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Susan Haughton, Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results. (Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545)

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Ambassador
6,662,159
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Several options Susan...

  1. They dont trust people in their own organization.
  2. They are impressed with everything they have read about you online and elsewhere.
  3. They would like to get to know you better and would like to have you working in their firm eventually.
  4. Possibly a scammer pretending to be someone that they are not.
Jul 20, 2016 04:49 AM
Ambassador
2,704,537
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Recruiting?

Crummy Buyer that will look at 100 houses before changing their mind?

      ? ? ?

Jul 20, 2016 08:03 AM
Rainmaker
5,774,095
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Susan,

It is a recruiting maneuver.  We saw it with a company that was moving into Northern California when we were living there.  One of the agents they were after was our client who was harassed day in and day out by them.  A

Jul 20, 2016 03:46 AM
Ambassador
5,156,253
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

My first thought is a different way of recruiting. Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice would say

Jul 20, 2016 03:45 AM
Rainmaker
3,074,289
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

Bob Crane nailed this one...

Jul 20, 2016 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
1,535,414
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Very interesting.  I like some of the answers you've received on it too.  Never thought of it as a recruitting thing.  I'd at least call them and take the client.

Jul 20, 2016 07:54 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

As one who has gotten referrals from agents in franchise offices, I have a different take.

The quality of the buyer is so poor that no one wants to pay a referral fee on them.

Eve

Jul 20, 2016 06:24 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

I would return the call and get to the bottom of it.  If it is recruiting tell them you aren't interested.  I always tell folks I'll probably die with a baloon over my head!

Jul 20, 2016 04:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Susan Haughton I agree with Jeff Dowler CRS . Here's a referral. When you close the deal, come and work for us.

Jul 20, 2016 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
5,095,750
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I think they want you to come work for them.

Jul 20, 2016 03:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,772,017
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Defiantly a clever recruiting attempt Susan.

Jul 20, 2016 03:41 AM
Rainmaker
282,068
Nancy Robinson Ranked #6 in MI
Century 21 Town and Country - Royal Oak, MI
#11 Century21 Realtor in the US, #16 in the World

Just sounds like a scam of some sort

Jul 26, 2016 12:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,435,300
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Susan,

 i have read many answers here and I think it is recruiting are you going to call?

Jul 23, 2016 09:31 AM
Rainmaker
550,279
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in N Houston & Corpus Christi

I would call, find out about the client and then ask the question why they chose you.  Sometimes I believe people to honestly look for someone who would make a good fit to the client instead of just reaching out to a big name company.

Jul 23, 2016 01:58 AM
Ambassador
3,385,933
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Could be they have been reading your blog and like the way you do business.  I will often stray from our own company when making referrals to find the right match, even if I don't personally know who I am referring to.  I read up on the posts here on AR and get a sense of the personality.

Jul 21, 2016 10:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,007,423
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Sounds like a scam to me

Jul 20, 2016 11:14 PM
Rainmaker
5,460,219
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

You are being recruited!

Jul 20, 2016 10:17 PM
Rainmaker
8,125,230
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Be thankful for referrals if they are real. You may have been recommended.

Jul 20, 2016 09:39 PM
Rainer
213,318
Dennis Swartz
Full Circle Property Management - Columbus, OH
MBA, GRI...experience counts!

I would call and ask them-perhaps they are recruiting you, or the buyer found you on the internet and likes what they saw? Why not call?

Jul 20, 2016 07:16 PM
Ambassador
3,763,935
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

 That is really odd.  Now I'm wondering who the brokerage is!  

Jul 20, 2016 03:44 PM
Rainmaker
4,322,035
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Susan Haughton - well, they must have generated an Internet lead that they don't know how to handle.....

And still want to recoup their marketing dollar by referring to successful agent like you!

Jul 20, 2016 03:29 PM
Rainmaker
2,234,859
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

Your question had me scrolling down to see some of the answers. My first thought was that the quality of buyer was bad (as another member answered). Recruiting?...I'm not so sure. I have had the big box offices recruit me and they do this in a pretty straight forward manner. 

