Thread: Friends as clients?

No we don't want friends as clients.

Marketing / Selling to or for friends is just another level of "Networking". The approach may be slightly different but I would not turn it away.

When I say slightly different I mean slightly as you do not want to come across unprofessional which could get you a lot of negative publicity. If something goes wrong, manage it professionaly and you will be seen as the one that "solved the problem..." (where the other agent wouldn't have .. !!!)

Third party approval plays a big part in marketing, thats why sports stars get those huge sponsorship deals. People are more likely to buy / do business with someone they know and trust so your chances of sucess with your friends is probably higher than with a unkown client.

Plus, they will praise you to their friends so increasing your network...

I know an agent here who started a very succesful luxury real estate business only on the basis of selling to a few friends initially, lucky for him (and because he was in that social bracket himself) most of the deals were in excess of 3million euros ... at 5% commission, you do the maths ....

No, I wouldn't turn away friends, they could be your best clients.

I would represent my friends as buyers, but I would be a little hesitant to sell their place... I guess after some discussing if we could keep it stricly professional and not let it get in the way of our friendship than that would be ok.

It completely depends on depth of friendship. There are some friends to whom we can't say anything and to some we can. So I think it completely depends on depth of relationship.

Why? we also get some more clients with a friend/...
That's why we need to invest first to a friend..

It's hard to have friends as clients but it can be rewarding if done right. It can really be awkward selling to your friends.

Thats a good point you wouldn't want to damper your relationship until you see your competitors sign in there yard. People sometimes get talked into stuff way to easy. This happened to me last week. I think its the nature of the biz to sell to everyone you should just edjucate your friends and family that much more and maybe even give them a deal.

We recently helped a friend sell their property and it was worth it. As long as you serve them, it shouldn't be an issue.

Good ideA... Just treat your friends as clients for the practice work...
and also in real treat your clients as friends...so the client will not hesitate to share his own view with you...