I occasionally have clients who don't have or have not committed to an inspector, attorney or mortgage company. They often ask me for a referral, which I happily give. I recommend good, experienced, local industry professionals who serve the clients well.
Upon occasion, the clients go their own route, with varying degrees of success. Sometimes it is fine, and I make the acquaintence of a new lawyer, inspector, or lender.
Sometimes it is a disaster.
Instead of using a local attorney who specializes in real estate, the client elects to use their 2nd cousin the litigator, or the free attorney they get gratis through their job or union.
Or, instead of using a local direct lender whose office they can walk into, they elect to use an Internet lender or mortgage broker 3 counties away who promise them a too good to be true rate.
Or, instead of a home inspector with professional affiliations like ASHI who owns a digital camera and will use it in the reports, they go with the guy whose website is more interested in selling franchises of his "brand."
When I ask people why they didn't choose to use the professionals I recommend, some have actually wondered aloud why I was so enthused about them. They say it was almost like there was something in it for me, like maybe a kickback.
Something in it for me. A kickback.
Well, as a matter of fact, there is something in it for me. I do get a kickback. There- I said it.
The biggest problem with using hacks you find on the Internet as opposed to tried and true, trusted referrals, is that they don't work together with me. They don't return calls. They don't solve problems aggressively. They don't get proactive. And that is fertile breeding ground for a crisis that costs you money. And in real estate, there are no cheap problems.
When you forgo using that union attorney, Internet lender or shady inspector and use a local professional I refer here's what's in it for me:
- We both get our calls returned promptly
- You'll get straight, superior advocacy,
- Problems will get solved faster and better
- As a matter of fact, there won't be any 11th hour issues that come up due to lender or attorney indifference, and no challenges or problems will be allowed to fester, since we'll all work together on your behalf.
- I'll have a teammate whose collaboration benefits you, and the transactions goes forward smoothly, competently, and with the fewest headaches possible.
A good transaction where your interests are served. That's my kickback. That's what's in it for me.
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