I would return the call. See what happens. Then tell us about it. 

Jul 20, 2016 02:04 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,346
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Maybe no one in their company is willing to pay them the referral amount on a relocation?

Jul 20, 2016 02:03 PM
Ambassador
3,210,579
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I got a call like that and it turned into a very heavy recruitment to purchase a franchise.  Ugh.

Jul 20, 2016 01:49 PM
Ambassador
3,218,363
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Susan, I stopped being brand centric with referrals after getting to know so many people here.  AR is my first choice for referrals, so perhaps they researched you and preferred what they could find out about you vs. the directory info for their own brokerage.  Although if they work for a CERTAIN brand that I won't name, I'd assume it was some type of back door recruiting pitch since it seems to be sacrilege to consider referring outside of their own brand.  Bill

Jul 20, 2016 01:21 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,138
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

That would make me curious too thinking the same questions you have in your mind. I however would make that call and ask everyone of them.

Jul 20, 2016 12:54 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,473
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I haad this several years ago.  I thought like you.  but I got a call asking me to join their company...They even offered to buy me out.

Jul 20, 2016 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
931,418
Jeff Pearl
Samson Properties / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Maybe trying to recruit you? Otherwise, it makes no sense.

Jul 20, 2016 08:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

If it is not a recruiting scheme refer them to an agent in your office that could use the experience.

Jul 20, 2016 08:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,840,724
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

It is out of the norm and your woman's intuition is alerted to it. Go with that

Jul 20, 2016 08:15 AM
Rainmaker
519,824
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

I had a friend in another town try to refer a seller to me, but I already knew who she was.  She had listed her home several times and then canceled.  I had been referred to her by a family member and intended on asking, "why will this time be different from the others" before seriously considering it. 

After about 6 different listings, none with me, she did finally sell, but my friend who referred her to me was told she wasn't welcome in his office by the broker. 

Jul 20, 2016 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,584,478
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

A form of sabotage ..... keep the producers busy with high maintenance buyers.... but that's how this Armenian thinks!!! 

Jul 20, 2016 07:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,713,581
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Call back and find out otherwise you will be wondering later if you should have.

Jul 20, 2016 07:11 AM
Rainmaker
1,393,633
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

I'd call.

Others have suggested it's a recruiting move, but I think it's an ethical violation to lure you in saying they have a referral. Therefore, if it is a recruiting move, you know all you need to know about their business.

Jul 20, 2016 06:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,869,168
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Obviously you don't like their style & I'd go with your hunch. OR ... they are going to say this BS something to the effect of 'you don't want a referral'? 

Jul 20, 2016 06:13 AM
Rainer
216,960
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

Return the call and see how you can be of service.  If it is a bait game, be upfront and tell them you appreciate the compliement, but not interested....blah blah...better to be known as the eternal optimist and professional...

Jul 20, 2016 06:05 AM
Rainmaker
2,810,604
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Susan - If it is a recruiting move as many have suggested, it's either dishonest or unfair to their own agents and it tells you a lot about what working for them would be like.

Jul 20, 2016 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,799
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Head hunting remains in vogue with Realty companies. You must be putting a pinch in their attempted domination Susan. Good for you!

Jul 20, 2016 04:04 AM
Rainmaker
637,534
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Recruiting? Did it come from the broker or one of their agents? If it's an agent, maybe he/she admires you and wants the best of his/her client.

Jul 20, 2016 04:02 AM
Rainer
97,916
Carol Wilson
Your $imple Home - Toronto, ON

In case you are flattered, enjoy the moment.  But if you see them being disrespectful of anyone, then take note: sooner or later that disrespect will fall on you, too.  It's just how people are.  And if they are prepared to steal everyone else's fruit of careful labour to grow good, professional agents without doing their own growing and tending, then that already sounds disrespectful to me.

Jul 20, 2016 03:59 AM
Rainmaker
4,721,936
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

That does seem odd.   I might call because I can be a curious guy.   Do you think it's a recruiting call?   

Jul 20, 2016 03:16 AM