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Well, it seems as though we've had a 'Failure to Communicate' moment here in the Rain (Gee, fancy that!).

There appears to have been a difference of opinion as to what constitutes a 'referral' in real estate terms.

We've had a significant number of members contact us, voicing their frustration with our 'Referral Exchange' feature. Evidently, people who have been accessing this feature, and responding to their Referral Alerts, discover that the referrals really aren't referrals. Confusing, I know!

For the sake of clarity, to ensure the value/integrity of this feature, and so that everyone using this feature is on the same page, we have recently added the following language to the Referral Exchange Main Page:

"The Referral Exchange is the place for members to effectively pass/share client referrals with one another. A referral is a 'live' client contact, someone who is seriously considering either buying or selling a home in the near future. The Referral Network IS NOT a place to advertise your listings, promote your development, or solicit 'potential' referral partners for some unknown possibility down the road. It is ONLY for members to share/pass actual 'live' clients who need a real estate professional to assist them now."

We hope this serves to adequately dispel any doubts or questions as to the definition of a 'referral.' In the future, anything posted to the Referral Exchange that does not meet this definition will be removed.

As always, we greatly appreciate the valued input of our vested members. This is YOUR community, and it exists to provide meaningful benefit to your business.

Rich Jacobson, ActiveRain Community Builder

 

82 Comments on "What is a Referral?" - Proper Use of the ActiveRain Referral Network

Thank you Rich.

03/14/2008 02:39 PM by Kevin Robinson (Crownline Home Builders)

Thank you so much for working on this!  It has really been a pet peeve of mine to go into the referral section and see ad after ad.  I appreciate your diligence with this matter.  I'm sure that things will be clearer now!

03/14/2008 02:42 PM by Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate (Agent Owned Realty)

Thank you!!!

03/14/2008 02:43 PM by Richard Parr,Realtor,Real Estate Agent, Elmhurst and DuPage County Real Estate (Prospect Equities, Oakbrook Terrace, IL)

Thanks for shouting this again.... :)  Oh, and I love Cool Hand Luke....."what we have here is a failure to communicate"....

03/14/2008 02:44 PM by Christine Bohn, ABR, e-Pro, GRI~Gainesville, FL Realtor® (RE/MAX Professionals, Inc.)

This post is greatly appreciated!  I have been excited to see a few referral leads lately only to find out that they are bogus.  Hopefully the right people will read this post!

03/14/2008 02:49 PM by Kim Carpenter-Lake Winnipesaukee REALTOR -Lake Winnipesaukee Real Estate, NH (Coldwell Banker)

Greatly appreciated. I wasted my time applying to a certain stager's 10 or so "referrals" that were posted only to not even have the referrals mentioned when I was emailed by them.  It's like the referral leads are being used as "WISH LIST" .

03/14/2008 02:54 PM by Ron Tarvin's Katy Agent Team-- Katy Texas Real Estate Agent (Real Estate Agent in Katy Texas with RE/MAX Grand)

Amen, someone must have goten tired of me flagging "not a referral".  :)

03/14/2008 03:15 PM by Michelle DeRepentigny, *Associate Broker/Broker * Athens, GA (ERA Classic City Realty)

Thank you, thank you, thank you. There are always those that will try and "game" the system. Just an annoyance. I'm of the thought that the ones who "do" will continue.......probably don't read the rules anyway.

Pepper

03/14/2008 03:16 PM by Mesa, Arizona Real Estate *** Teri Ellis, Broker, ABR,CRS,GRI,ePRO,MRE (Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC)

Excellent, I have to admit I was getting confused about how to use it.  That clarifies it for me.

03/14/2008 03:42 PM by John Dirgo (Aloha Coast Realty)

Thank you so much for clarifing this. Every time an alert would come up it was completly different. Thanks!

03/14/2008 03:53 PM by Jeannette Neerpat, e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate (London Realty Corp)

Thank you.  Thank you.  I'm new and asked this question last month because I got "referral" but it turned out to be "not referral".

03/14/2008 04:06 PM by Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady", Brookville NY Real Estate Professional (Century 21-Laffey Associates, Licensed Associate Broker)

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

So... not to be picky, but what is going to happen to the dozen or so that I flagged?

