Why Stay In Touch With Your Real Estate Agent?

A real estate agent plays an important role in your home buying or selling journey. But, how often do you think about your real estate agent after the closing table? If you’re like a friend of mine and answer with, “I haven’t thought about them in years,” then you’re not alone. Also, maybe add that to the list of things not to mention to your agent.

I’ve asked many people about their past agents, and unless they were a friend before doing business, it’s extremely rare for anyone to have kept in contact with their agent. It’s a common, yet unfortunate situation because there are at least two compelling reasons why you should keep in touch with your agent after you’ve used their services.

1. Your Real Estate Agent Never Stops Working for You

Some friends of mine, let’s call them Cameron and Casey, bought their first home some years ago. Like many first homes, they loved it, but it was also a compromise. Still, they settled in and stopped looking.

What they didn’t stop, however, was keeping in touch with their agent, Charlie. They spoke from time to time, until one day Charlie approached them with their perfect home. Turns out, Charlie remembered Cameron and Casey’s true ideal home and never stopped looking for it, even after they had closed. Charlie never forgot what they really wanted in their forever-home.

Let’s say your active home-search window was 3 months. Think of the houses that came on and went off the market during that time. Now, imagine watching that market for 3 years. The chances of something great popping up is so much higher. That’s what happens when you stay engaged with your real estate agent.

2. You Will Probably Need Your Real Estate Agent Again

This reason is straightforward. Most people buy three houses in their life: the adequate first home, the perfect second home and the right-sized third home. Unless you fall into the third and final category, you’ll probably need real estate services in the future.

Finding a good agent is hard enough. Why start from zero if you can build on an existing relationship? If you decide to embark on the home buying process again, perhaps your previous real estate agent has experience as a listing agent or at the very least, recommendations of listing agents within their REALTOR^® network.

Even if you’re not ready to buy another house, working with a real estate agent to buy land has its advantages too. Since you already have a good relationship, they can help you do the research to find the right piece of land or connect you with a trusted “land real estate agent.”

How To Stay Connected With Your Agent

Say I’ve convinced you and you find it worth your while to stay on your real estate agent’s radar. Here are a few ways to maintain communication without overdoing it:

• Follow them on Facebook or Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. Agents will often create a professional social media account in addition to their personal profile.
• Send them your yearly family picture and any renovations or upgrades you’ve made to the house.
• Ask them from time to time what’s happening in the local markets.
• Invite them to a networking or public event in the area.
• But most of all, REFER YOUR FRIENDS to them.

A special note on that last point: Referrals are a crucial influence in this people-focused industry.

Referrals made to your friends, family, colleagues or neighbors remind your agent that you still trust and think of them well. Referrals show their impact on your home buying journey was beneficial.

Ask for extra business cards and pass them out when appropriate. Not only will your agent be glad to provide them, they’ll remember that you took the initiative to ask for them.

The Bottom Line

Staying in touch with your agent can be very beneficial. It helps them remember you if they come across your dream home, plus you’ll likely need their help again in the future anyway.

It’s never too late to say “thank you” to your real estate agent. Find inspiration with these real estate agent gift ideas.