25 dollar bill for showing a home?

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25 dollar bill for showing a home?

Just got an email where the builder will give you a 25 dollar bill (not really, just 25 dollars)

for just showing one of their homes (as long as you have a client with you).

25 bucks

I am not really sure how I feel about this little incentive? My initial reaction is that if the home is worth seeing I am going to show it to my clients, incentive or not...

I do not think I would want the incentive at all and I am not sure my clients would appreciate it if I was showing a home and got a little money on this side...

What are your thoughts?

Charles McDonald
PRINCIPAL BROKER

Charlottesville Real Estate
Solutions for Buyers and Sellers

(direct) 434-515-1585

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate on 07/23/2009 10:49 AM

Comments (19)

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Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: 25 dollar bill for showing a home?

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19 Comments on 25 dollar bill for showing a home?

JUL

2009

My thoughts are to grab my husband and neighbors and go see the homes....grab the cash and have lunch. Stupid idea :)

Seems like a cheap idea to me.

Either the property is worth showing or it's not.

Besides, what to stop an agent taking 1000 of their closest, or not so close friends, through the property? There is probably fine-print to this silly offer.

is it really ethical?

That is not an incentive for me. Either it fits my clients needs or it don't. It's a cheeseidea in my opinion. Oh and Charles don't forget to sign the disclosure paperwork showing you received more than just your commission...lol

I wouldn't be showing the house just to get the 25 bucks, but if it fit my buyers needs and I personally thought it is a good choice Why Not? I would take the 25 bucks. I wouldn't show the house any differently than I would show any other listing. I represent the buyer and his/her needs.

$25.00? Why not $27.50 Why not 30.00? Stupid idea.

Why not offer 4% closing help to buyer and 3% commission with a $1000.00 bonus to buyer agent for closed sale?

That's what I'm talkin about!

Instead of offering $25 dollars to anyone walking through the door with a client, they should create some sort of contest where you could win a bigger prize. I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

Boy I think that could be a RESPA concern depending on who is funding this giveaway. I'd be afraid to except money for showing homes when working with client...Ethical, I don't think so...

Charles,

I think it is worse than a stupid idea.....and I don't feel it is ethical in the least. I would flat out refuse...I would show the house if it fit my clients needs...period!

Charles-I'll come to C'Ville you can collect the $25 and we will go out to lunch. Seems like a move guarenteed for hungry agents to bring friends and family to pick up some quick change. Unethical yes but it will happen.

JUL

2009

Cindy - LOL, that was my thought too...

Take the 25 and go to lunch (but I hate to do another disclosure)

H-m-m-m. I like Cindy's idea. Lets do lunch...

Helping you live your American Dream...

It would never entice me to show a home. I know many builders last summer when gas prices were double this...offered gas cards to agents that came out to see there homes. I cannot say that would bring me out either.

So, is it ethical? That is the question? My thought is that you are going to get a bunch of agents that will show just to get the $$$...same ones that always show for the free lunch! :o) If it is worth showing, then do it. You have to give props to the agent for their creativity! Look, even you are talking about it! :o)

JUL

2009

Charles

I appreciate incentives when we go on Realtor tours ( caravans ), but agree with your thoughts in regards to the builder. Besides If someone needs 25 that bad, they need to get into another line of work.

JUL

2009

I may open a can of worms, but from a buyers perspective I questioned the suggestion from my Realtor during the sale of our last property, to offer an "incentive" to Realtors to encourage them to show/sell my home. I knew what I was offering was the best priced, only staged, home of it's kind on the market at that time. Would Realtors choose to show my property, BECAUSE I was offering an incentive, or because it best matched their buyers needs? Do you see that as different from the Realtor offering an "incentive"?

JUL

2009

Cheryl - I think extra incentives to show any home is wrong.

If a home meets a clients needs then we should show it, if not then do not...

JUL

2009

I have heard of builders giving a card for gas and did not think it is wrong to do so.

JUL

2009

He doesn't place much value on an agent's time and sounds like he doesn't have much respect for them either if he thinks he can buy them.

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Charlottesville, VA

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Charles McDonald 434-515-1585

Address: Charlottesville Real Estate Solutions, 2013 Woodbrook Court, Charlottesville, VA, 22901

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