When it comes to real estate, we all know that the best source of new business is the people who know your work: past clients and connections. Referrals and word of mouth are still the number one way for real estate agents to build their business.
But once you’ve stopped actively working with a client (or a highly interested prospect), how do you make sure they think of your name the next time someone they know is looking for an agent? Get started with these six simple tips for staying in touch once the real estate transaction is done.
1. Send a new business card whenever you update your design or information. This is vital for making sure that they always have access to your correct contact information, but it also reminds them about your services and shows that you’re still in business and actively looking for clients. It’s also a great reason to always keep your real estate business card up-to-date!
2. Remember birthdays and anniversaries, and make sure to send a personalized greeting card. People feel special when you remember their important dates – it’s a great way to build goodwill. And when it comes to interacting with previous clients, it’s good to make sure that you mix in contact efforts that are more about maintaining a connection than about marketing your business.
3. Connect with them on Facebook. This allows you to stay connected in a more natural way, and it also makes it easy for them to tag you whenever they have a friend looking for a real estate agent. If you prefer not to mix personal and business on Facebook, you can invite past clients to like your business page, but be aware that it will likely feel less personal and more “marketing” to do so.
4. Send them an email. It may or make not make sense for past clients to stay subscribed to your farming email newsletter list. But you should absolutely take the time to reach out by email once or twice a year. A simple two-sentence email to say “How’s it going?” (or happy birthday!) can do wonders for a relationship.
5. Send them a promotional product that they’ll really use. Go beyond the typical keychain to give your past clients something you know they’ll use, like a magnetic sports schedule for their favorite team, or seed packets for a client who you know loves to garden. Pair the promo product with a handwritten note expressing your best wishes for an added relationship boost.
6. Give them relevant market updates (but only if they’re a couple of years out from their last home purchase or sale). You don’t want to rush into reminding past clients about the benefits of making a move, but you do want them to know that you’re still a great source of expert real estate advice if anything changes with their current housing situation.