03/14/2008 04:24 PM by Sarah Nopp, REALTOR(R), CRS. RE/MAX Four Seasons, Olympia WA (RE/MAX Four Seasons)

Rich,
Thank you, personally I thought that was quite clear from day one.  

03/14/2008 04:27 PM by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)

Thank You.  I was see people use it as a farming tool.

03/14/2008 04:29 PM by Bob Force (REALTOR®) Silver Spring Md. (Weichert Realtors® - Aspen Hill/Leisure World)

Thank you for the clarification!  I have to admit, I was confused by a referral I received:)

03/14/2008 04:33 PM by Katharine Carey, Agent Carey- Realtor® (BuyerTours Realty, LLC)

Rich, I'm glad you posted this again and thanks for the hard work being done to keep the listing spammers at bay! 

03/14/2008 04:46 PM by Vickie Arcuri - Ft. Lauderdale, FL Luxury Homes (EWM Realtors- Esslinger-Wooten-Maxwell, Inc.)

This should be make the difference now that the policy has been restated. Thank you

03/14/2008 04:58 PM by Richard Lecinski (Long Realty Company)

Thank you for posting an offical blog about this. It was clear to me from the first time I looked at it, but I see so many that are people asking for business. Are you guys going to go in and delete the ones that aren't really referrals?

03/14/2008 05:14 PM by Debi Braulik (Tacoma Real Estate) (Keller Williams Realty)

Even though it may have been clear up front (if I could understand it...), sometimes you can't explain something too many ways and too many places.  I've found that a fair number of people on AR don't follow the guidelines or contest rules or whatever, even though they're posted clearly.  In most cases, I think it's enthusiasm to jump right in with both feet, and not anything more.

03/14/2008 05:24 PM by Margaret Woda, Crofton Maryland Real Estate (Long & Foster REALTORS)

Thank you, I have never gone to Referral Exchange section before.  Now I understand it.

03/14/2008 05:54 PM by Leslie Bloss, Seattle Real Estate Professional (REALTY EXECUTIVES/BRIO )

Thank you for clarifying this point - again. I just received another referral solicitation from someone at Chase. A "talent acquisition specialist." He sounded suspiciously like the person who sends me (and everyone else) those emails from South Africa saying I am the long lost relative of (insert your name here) and could I please hand over my identity to them...

 

03/14/2008 06:07 PM by

yep, all the crap dilutes the value of the referral system.  Thank you.

03/14/2008 06:19 PM by Wendy Smith Real Estate

Debi - Yes, the plan is to go in and begin weeding out those that don't obviously meet the definition. It will probably take a little while, but we'll get things cleaned up.

03/14/2008 06:22 PM by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

Rich - As usual, THANK YOU!  Now, I have one other request.  Is there a nice way to ask them to list a town?  I just want to scream every time somebody just puts in Alaska.  For crying out loud it's 8 times the size of Washington state.  It's like sending a referral to someone in Seattle for a property in Denver.

03/14/2008 07:11 PM by Debbie White (Southeast Alaska Real Estate)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  It was driving me nuts, now I can relax and go enjoy a glass of wine!

 

03/14/2008 07:35 PM by Kelly Turbeville's Real Estate @ Your Fingertips in the O.C! (Century 21 Superstars/TVC Financial)

Rich,

Thank you! It is a little extremely frustrating to get 'referrals,' that aren't really referrals!

03/14/2008 07:36 PM by Laurie Logan-South Central WI Real Estate (RE/MAX Preferred - Broker Manager)

Rich- All I can say is about time :)  It seemed so simple but then people decided it was for self promotion, and it went downhill from there.  I have flagged tons of them for months, and like others here it was frustrating that these guys just couldn't get it :)

03/14/2008 07:43 PM by Kathy McGraw ~ Calif Broker (CELLing Realty)

Thank  you very much... I was so excited about using the Referral section .. and I have both given and received referrals from it.  But then I started getting so many Listing advertisements, I was getting frustrated.  I was trying to figure you who to write to, and then I saw this post... I am glad the "wrong" posts to the referral section will be deleted.  Thank you!

Marie.

03/14/2008 08:19 PM by MARIE EPISALE - Pompton Plains New Jersey Real Estate (CENTURY 21 CREST REAL ESTATE)

ACTIVERICH is at it again! This was annoying, although I didn't complain... THANK YOU !

