My Reputation Is Behind Every Referral I Make
One of the questions I get asked most often as a Vermont Realtor is whether I know someone who can help with a particular project.
Do I know a good home inspector? A reliable electrician? A painter who does excellent work? A real estate attorney? A mortgage lender who will actually return phone calls?
And usually, the answer is yes.
Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with professionals across Vermont, from contractors and tradespeople to lenders, attorneys, inspectors, and other service providers.
But I want to be clear about something: I don’t recommend someone simply because I know them. I recommend them because I have confidence in their work.
I’m Erin McCormick, a Realtor with Keller Williams Vermont, and I take referrals seriously. When I give someone a name, I’m putting a piece of my own reputation behind that recommendation.
Whether I’m helping a client prepare a home for sale, navigate a purchase, or find someone to tackle a project after closing, I want the professionals I recommend to reflect the same standards I hold myself to.
And those standards go well beyond being good at a particular trade.
I Prefer to Recommend People I’ve Worked With Personally
Whenever possible, I recommend professionals I’ve had firsthand experience with.
That might mean someone I’ve hired to work on my own home, a contractor I’ve worked with on a client’s property, or an attorney or lender I’ve partnered with throughout multiple real estate transactions.
I want to know more than what someone’s website says about their services.
I want to understand how they actually operate.
Do they show up when they say they will? Do they communicate clearly? Is their work consistently good? Do they stand behind what they do? How do they respond when something doesn’t go according to plan?
You can learn a lot about a professional from one successful project.
But I think you learn even more from seeing how they handle unexpected challenges.
I’ve worked with enough people over the years to know that technical ability is only one part of providing excellent service.
And when I’m recommending someone to a client, the entire experience matters.
Reliability: Do What You Say You’re Going to Do
This might sound like a low bar, but reliability is one of the qualities I value most.
If you tell someone you’ll be there on Tuesday at 9 a.m., I expect you to show up on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
If you commit to sending an estimate by Friday, I expect you to send it by Friday.
And if something changes, I expect you to communicate that.
I understand that contractors get delayed, emergencies happen, and schedules don’t always unfold as planned. That’s part of doing business.
But there’s a big difference between an unexpected delay and a pattern of failing to follow through.
In real estate, reliability is especially important because so many things are interconnected.
A painter may need to finish before a photographer arrives. An electrician may need to address an issue before a closing. An inspector’s report may be necessary for a buyer to make decisions within a contractual deadline.
When one professional doesn’t follow through, it can affect everyone else.
I value people who understand that their commitments matter.
Responsiveness: Communication Is Part of the Job
If you’ve worked with me, you know I have high standards for communication.
And those standards extend to the professionals I recommend.
I don’t expect someone to answer every phone call immediately or respond to emails at all hours of the day.
But I do expect reasonable, timely communication.
If a client reaches out to schedule a project, they should receive a response.
If someone requests an estimate, they should know when to expect it.
And if there’s an issue, I want the professional to communicate it proactively rather than wait until someone has to chase them down for an update.
I think responsiveness is one of the most underrated parts of excellent service.
A contractor can be incredibly talented, but if they’re impossible to reach, difficult to schedule, or consistently leave clients wondering what’s happening, that affects the overall experience.
And when I refer someone, I don’t want my client to feel like they need to ask me to intervene just to get a phone call returned.
Being good at your job includes being good at communicating with the people who hire you.
Fair Pricing: Not Necessarily the Cheapest
I don’t believe the lowest price always represents the best value.
That’s true when you’re choosing a mortgage lender, evaluating contractors, or hiring someone to complete a project around your home.
I want the professionals I recommend to charge fairly for the quality of their work, their expertise, and the service they provide.
That doesn’t mean they’re always going to be the least expensive option.
And frankly, I wouldn’t necessarily want them to be.
Experienced professionals who do excellent work, carry appropriate insurance, invest in their businesses, and stand behind their services deserve to be compensated accordingly.
But I also expect pricing to be reasonable, transparent, and consistent with the scope of work.
I appreciate detailed estimates, clear explanations of what’s included, and professionals who are upfront about potential additional costs.
I don’t like surprises when it comes to pricing, and I don’t want my clients to experience them either.
If a project becomes more complicated than originally anticipated, I want that conversation to happen before unexpected charges start accumulating whenever possible.
To me, fair pricing is about value, transparency, and trust.
High-Quality Work: The Details Matter
Of course, none of the other qualities mean much if the work itself isn’t good.
I want the people I recommend to be excellent at what they do.
If I’m referring a painter, I want someone who takes preparation seriously, protects the surrounding surfaces, and pays attention to the finished product.
If I’m recommending an electrician, I want someone who performs safe, code-compliant work and takes the time to explain what needs to be done.
If it’s a home inspector, I want someone who is thorough, knowledgeable, and capable of helping a buyer understand the property’s condition without creating unnecessary alarm or minimizing legitimate concerns.
And if I’m recommending an attorney or lender, I want someone who understands their responsibilities, anticipates potential problems, and manages the details carefully.
The specifics vary by profession, but the underlying principle is the same.
I value people who take pride in their work.
People who don’t cut corners.
People who care about getting things right, even when nobody is watching.
I Pay Attention to How People Handle Problems
Here’s something I’ve learned from years of working in real estate and business leadership: you can’t evaluate a professional solely by how they perform when everything goes according to plan.
The real test often comes when something goes wrong.
Maybe a project takes longer than expected.
Maybe a repair doesn’t fully resolve the issue.
Maybe a lender encounters an unexpected underwriting requirement, or an attorney discovers a title concern that needs to be addressed.
Problems happen.
