Press Release

Weichert Referral Associates Reaches New Milestone

- More than 10,000 associates referring real estate leads for extra income -

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ – Weichert Referral Associates Co, Inc., an affiliated company of Weichert, Realtors^®, announced today that its network now includes more than 10,000 referral associates. In their role, Weichert referral associates quite simply and literally pass along real estate leads to active sales associates for follow-up. 

According to Weichert Referral Associates president, Janet Iveson, if you’d like to get involved in real estate sales without becoming a full-fledged sales associate, now is the perfect time to consider joining the swelling ranks of Weichert Referral Associates.   

“Real estate has long been a topic that people want to talk about and get involved in. That interest only keeps growing. We’re always receptive to talking to new people who want to become engaged in the process of helping others purchase or sell a home, but for whatever reason, prefer not to make real estate a full-time commitment at this point,” said Iveson.  

The “leads” that referral associates pass along may be neighbors who are moving and will need to put their house on the market, an acquaintance interested in buying a home, or a builder friend getting ready to break ground on a new project. Weichert referral associates can also refer leads for rental units, timeshares, and commercial properties.  

Once that referral is successfully converted into an actual closed sale, the Weichert referral associate receives a portion of the real estate commission as compensation.

Iveson’s favorite story involves a limousine driver who regularly gave leads to a Weichert

sales associate but, because he “couldn’t be bothered” getting his real estate license, was receiving nothing more than a handshake in return.

Eventually, he was persuaded to get licensed, and in true “Driving Miss Daisy” fashion, his very first referral as an associate was an elderly woman that he’d been driving to and from the airport for 35 years. On one trip, she mentioned that her house had become too much for her and she was ready to sell.  Long story short, her house was a Long Island, N.Y., estate that sold for $8+ million dollars. Along with his usual handshake, the limousine driver was handed a referral check for $93,000. 

Iveson said, “Referring friends or acquaintances to a knowledgeable professional who can help with their real estate needs can be a very gratifying way to supplement your income – or the stepping stone to a satisfying full-time career in real estate.”

To become a Weichert referral associate, it’s necessary to obtain a real estate license. Iveson said that while many referral associates were once full-time sales associates, many others never pursued a real estate career after getting licensed, but simply enjoy the extra income that referring leads can generate. 

Believed to be the largest referral company in the U.S., Weichert Referral Associates is licensed in 22 states and can make referrals anywhere in the world. In areas outside the Weichert office network, the company refers business to respected local brokers. 

For more information on becoming a Weichert referral associate, contact Weichert Referral Associates by phone at 800-544-3308 or send an e-mail to referral@weichertrealtors.net.

Weichert has more than 18,700 sales associates in nearly 500 company-owned and franchised sales offices in key markets throughout the U.S. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance. For more information, call Weichert's customer service center at 1-800-USA-SOLD or visit Weichert's Web site, www.weichert.com. Each Weichert franchised office is independently owned and operated.