The end of a real estate transaction is often a rush. Buyers and sellers have been hurriedly packing, the title company has been working to get all of the paperwork in order, and the agents have been fielding questions, handling final negotiations, and reminding their clients about next steps in the process.
In all the hustle, it can be easy to speed through the closing, shake a few hands, and move on to the next project. But when you invest a little bit of extra time and care into it, a closing can be an excellent opportunity to build your real estate business.
There are many important people to connect with during the process, all of whom have the potential to be valuable referral partners for you. Mortgage lenders, title company employees, other agents and their clients – all of these people can develop into valuable networking contacts, with the right real estate marketing strategies.
Step 1: Lay the groundwork.
Whether it’s your first interaction with a given lender, agent, or client, or you have a longstanding relationship with them, every real estate transaction is a fresh chance to demonstrate your professionalism and knowledge. Make sure that everyone involved has an up-to-date copy of your real estate business card, and they know they can get in touch with you at any point with questions.
Step 2: Show your appreciation
Everyone involved in a real estate transaction has a job to do – and who doesn’t love to be complimented on a job well done? Let people know throughout the process how much you appreciate the work they’re doing to make sure everything goes smoothly. Extra special gestures at closing, like bringing flowers or a useful gift like a personalized Keller Williams bottle opener or tape measure, are great tools for showing your appreciation in a memorable way.
Step 3: Don’t forget to follow through
Depending on the nature of the transaction and the relationship, following up can take any form from sending a referral-farming real estate postcard, to sending a nice Keller Williams greeting card with a personal note. What really matters is that your name stays fresh in the recipient’s mind. And if you handled the first steps well, they are sure to associate your name with real estate success!