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Ambassador
2,436,099
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good morning Paul!

You're going to get about 80% of responses saying, "what, no way, I'd never pay for a lead referral service!", then about 10% saying they paid and no way was it worth it - "what a rip off", and then another 10% saying "Yes, it was great!"

That's my prediction.

Jun 23, 2019 02:46 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Have never done that Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS 

Jun 23, 2019 04:55 AM
Ambassador
5,230,068
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Yes, during the recession and yes, I surpassed my annual cost but, dropped it when my website began bringing more leads than they were providing!

Jun 23, 2019 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Agents send each other business and it costs from 30 to 50% and many say it was worth it.

Many work with relocation companies and pay 30 to 50% and many say it was worth it.

For MUCH LESS money one can fish up stream and find buyers and sellers. The difference is, with the latter you need to learn how to work it.

Now it is important to make clear if you are talking of a referral service that typically charges a % (thousands of dollars each) or a lead service that charges by lead or zone.

For each the outcome is incrementally dependent on agents ability to process.

Have I ever? Yes. As ones business becomes increasing past client referral, agents migrate to the lower hanging fruit requiring less need to work it.

Jun 23, 2019 05:16 AM
Rainer
213,263
Dennis Swartz
Full Circle Property Management - Columbus, OH
MBA, GRI...experience counts!

yes-lots of times and never come close

 

Jun 23, 2019 03:56 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Paul,

We never needed it for our practice...I have known people who have made $$$ and some who have not.  A

Jun 23, 2019 09:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Years ago Sandy did and no; never broke even.

Jun 23, 2019 07:39 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

no, I have never.....I make my own phone ring....and we get referrals all the time from previous clients....

Jun 23, 2019 07:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

No, never.

Jun 23, 2019 06:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

What the hell Paul, your stuttering your question 4 times.

No I haven't paid because it seems return is low for others. My wallet is tightly closed.

Jun 23, 2019 06:42 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I have in past years... and yes, I earned more than I paid.

Jun 23, 2019 06:31 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Three - what exactly is a paid referral service . Is it buying leads online ? Are they exclusive ?

Jun 23, 2019 05:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I have never paid for a referral.

Jun 23, 2019 05:04 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Never signed up.Always thought the cost exceeded the return. Part of the 80% prediction of Kat Palmiotti.

Jun 23, 2019 03:50 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I have not signed up for or paid for a referral service unless we can count AR. I've received and given many referrals over the years. 

Jun 23, 2019 09:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Never was my thing.

Jun 23, 2019 06:29 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Very briefly, so I didn't waste too much time or money.

Jun 25, 2019 09:43 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Yes.

Jun 24, 2019 03:58 PM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

nope, did your submit button get stuck?

Jun 24, 2019 02:48 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

There is no good paid referral service. The BEST service is one that takes a percentage of the referrals. That way you really know if they are real, ready, willing and able to buy or sell. I have had good luck with those types of referrals and welcome them

Jun 24, 2019 11:45 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

I have not paid for any service monthly or upfront. At closing, yes & would do it again. 

Jun 24, 2019 05:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

The demons are alive and well on ActiveRain. Push the submit button and get 2 more questions. You got to love Gremlins...

Jun 23, 2019 11:45 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

I'm in Kat's 80%.

Jun 23, 2019 08:12 PM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

No, never have and likely never will. I doubt it would be a decent ROI.

Jun 23, 2019 07:59 PM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

Yes I have and luckily I have acutual come out on top with the money.  What I paid for and what I have converted into clients who bought.

Jun 23, 2019 03:09 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Seems to be a repeat here.

Jun 23, 2019 12:12 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

I told them I will get leads first if it pays off I am willing to give the broker a cut. 

Jun 23, 2019 12:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I did in my 1st year and I look at it as a typical rookie mistake Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS 

Jun 23, 2019 11:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I alredy answered this questions less than a minute ago.

Jun 23, 2019 11:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes

Jun 23, 2019 09:42 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

Are talking about buying leads or joining some referral network that has a buy in and once in agents refer to each other??? For me the answer is don't buy leads - never pay (or support) someone to get inbetween you and the public.  And I've never paid money to join a referral network.

Jun 23, 2019 09:38 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

No no

Jun 23, 2019 07:21 AM