real estate agent/ friend and referrals/fees (houses, to buy)

[beesto]

Our real estate agent and friend helped us a couple of years ago and since then we've changed our location we want to buy in and she has given us two different referrals in different areas where the agent agreed to the referral fee. Now we don't want to work with the last agent she referred us to (not her fault, I gave her the name to call after researching on the interenet... she spoke to her and liked her, but it just wasn't good chemistry when we met.) Anyhow, now I want to work with an agent I saw as we went to open houses. This agent knows I liked her and was interested in working with her (I told her I wasn't too happy with my current agent.) Is is OK for our original agent to still call this agent and ask her for a referral fee or would that seem ridiculous since the new agent knows I met her and liked her already and am just giving my first agent her name to call her and ask her for commission. Someone told me the commission comes from the sellers agent anyway. Anyhow... I want to help my friend get a commission, but I also want to be able to interview agents and not have to depend on them agreeing to a commission. What do you think?

[Ultrarunner]

I think you are making it harder then it has to be...

The goal is finding what is right for you.

If you have a good repore with the agent you met on your own at the open house... why complicate things.

A referral is just that...

[Fueler]

Originally Posted by beesto

What do you think?

I think its ridiculous to even consider asking an agent that YOU met to pay your friend a referral fee when they didnt refer this new agent.

[DMenscha]

I've had that happen to me before. Client finds us on his own and then I get a call from an agent saying "I'm looking for a referral fee". Hated it, but offered them half of the usual referral fee and gave them a stern lecture about the concept of referring customers.

NAR's code of ethics has a golden rule clause. Most Realtors ignore it. Another reason I'm not a member anymore.

[jaypee]

IMO, as a client, what happens after I say "So-and-so referred you to me." is none of my concerns.