From: "Rick Hess" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Do real-estate agents receive kickbacks from inspections?
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:41:00 -0600

"David Barrett"  wrote

(snip)
> So we called our real-estate agent telling her she did not
> need to arrange a termite inspection.  She was strangely insistent that
> we have our own inspection done and cast aspersions on the seller's
> company and made arguments that did not seem to make any sense. (we are
> paying cash so there is no lender involved.)
>   It seemed to me that the best explanation for her behavior was that
> she was receiving sales commissions (kickbacks) from the termite
> inspection company.  My wife was unwilling to believe this about such
> an otherwise nice person.
>   Am I paranoid?

I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but most agents I know are a bunch
of greedy bastards who often do not act in their client's best interest.
Steering their clients toward establishments who wine and dine them, or
offer kickbacks is but one example.

RE agents, like accountants, attorneys and PMs, all have their place with
investors.  The best way to handle them is to tell them what you want to
do -- not ask them how to do it.
-- 


Rick Hess
New Orleans
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