.

The sellers agent liked my communication skills and asked that I bring marketing material so he can add me to his list. He also visited my website and liked my report sample and my qualifications.

Most agents around here have a list of inspectors they hand out. Ask if you can be on there list.

If I may ask what makes you better then your competition?

In the Sunday paper and the local MLS system I find a few open houses in my city to go to and meet new agents at their open houses. I take a few business cards and a few tri-fold flyers to give away. I always ask them to tell me a little about themselves, never had an agent pass up a chance to talk about themselves. I have met many, converted a few. All a numbers game, shake their hand and look them in the eye. GOOD LUCK  George

I've done some open houses.  Also joined a small business group.  Another thing to try is see if any inspectors in the area a retiring, they might sell you some names.  I also picked some offices in a specific zip code, sent several things in the mail, then called each of them.  Haven't gotten much out of any of these things yet but I know it will come.  Agents that I talk with really appreciate me coming by...so I'm hoping it is laying a good foundation.  Building a referal based business is slower then one likes.

I operate in South Africa where the home inspection market is largely buyer driven and real estate agents regard home inspections as a "grudge purchase" which they only recommend if the buyer asks for an inspecion at offer stage.  I am looking for suggestions on how to deal positively with the tension a home inspection report creates in the agent's mind - when all he wants is a quick sale with no "deal breakers".  I believe that in some areas of the US, estate agents drive a large part of the demand for home inspections.  I am looking for suggestions on how to encourage agents to recommend pre-listing inspections to their sellers - this would include balanced report content, report availability etc. My feeling is that there are positives for the real estate agent who embraces the need for transparency up-front and who by recommending the inspection at listing stage "takes control of the process".  Look forward to your ideas.

John, it's about educating agents, in my opinion.  Many are still stuck thinking "backwards", that inspections are deal breaking things...when in reality, your job is to help their client (and your's) make the best financial decision for themselves. 

I've found that phrasing it that way helps.  Get them to realize that you are both working in the best interest of the client, helping them with the process, and that the client will be happy with the agent that referred you because they did (or didn't) buy a certain home.