Referral Scams and Annoyances

Who else is wasting cell phone minutes with these calls from places trying to sell us leads? I am getting 2 or 3 calls a day lately. I guess they feel that we are desparate in this market.

Anyway, here's what they do. They throw up some web site that allows internet searchers look for properties in any given area. They collect their names and email addresses and try to sell them to us. No strong leads, just anyone who is willing to submit their information on their site.

Here's what I do now; Phone rings, I answer (of course). They start, "Hi Todd, this mr./mrs. friendly name from so-and-so-location..." I say, STOP. "Are you a referral service?" "Yes" they state. I say, "Are willing to be paid at closing if I sign a Compensation Agreement or are you looking to be paid upfront?"

CLICK!

They usually hang up before I can ask to be removed from their list. Try it. If they are willing to be paid at closing, they are a legitimate company with real people looking for homes.