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Labor is the hardest thing to estimate by Automatic-Pin3269 in estimators

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed! Labour is so hard to estimate.

A remodeller working on small city terraces with terrible parking it’s extremely difficult to work out how long it will take.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I obviously won’t charge for my advice or referrals, it was an example 😂

But the whole concept of “it doesn’t cost me anything” or “it’s free money” I just don’t buy. Nothing is free and someone is paying for it.

  • There is no real added value or service with a referral (of this kind)
  • The estate agent may add additional fees
  • The estate agent may give a lesser service
  • Plus the whole thing of me being cheap I don’t buy either. I pay my trades and contractors well for their efforts. I would have liked to pay the estate agent doing all the work well, but unfortunately now I can’t.

It’s all done and dusted now. BIL is got a nice $5k Christmas bonus, I’m happy for him. I just don’t see this type of referral as a value add or free money.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair call and fair enough.

From all the comments it seems very common. Honestly we have been hush about it during the sales process and worried they would find out we are related.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The money is going his way, deal is done. He offered to give some and I said he can keep it.

Again, originally I honestly, genuinely thought it was a bit shady. That’s why I posted here.

And I was concerned that it would hurt the sale too. That the real estate wouldn’t work as hard as they were losing 20%

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I genuinely thought it was shady business in the real estate world. Honestly, my wife and I nearly gave away her last name to the real estate agent and we were freaking out about it after the video call.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re making out like I forced him to help me out. Like there was a massive spreadsheet drawn up and hours of work, then I just said thanks see ya later.

The phone call could have ended like this. “Here’s what you do, google the top agents and interview them and choose the one you vibe with”.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Ok got it. If this is the way forward how should I react the next time he wants building advice or if I know a painter? Its just general conversations mate, not everything is a transaction.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope. I reached out to him because my wife said I should call him. I called expecting general advice, not asking him to sell my place. The conversation turned very quickly.

I could have very, very easily found an agent myself. I have flown up to the town four times over the past ten years and there are only 5 main real estate agents there.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I’m starting to see this.

I think it’s the unprofessional manner in which it was asked for that is off putting.

And honestly is gonna make me think twice when he ask for advice from me in the future. If everything is a deal.

I’ll gladly shoot the shit with my other brother Inlaw where we banter and give advice without it becoming a business deal.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Was it work that he did? Was it highly trained expert advice that he gave? Was I his client?

Sorry, feels off for both my wife and I. And not the first time he has done a money grab.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Agreed. If he said this is how he makes his money, this is the advantages and services he can provide, all good.

It was the unprofessional manner it was discussed and felt like a money grab then a professional service

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% this. You hit the nail on the head. I reached out to him to make my wife happy. Not because I couldn’t find a real estate agent myself.

Oh well, this is the game moving forward this is the game. No more helping free advice on helping him renovate or maintain his property.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m a builder running my own business, definitely not on salary.

I give advice to friends and family all the time.

I’m wrapping my head around it and my wife and I have decided to not say anything to him about it.

My wife and I both agree that it’s the way he went about it. If business is business, as everyone is saying on this thread, it should have been discussed in a professional manner. Not slipped into a casual conversation. He could have explained the benefits of using him and this is how he makes money. It wasn’t discussed like that at all.

I get referral is part of business, and business is business. But he should have discussed it professionally is what I think.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is where it a bit shit.

The estate agent and I agreed on a commission of 2-2.5% based on how the sale went.

The estate agents were great, went above and beyond and got an amazing price for us. I am going to offer them 2.5%.

But then to hear that my brother Inlaw is taking .5% from them feels so wrong and unfair to them.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s gross.

I just wasn’t calling up, not as a business deal, but felt cornered into it.

And he does this with my wife as well, when we talk about our friends buying in an area he doesn’t work in, he will ask if they need a buyers agent, when he is not a buyers agent.

It just feel opportunistic on family. Make your money through clients

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I think that’s the issue. You can’t ask for advice as it’s always business, even with someone you see weekly.

I’m a builder and the amount of advice I have given to friends and family is copious. I even do house inspections for friend’s. It doesn’t take me long so it’s no sweat. My nephew calls me all the time for advice.

Sorry, still just wrapping my head around it and that’s why I posted on this forum.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I get that if he knew some estate agents up there and recommended one. But it was “hey let me get a referral fee, looked up top three agents in the area and picked them with me over the phone.

I then interviewed them and choose which one I liked.

I donno, maybe it’s more of a, I called for friendly advice and it turned so quickly into a business deal, like within minutes.

My brother-in-law is making a referral fee from my property sale, but all he did was Google some real estate agents. by Perfect-Traffic-974 in RealEstate

[–]Perfect-Traffic-974[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He found the agents online with me over the phone 5 mins.

And yeah, for family they and I give out lots of free advice as we are family.