I am very cognisant of this fact and appreciate all the recommendations I get from my past clients as well as friends, neighbors and acquaintances.
below is an excerpt from a JD Powers article I though of interest
One of the best ways to find a real estate agent is through a referral from a family member, friend, co-worker, professional or other person you trust — who recently experienced a successful real estate transaction.
Fewer then half of home buyersand sellers indicate their agent asked them to provide a referral or recommendation to a friend or family member, according to recent J.D. Power and Associates', "2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study".
"Positive recommendations are a critically important driver of new business for agents, and there is ample opportunity for improvement in this area," said Jim Howland, senior director of the real estate and construction practice at J.D. Power and Associates.
"Particularly during tough times in the real estate market, asking for referrals and recommendations should be considered an essential part of doing business," Howland added