Paying agents for "advertising"

[Joe Van Orsdol]

What do you consider to be "reasonable" to pay an agent for "advertising" on their website and preferred vendor status for referrals? I don't do much of it but am trying to determine a proper ROI.

[Ted Menelly]

What do you consider to be "reasonable" to pay an agent for "advertising" on their website and preferred vendor status for referrals? I don't do much of it but am trying to determine a proper ROI.

It is paid for referrals. As far as the return on investment? What are you investing in? Paid for referrals? You may want to check yourself on that. Direct paid for referrals from any Realtor as far as myself and many if not most states is just a wee bit frowned upon.

Your card mixed in with a mass of other inspectors in an office is completely different as long as no one walks over to the board and points you out directly or stands from afar and says grab Joes card over their.

[Nick Ostrowski]

I'd save the money and put it into developing your own website and advertising.

[Nolan Kienitz]

Reasonable = NOT ONE RED CENT!!!!

I would not budget any funds for anything related to such with agents.

Also, in Texas I could and would likely be fined by our licensing agency for violating The Rules we are licensed under.

Regardless of the TREC Rules ... I would not spend anything for advertising with zoids.


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[CHARLIE VAN FLEET]

paying an agent for referrals--CAN YOU SAY AGAINST THE CODE OF ETHICS- if you have any

cvf

[Raymond Wand]

Verboten to pay for referrals by all inspection associations.

Don't do it. The agents will take your money and then give you nothing.

[Frank Adame]

A Realtor "Team Leader" emailed me to complain two weeks ago about charging her client a return inspecton fee. The buyer told me twice that her Realtor said all the utilities were on. At the inspection I found the water meter missing. The "TL" said none of "her good inspectors" would charge anything to return, why should I. She promised to include me on their preferred vendor list (for free) if I disregarded the return fee. I wrote her back asking her if this was a bribe. I added that maybe TREC should decide. She promptly reimbursed the buyer. I do believe I am not going to be on her "good inspector" list.

When I was starting out, I saw 2 bulletin boards at a large Realtor office. One had nothing but BCs on it and the other had both BCs and flyers. They wanted $250 a year for one and $500 year for the other. I didn't take either and that decision didn't hurt my business in the least.

[Ted Menelly]

A Realtor "Team Leader" emailed me to complain two weeks ago about charging her client a return inspection fee. The buyer told me twice that her Realtor said all the utilities were on. At the inspection I found the water meter missing. The "TL" said none of "her good inspectors" would charge anything to return, why should I. She promised to include me on their preferred vendor list (for free) if I disregarded the return fee. I wrote her back asking her if this was a bribe. I added that maybe TREC should decide. She promptly reimbursed the buyer. I do believe I am not going to be on her "good inspector" list.

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I was told pretty much the same thing years ago. She said it was absurd that I charge to reinspect a home I already inspected. She likened it to ripping off the client. She also stated that anyone that "worked for her" doing inspections has ever charged her for a return fee.

Well, I really don't want this to turn into a vulgar post so I would imagine you know the exchange that went back and forth. Especially when the termite inspector charged a return fee as well. She was screaming over the phone in the middle of the office. She actually demanded I do my job I was "already paid for". No, I did not get that referral from the Realtor. I got the referral from a previous client. You can pretty much bet I received no more referrals from that office as well.

[Garry Sorrells]

There really should be a criminal consequence for extortion and conflict of interests.
Referral Fee and Advertising with Realtor really are basically the same thing in my book just a different twist for appearance sake. Still basic extortion.

Reasoning is thus:

Realtor reasoning: If I charge a referral fee I have to actually refer some one to make a buck. If I get an advertising fee I do not have to do anything and I get paid and I can claim ignorance if any thing happens.

Referral Fee = Potential Liability Cost & conflict of interest charge.
Referral List with a payment to be on, touted as advertising is just a front loaded referral payment fee.

Advertising Fee = $$$$$$$ and no repercussions and is just a front loaded Referral Fee.


Then there is the question of situational ethics where the HI says it is just the way business is done and it is what I need to do to do/increase business. In NYC you have to make payments to the union or others to make sure you can get the contract for the trash collection or to ensure workers show up to work..

[Wade Hancock]

Reasonable = NOT ONE RED CENT!!!!

I would not budget any funds for anything related to such with agents.

Also, in Texas I could and would likely be fined by our licensing agency for violating The Rules we are licensed under.

Regardless of the TREC Rules ... I would not spend anything for advertising with zoids.


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+1 (same here)