If you're a first-time buyer or seller, and none of your friends or family have recently moved, enabling you to locate a referral, what do you do? Do you open the yellow pages, close your eyes, and pick a Realtor? A Web site called Refer Me USA helps home sellers and buyers locate successful agents and brokers throughout the country and overseas, as well.

Refer Me USA is actually an organization of real estate agents based in Atlanta. Their talent pool encompasses home sales as well as vacation homes, commercial property, land, condominiums, and other types of investment property. And although this group is based in Georgia, they're not limited to this region. Instead, these agents spend their time tracking real estate agents in other parts of the United States and the world in order to accommodate consumers' needs. Refer Me USA receives its referral fees from the agents and brokers in its database -- not buyers and sellers. Similar to the typical real estate transaction, Refer Me USA only receives a profit if a transaction is completed. If a consumer is referred to an agent but ultimately does not complete a transaction, Refer Me USA gains nothing.

Users begin by completing an online referral form and indicating in which area of the world they are seeking an agent or broker. Within 24 hours, consumers are matched with a contact person -- one of the Atlanta-based agents -- who will be their source of communication throughout the search and referral process. And within 48 hours after submitting the referral form, users are e-mailed the name of an agent and his/her contact information (the agent to which the consumer is being referred is e-mailed the consumer's contact information simultaneously). Referrals to agents based overseas occasionally take longer than 48 hours.

Refer Me USA steps back at this point, stressing that it's up to the agent and consumer to make contact with one another. The organization doesn't have exclusive contracts with any particular real estate agency; instead, it refers consumers to agents and brokers from many different companies throughout the United States and the rest of the world. The organization's screening process takes into consideration such factors as number of years of experience, awards or distinctions received (multimillion-dollar sellers, for example), and for any specialization -- new homes, condos, vacation homes, or land, to name a few examples.

Particularly unique is the site's "Investment" link and service, which connects consumers with agents and brokers specializing in investment properties. Because such transactions can be much more complex than home-sale transactions, consumers making first-time purchases or sales of such properties need a degree of individualized attention above and beyond the average home buyer or seller.

Refer Me USA also maintains a large pool of agents and brokers who specialize in new home sales; the site dedicates a link to that facet of its referral business.

Regardless of their geographic location, agents are encouraged to submit their information to Refer Me USA for consideration. Agent members receive a monthly newsletter keeping them updated on the organization's referral activities.

If you're a buyer, seller, or investor looking for an agent or broker in Georgia, you're likely to have the highest degree of success with this site. Because the organization is based here, its staff has extensive knowledge of market conditions throughout the state, with coverage in nearly every county. But regardless of where you're headed, Refer Me USA is a good place to start. Even if you ultimately decide not to use the agent to whom you are referred or you decide not to complete your transaction, Refer Me USA makes easier what often proves to be the hardest part of the process -- finding a quality agent. Moving is stressful enough. This site literally offers to do your preliminary legwork for you -- and at no cost.

Published: September 15, 1998

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Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Courtney Ronan only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.