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For those who followed my original thread, I am happy to report that my boyfriend and I finally found the right house to rent in Port Washington after losing out on one and then seeing many others that were either too expensive, not right for us, or both.
After we lost out on the first place, the broker who showed it to us has gone above and beyond trying to find us another place, calling landlords to see what was opening up, sending me listings constantly, calling landlords/listing agents with our questions, sticking with us through several rounds of showings until we found the right place, and spending her whole day today trying to get our application through.
These actions may be the norm for buyers' agents, but I feel like most agents wouldn't put in so much effort just to help people find a rental house that carries a one month fee.
She just gave me instructions for the checks to write, and I realized that because there is another agent (the landlord's agent), she will only end up with $800 after her agency takes a cut (usually half, right?). We feel that she deserves more for all the effort she put in on our behalf.
We are signing the lease tomorrow, and I am wondering if it would be appropriate to give the checks she mentioned, but also write a check made out to her for a few hundred bucks as a tip/thank you for all of her time and effort. Would she be allowed to accept such a check? Is there a risk she would find that insulting?
I already wrote her a glowing review on Zillow, but we were thinking it would be nice to pay her a little extra. Good idea? Crazy? Is tipping common in sales, if not in rentals?
After we lost out on the first place, the broker who showed it to us has gone above and beyond trying to find us another place, calling landlords to see what was opening up, sending me listings constantly, calling landlords/listing agents with our questions, sticking with us through several rounds of showings until we found the right place, and spending her whole day today trying to get our application through.
?
So she did her job?
$800? Even if she spent 8 hours doing these things that's $100 an hour.
Do you get tipped for doing what your job description requires?
$800? Even if she spent 8 hours doing these things that's $100 an hour.
Do you get tipped for doing what your job description requires?
I am pretty sure she spent more time than that on us, maybe even twice that.
My boyfriend wants to give her the difference between what she will get on this versus if we had gotten the first place (same rent, but that was an open listing so she would have gotten double). I think that is going a little overboard, but I would like to at least do something to pay her for all the extra effort she put in. I feel bad because if I had called her 1 day earlier about the first place, she would have made double the money with a fraction of the effort.
Another option might be to get her a gift certificate to a restaurant she mentioned that she likes in PW. Would that be more appropriate?
And no, I don't get tipped for doing what my job requires because I am an attorney and I am pretty sure accepting such a tip would be an ethics violation. But plenty of people (hair stylists, auto mechanics, valet parking guys, movers, etc) get tips for doing what their job requires. I just wasn't sure if it is usually done in real estate? Do buyers usually tip their agents at the end?
She's working for future recommendations. That is worth a lot too. If it makes you feel better, get her a $50 gift card somewhere. I'm still recommending our agent from many years ago.
SHE WAS DOING HER JOB. We are at a sad state in our history where we are so shocked by people doing their job well. Sorry, don't get it, but do what you want. And tell her you will recommend her to anyone who will listen and if you decide to buy she will be the only agent you call.
I am pretty sure she spent more time than that on us, maybe even twice that.
My boyfriend wants to give her the difference between what she will get on this versus if we had gotten the first place (same rent, but that was an open listing so she would have gotten double). I think that is going a little overboard, but I would like to at least do something to pay her for all the extra effort she put in. I feel bad because if I had called her 1 day earlier about the first place, she would have made double the money with a fraction of the effort.
Another option might be to get her a gift certificate to a restaurant she mentioned that she likes in PW. Would that be more appropriate?
And no, I don't get tipped for doing what my job requires because I am an attorney and I am pretty sure accepting such a tip would be an ethics violation. But plenty of people (hair stylists, auto mechanics, valet parking guys, movers, etc) get tips for doing what their job requires. I just wasn't sure if it is usually done in real estate? Do buyers usually tip their agents at the end?
You do not know that for sure, all you know for sure is someone else got the other place.
She did her job and if I remember correctly being paid $50.00 - $100.00 per hour is a very good wage.
Tipping has gotten completely out of control and we do not tip anyone who gets paid a flat rate wage for actually doing their job.
For those who followed my original thread, I am happy to report that my boyfriend and I finally found the right house to rent in Port Washington after losing out on one and then seeing many others that were either too expensive, not right for us, or both.
After we lost out on the first place, the broker who showed it to us has gone above and beyond trying to find us another place, calling landlords to see what was opening up, sending me listings constantly, calling landlords/listing agents with our questions, sticking with us through several rounds of showings until we found the right place, and spending her whole day today trying to get our application through.
These actions may be the norm for buyers' agents, but I feel like most agents wouldn't put in so much effort just to help people find a rental house that carries a one month fee.
She just gave me instructions for the checks to write, and I realized that because there is another agent (the landlord's agent), she will only end up with $800 after her agency takes a cut (usually half, right?). We feel that she deserves more for all the effort she put in on our behalf.
We are signing the lease tomorrow, and I am wondering if it would be appropriate to give the checks she mentioned, but also write a check made out to her for a few hundred bucks as a tip/thank you for all of her time and effort. Would she be allowed to accept such a check? Is there a risk she would find that insulting?
I already wrote her a glowing review on Zillow, but we were thinking it would be nice to pay her a little extra. Good idea? Crazy? Is tipping common in sales, if not in rentals?
I personally would issue a heartfelt thank you. There is no need to TIP at all..... You can go ahead and tip if you so wish and money is plentiful... Its not like she will reject it.
SHE WAS DOING HER JOB. We are at a sad state in our history where we are so shocked by people doing their job well. Sorry, don't get it, but do what you want. And tell her you will recommend her to anyone who will listen and if you decide to buy she will be the only agent you call.
Good luck with the new place.
It is a sad state where we are, very few people in the servicing industry do their job well, IMO. We tip extra when we notice someone going above and beyond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CSD610
You do not know that for sure, all you know for sure is someone else got the other place.
She did her job and if I remember correctly being paid $50.00 - $100.00 per hour is a very good wage.
Tipping has gotten completely out of control and we do not tip anyone who gets paid a flat rate wage for actually doing their job.
Agents dont make $50.00 - $100.00 per hour, that was the likely breakdown for her involvement on this particular transaction. And its not like agents finalize a transaction a weekly, it could be weeks till the next one. Im sure she would really appreciate a GC of some sort and as previous poster stated, imo too, another check is tacky.
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