03/14/2008 09:31 PM by Kim Wood REALTOR(R), PA (RE/MAX Main Line)

Thank you.  Apparently the 8 months of flagging "referrals" as the ads they were has paid off...

03/14/2008 09:48 PM by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty)

Thank you.  Apparently the 8 months of flagging "referrals" as the ads they were has paid off...

03/14/2008 09:48 PM by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy (Diamond Dwellings Realty)

As with most of the opinions above . . . it will be nice to see the Referral tool used appropriately.  I was on the verge of refusing any further "referral" contacts, which were mostly spammy listing promotions.  Will stay in the game a while longer to see if things improve from here on out . . .

03/14/2008 10:15 PM by Trent Cluley -- Pickens County Georgia Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty - Select Partners)

The question is Rich, will something actually be done about it. I don't think anyone really doubted what it meant, but are you going to enforce it? At one point Bob told me he was going to make me the Florida monitor and someone else volunteered for Ohio, but nothing came of that either. This needs an enforcer!!

03/14/2008 10:17 PM by Simon Conway (Picket Fence Realty)

Thanks for clearing this up. All I have seen is spam. I don't think the problem is just going to go away though.

03/14/2008 10:29 PM by Tigard Oregon Real Estate >> Wayne B. Pruner, GRI (Oregon First)

Amazing -- I always thought of a referral in exactly the way you explained it!  It is difficult to believe that others didn't get it.  For those who truly were confused, now they have NO EXCUSES!

03/14/2008 10:34 PM by Joan Whitebook, ABR,e-Pro,CEBA Southern New Hampshire (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Glad to see the ActiveRain Team address and clarify it. The Referral Exchange can be a great resource when used correctly.

03/14/2008 10:52 PM by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

Thank you very much.  I too have received the "talent acquisition specialist" email - and though I don't take solicitations like that seriously, it is annoying. 

03/14/2008 11:16 PM by Ruthmarie Hicks (Keller Williams Realty)

I agree. I don't think there was a miscommunication though. I think it was intentional....lol. Hopefully, it will become what it was built for!

03/14/2008 11:44 PM by Christy Powers - Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners)

I hope the farmers take heed.  I only went there once and the "too vague" posts seemed like they had too much baiting in them.  Thank you!

03/15/2008 12:48 AM by Mark Organek - Tempe Gilbert Mesa Chandler REALTOR (RE/MAX Alliance)

Thanks for clearing that up, but i also don't think the people who do that are not doing it because of miscommunication as well.

03/15/2008 12:49 AM by Ryan Vivo, Realtor Solano County Gateway Realty (Gateway Realty)

Rich, I got a referral directly from AR.  Do you guys keep track of the referrals agent receive on here?  If so, hash two more on there and THANK YOU!!  ;)

03/15/2008 12:51 AM by Susan Manning (Rancon Real Estate)

Good News and lots of good comments! Debbie in AK -ok I spit coffee on my screen while reading!! What the heck am I doing drinking coffee at this hour anyway! Serves me right!

03/15/2008 01:08 AM by Jo Soss | Bremerton WA Real Estate (Skyline Properties, Inc.)

without reading all the comments  - and not the place for loss mitigation agents to build up a network.... just plain old regular referrals - THANK YOU!!!  This is such a great resource and it is widely abused right now just from what I have seen - I am anxious for th eday when it can work reliably because it is a great idea and tool!

03/15/2008 01:37 AM by Seattle Realtor Courtney Cooper Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Washington (Seattle Real Estate: Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services)

It would be cool if we could demerit or turn those Realtors in who misuse the service.  First time its a warning, second time its a little ding, second time, a larger ding.  How many points is it worth for sending out spam via ActiveRain?  If I wanted a listing agent in your area, I'D be sending out the referral, NOT YOU!!

03/15/2008 01:40 AM by Susan Manning (Rancon Real Estate)

Excellent info. Thanks!

 

03/15/2008 02:19 AM by MARK GUNDLACH (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

Thank you, Cool Hand Rich!

03/15/2008 02:59 AM by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite Nevada Real Estate Agent (ERA Brokers Consolidated - Mesquite NV Homes)

Hooray,

In the Michigan referral area there were so many "potential" referrals from mortgage people.  Not good

03/15/2008 06:11 AM by

This is great that you are clarifying this for everyone.  I have received several alerts that were just someone trying to sell a listing.

