[mstiles]

Got a call from a realtor yesterday. He is some one I know because he used to work construction. Now he thinks he is king realtor. Anyway he gave me the name of some people last year that I ended up doing a small job for. Now he tells me he has some people who are his 'best friends' that need some work done. And in almost the same breath he tells me he needs to be compensated for 'all this work' he is getting me. He wants me to add 5 % to his best friends estimate to kick back to him. The work his friend wants done sucks. It is a crappy band aid on a house that really needs a lot more work. If I didn't know the guy I would probably just pass on the job. I have been asked by builders to buy add space in their prospectus or at worst do a little project at their house, but no one has ever straight up asked for cash. I think I should type up an estimate and include a line that says "5% for your best friend."

[Stonehenge]

Put together a program for him - when he brings you $500,000 in work, you'll give him a $10,000 check - but not a minute before he brings you half a mil in work.

[Fine Edge]

Yea, kickbacks are only reserved for a really nice, profitable job.
I'll throw people some $$$ once in a while for their referral but only after I have made sure our profit margin is met and the client is almost surely going to refer us to more of their friends.

Kickbacks for dinky jobs don't exist in my world. Sounds like he should be paying you a kickback to do this job.

[Dale Wiley]

Another confirmation that realtors are under builders and are lower than whale on the bottom of the ocean.

I routinely pay referral fees all the time. But my rate, my terms and if and when I want to. I have one guy who makes about
$ 1,000 a year in referrals. Of course his referrals are responsible for almost $ 100,000 in PROFITABLE work.

[mrusk]

If you do the job, buy him a taylor ham, egg, and cheese and call it even.

[GLAN]

No one tells me