Vikki Goodwin’s Austin Real Estate Weblog

I send out information emails to buyer prospects all the time. In one of my emails, I explain that my services as a buyer’s agent are free to the buyer, they don’t cost anything. Today, a prospect replied back to me saying “don’t cost me anything? Do you mean that the seller won’t take 2.5% less for the house if I come in without a broker????” He goes on to say he is “looking for a kick back of at least 1/2 the commission.” Now, I don’t know what business he is in, but I just have to wonder if his clients ask him for kickbacks, too? Personally, I don’t work that way. I earn what I make and I certainly don’t appreciate it when anyone asks me for a kickback. To me, the dictionary could use the word kickback when defining GREED. This particular buyer says he will be looking in the $1-2M range. Well, to be in that price range, he should be earning a nice little salary, or perhaps like me, he works on commission. So, he’s making some money for himself, but he wants a kickback!!! I always say you get what you pay for, and what goes around, comes around. I wrote back to Mr. Mike Weingart of Chicago, Illinois and kindly let him know I don’t provide kickbacks. And you know what? I really do hope Mr. Weingart stays in Chicago, thank you very much.