03/15/2008 06:36 AM by Scott Guay Ocean City and Ocean Pines Maryland (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)

You know, the funny part about those referral that are put up falsely like that?  I would NEVER do business, either referring to someone or using the services of a real estate support professional (mortgage, stager, title, etc) that would solicit like that and abuse the referral system...so I guess in the short run it may help the person doing it, but not from a $$$ in pocket standpoint from me at least!

03/15/2008 07:04 AM by Ron Tarvin's Katy Agent Team-- Katy Texas Real Estate Agent (Real Estate Agent in Katy Texas with RE/MAX Grand)

Rich, thanks for issuing the new guidelines.

03/15/2008 07:56 AM by Michael Setunsky (Michael's Commercial LLC)

Rich, thanks for this.  I actually stopped looking at this group after two referrals seemed to be bogus.  It's beyond me what someone has to gain by making up referrals??  Thanks for all that you do for us here!

03/15/2008 08:19 AM by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake)

Thank you for this...I hope this will now be e-mailed to every past offender of this service.  I know some agents get mixed up the first time and don't really understand, and then there are others who know it's wrong and post their listings anyway.

Perhaps this post could be on that referral posting page for people to read one more time before they submit their post.  Maybe the creepy photo will make them think twice.:)

03/15/2008 09:56 AM by Burien, WA Real Estate - Lisa Bosques, Assoc. Broker/Mktg Specialist (Prudential Northwest Realty Associates LLC)

Thank you for clearing this up.

Sharon

03/15/2008 10:19 AM by Sharon Paxson (Prudential California Realty)

Thanks!  Haven't gotten any yet but this should help.

03/15/2008 11:00 AM by John Hersey, e-PRO Realtor (Prudential Bob Yost Homesale Services)

Being NEW on AR...thank you for expaining this feature.....

03/15/2008 11:00 AM by Pat Enterrios (Coldwell Banker SkyRidge Realty)

Being NEW on AR...thank you for expaining this feature.....

03/15/2008 11:01 AM by Pat Enterrios (Coldwell Banker SkyRidge Realty)

Being NEW on AR...thank you for expaining this feature.....

03/15/2008 11:01 AM by Pat Enterrios (Coldwell Banker SkyRidge Realty)

A much-appreciated post that eliminated the confusion and frustration I was having with this part of the sytem.  Thank you!

03/15/2008 11:02 AM by Greg Steffens (Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty)

Hopefully, this clarification will eliminate a lot of those solicitations that the poster thinks is a referral!

03/15/2008 01:56 PM by Vicki Lloyd ~ MBA, ACRE, e-PRO, Realtor Lake Forest and South Orange County, CA (The Real Estate Professionals)

Good job of monitoring the feedback about this feature and fixing it for us all.

03/15/2008 02:24 PM by Bill Gillhespy Fort Myers Beach Realtor (Century 21 Tripower Realty)

Rich, you are so right about us being vested. I consider AR as being a part of my day, each day I spend a combo of work/play time.  I am receiving numerous leads because of my posting and they have become valuable. If people don't abuse the referral program it will lead us to success also. Later in the rain~Deb

03/15/2008 04:24 PM by Deb at Brooks Prime Properties

Rich, thanks for putting this out there.  I hope that it will help clean things up on the Referral Network.  Not be pessimistic, but as usually is the case, those who are reading this are not the ones who are liley the biggest offenders.

03/15/2008 05:02 PM by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance)

Hi Rich - I'm glad to see this clarification as I've had several solicitations come through my email alerts for referrals.  It is frustrating to receive that kind of 'referral' and not the real kind that the system was set up for.  I suspect you'll have to post this same message repeatedly because those who really abuse it just won't see it.

Ann

03/15/2008 05:33 PM by Portsmouth NH Homes Condos - Ann Cummings New Hampshire REALTOR® (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Rich, Thanks for the explanation. I too would get frustrated seeing false leads appear...is it possible to put a "spam" button there for us to report if AR doesn't have time to delete?

