Forum Archive

How would you handle this situation…

You’ve emailed with a broker who tells you to go talk to an owner about their apartment. You make an appointment with the owner directly, see and want the apartment, and then the broker – whom you’ve never met or signed anything with – tells you that their fee is 10% the yearly rent and that if you want the apartment that you have to cough up the fee – even though you’re already dealing directly with the owner.

The broker did make the connection, which is a service for which he should be compensated. Still, he didn’t show the apartment, nothing was signed, and 10% (another broker we spoke with actually wanted 12!) is crazy at this point anyway…

Do you offer a small compensation, nothing at all, or walk away from the messy and expensive prospects?

Any thoughts?