What matters to me is how someone responds.
Do they take ownership? Do they communicate clearly? Do they work toward a reasonable solution? Are they willing to acknowledge when they’ve made a mistake?
I don’t expect perfection from the professionals I work with.
I do expect accountability.
And I have a great deal of respect for people who are willing to stand behind their work and make things right when necessary.
I Want Professionals Who Treat My Clients Well
This is another consideration that’s incredibly important to me.
I don’t want to recommend someone who does excellent work but treats clients poorly.
The way a professional interacts with people matters.
Are they respectful of someone’s time, property, and budget? Do they answer questions without making the client feel foolish? Are they patient when explaining something unfamiliar?
Homeownership can involve complicated decisions, and not everyone has experience hiring contractors, reviewing inspection reports, or comparing mortgage products.
I want my clients to feel comfortable asking questions.
I also want them to feel respected, regardless of whether they’re hiring someone for a small repair or a major renovation.
Excellent customer service shouldn’t depend on the size of the project.
Different Professionals, Different Standards of Expertise
While the values I look for are consistent, the specific qualifications matter depending on the type of professional.
When I’m recommending a home inspector, I want someone who understands Vermont housing stock, including older homes, private wells and septic systems, heating systems, and the issues that can arise with rural properties.
For lenders, I prioritize communication, knowledge of available loan programs, and the ability to manage financing deadlines effectively.
With attorneys, I value experience with Vermont real estate transactions, attention to detail, clear communication, and sound judgment.
For painters, electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople, I want to understand their experience, workmanship, and ability to complete the type of project being considered.
And when licensing, insurance, or other credentials are relevant, those should be verified for the specific work involved.
I don’t believe there’s one professional who’s right for every situation.
Someone who does exceptional work on historic homes may not be the best fit for a new construction project. A lender who’s excellent with conventional mortgages may not offer the specialized financing a particular buyer needs.
Part of making a thoughtful recommendation is understanding the actual need.
Sometimes the Best Recommendation Is Someone I Haven’t Used Yet
While firsthand experience is my preference, I also recognize that Vermont is a small state with a wide variety of specialized needs.
There will be times when a client needs a service outside my established network.
In those cases, I’m careful to distinguish between someone I’ve worked with personally and someone whose reputation I’ve learned about through other trusted professionals.
I may ask colleagues for recommendations, review credentials, or help identify potential providers worth interviewing.
But I’m not going to present someone as a personally vetted recommendation if I haven’t had that experience.
I think that distinction matters.
And I always encourage clients to do their own due diligence, particularly when hiring someone for a significant project.
Why I Don’t Recommend People Just Because They’re Friends
Living and working in Vermont means building relationships.
I know a lot of people, and I value those connections.
But friendship alone isn’t enough to earn a professional recommendation from me.
Someone can be a wonderful person and still not be the right fit for a particular job.
And someone can be excellent at their trade but not meet the standards I expect when it comes to communication or reliability.
I think it’s important to separate personal relationships from professional recommendations.
When a client asks me for a referral, they’re not asking who I like.
They’re asking who I trust to do the job well.
Those aren’t always the same thing.
My Recommendations Are Never Obligations
I also want clients to know that a referral is just that: a recommendation.
You’re never obligated to hire someone because I’ve suggested them.
If you’re buying a home, you’re free to choose your own inspector, lender, attorney, or other professionals, subject to any applicable transaction or lender requirements.
If you’re selling a property, you can select the contractors and service providers you’re most comfortable working with.
I encourage clients to compare estimates, ask questions, review credentials, and make decisions that feel right for them.
And if I have more than one qualified professional who might be a good fit, I’m happy to share options.
My role is to help you make informed decisions, not make those decisions for you.
I also don’t consider a referral a guarantee of someone else’s future performance. Even professionals I’ve had excellent experiences with can have scheduling limitations or encounter unexpected challenges.
But I take care in making recommendations because I want to increase the likelihood that my clients have a positive experience.
A Good Professional Network Is One of the Most Valuable Things a Realtor Can Offer
One of the benefits of working with an experienced local Realtor is access to relationships that have developed over years.
And I don’t just mean knowing someone’s phone number.
I mean understanding who does good work, who communicates well, who has experience with certain types of properties, and who can be counted on when timing matters.
Sometimes that means knowing the right inspector for an older farmhouse.
Other times, it’s knowing which lender may be familiar with an unusual property or which contractor has the expertise to evaluate a particular repair.
I’ve spent years working in Vermont real estate and building relationships throughout the state, and I consider that network an important part of the service I provide.
But I also know that a professional network is only as valuable as the standards behind it.
A long contact list doesn’t mean much if you can’t confidently recommend the people on it.
Every Recommendation Reflects on My Reputation
At the end of the day, this is what it comes down to for me.
When I recommend someone to a client, I want that client to have a good experience.
I want them to feel that their time was respected, that the pricing was fair, that the communication was clear, and that the work was completed to a high standard.
And if something doesn’t go as expected, I want to know that the professional will respond with integrity and accountability.
I take pride in the relationships I’ve built, but I don’t take those relationships for granted.
A recommendation from me isn’t just a name and a phone number. It’s an expression of trust.
And trust is something I believe should be earned through consistent performance, professionalism, and the way you treat people.
Whether you’re buying a home, preparing to sell, or simply looking for someone to help with a project around your property, I’m always happy to share the names of professionals I’ve had good experiences with.
Because helping someone buy or sell a home is only part of what I do.
I also want to be a resource long after the transaction is complete.
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Erin McCormick | Realtor, Keller Williams Vermont
Founder, Travel Like a Local® Vermont | Live Local Vermont