03/15/2008 05:43 PM by Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Agent Elizabeth Ramsey Cooper-Golden (Remax Huntsville/Madison)

Rich, thanks. Please make a general blog post when the posts are what they're supposed to be. I haven't clicked on that group in months because the majority of posts aren't "Here's a referral for ..." but "I pay x% for referrals".

03/15/2008 06:45 PM by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

Thank you, I posted a frustrated blog about this a few week's ago...your explanation is what I thought that
referral button was for...now! please have a few people monitor the spammer's...then it will be a useful tool!

I like ERC's post...put a "spam" button there for us!

Thanks!

03/15/2008 11:06 PM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach)

Karen,

Thanks for thinking I"m a genius, but there is already a spam button that I had not seen before, lol. If you click on the lead, you will see it at the bottom of the lead area. I just used it! Enjoy using it!!!

03/15/2008 11:11 PM by Huntsville, Alabama Real Estate Agent Elizabeth Ramsey Cooper-Golden (Remax Huntsville/Madison)

Elizabeth,

LOL, OK, I'll look for it!!!

03/15/2008 11:18 PM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach)

Rich, thanks for the clarification.  I know that some members had been misusing the referral  area.  BTW, great graphic of Strother Martin to illustrate the point!

03/16/2008 07:50 AM by Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Professional (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals)

Good point, Rich. When it first came out, I used to go to the Referral Network frequently. Sad to say, it's been months since I've been there - I don't need to spend my time reading posts from people who want me to send them referrals.

03/16/2008 08:53 PM by Sharon Simms St Pete Florida CRS CIPS CLHMS (RE/MAX Metro)

Thank you for clearing this one up, I have noticed some advertisers in there.

03/17/2008 04:43 PM by Elaine Stewart, Palm Springs Real Estate (Remax Real Estate Consultants - Platinum Club Member)

Thanks Rich, Many were eagerly hoping for this kind a official Blog to create a awarness and clarification.

03/27/2008 11:16 PM by Sasha Miletic - Windsor Real Estate (RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd.)

Thank you so much. Glad to get this cleared up. Thank you for this clarification.

03/27/2008 11:32 PM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach)

Thanks SO MUCH for the clarification! I received at least 7 or 8 "referrals" but not one even mentioned a potential buyer in my area.

03/30/2008 04:06 PM by KERRY LUCASSE - Your Intown Atlanta Real Estate Consultant (Keller Williams Peachtree Rd)

I haven't been over to the referral section lately, but I think it's pathetic that you even had to post this! Some people will try anything. *sigh*

04/06/2008 05:45 PM by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)

OK. Now I just came from the referral section and I have to ask, why are there so many duplicates? It looks like there are 10 to 15 duplications of every "referral"!

04/06/2008 05:48 PM by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)

Thanks for sharing this information and trying to clarify this for people. Unfortunately I just don't think people are reading it before their referral requests. I've gotten several notifications this week and all of them have been agents telling me they will gladly pay me a referral fee to send them clients, but no specific referral requests. 

04/29/2008 05:53 PM by Bonny Puckett ~ REALTOR ~ Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, AZ (Call Realty)

Obviously, this article did no good. Since it was posted I have received 5 referral alerts. Each one was an area agent looking to RECEIVE referrals, not give them. Perhaps a "Report Violation" box should be added to the referral alert.

04/30/2008 01:32 PM by Jim Little, Your Sun City Arizona Realtor (Ken Meade Realty)

This was very informative.  Yes, I am a newbie here and have just started to learn how to read and navigate through the website.

05/02/2008 03:04 AM by Sun City Grand Real Estate Surprise AZ Leolinda Bowers Realtor® (Ken Meade Realty)

This was very informative.  Yes, I am a newbie here and have just started to learn how to read and navigate through the website.

05/02/2008 03:05 AM by Sun City Grand Real Estate Surprise AZ Leolinda Bowers Realtor® (Ken Meade Realty)

This was very informative.  Yes, I am a newbie here and have just started to learn how to read and navigate through the website.

05/02/2008 03:08 AM by Sun City Grand Real Estate Surprise AZ Leolinda Bowers Realtor® (Ken Meade Realty)

In the referrals for Alabama, there are more "referrals" posted by people soliciting business, i.e. mortgage brokers and agents with a property to sell than true referrals.  I would be nice to have a way to report violations for those that misuse this wonderful tool.

08/07/2008 06:23 PM by