Real Estate Lead Generation

5 Real Estate Referral Program Ideas

By Carolyn Vento Last Updated March 21, 2023 3 min read

One of the best ways to grow your real estate business is through referrals—ensuring previous clients recommend you to others who need your services.

Agents often wonder how to get real estate referrals efficiently. An easy way is creating a real estate referral program that’s organized and strategic.

Be authentic and always do more than what’s required, and you will have more success building your referral program.

Benefits of a real estate referral program

A systematized real estate agent referral program will help grow your business and increase brand awareness

You’ll make new contacts through a referral program and expand your sphere of influence, which is a good business strategy.

Creative ideas for a real estate referral program

Real estate referrals stem from providing high-quality services to clients. When they are satisfied, they will want to refer you organically. To increase your chances of referrals, consider incorporating unique tactics.

Here are five creative real estate referral program ideas to get you started:

1. Offer a referral fee

You can offer a percentage of your sales commission to other agents, also known as a referral fee, once you close a deal they’ve referred to you.

This incentive is a significant source of lead generation and income for agents nationwide. Remind agents of the areas you serve and what you have to offer, so if they can’t meet those specific needs, they’ll refer clients to you.

2. Host an event

The more involved you are in your community, the more people will think of you when they need an agent.

Host events to share your expertise with potential clients and increase your connections, whether they are virtual or in-person.

For example, you can host a housewarming party when your client closes on a new home and invite the surrounding community members. 

You could also host a gathering, like a cocktail party or barbeque, for former clients along with their family members and friends. 

3. Partner with other businesses

By working collaboratively with other businesses, you can get more referrals. Promote your partners with a preferred vendor list on your website or social media pages.

You also have a built-in network of opportunities with your brokerage. It’s a great place to share leads and receive referrals.

4. Offer a charity donation

Volunteering in the community and working with charities will help you develop relationships with people who could refer you to their friends and family members.

You can give back by donating to a local charity to show a sense of belonging in the community. A thoughtful way of donating can be sponsoring a local sports team, buying ad space in a program for a school event, or renting a table at a local fundraiser.

5. Share your success through social media

An online presence is crucial to your success as a real estate agent. Make the referral process easy for clients by creating a button on your home page that links to a referral landing page.

When you close deals, you can post about them and tag your clients so their friends and family will see them.

It’s also a good idea to share the latest industry news and to use relevant keywords and hashtags to show your knowledge and extend your reach. Email your former clients regularly, and encourage them to share these posts.

Optimize real estate referral programs with Virtuance

If you want people to think of you when their friends or family need real estate services, you must stand out in a crowded market.

You can accomplish this by incorporating Virtuance’s professional real estate photography. With high-quality photographs, 3D tours, and drone photography, we will ensure you are an unforgettable agent in your community.