What does the compensation offering in the MLS say? If this is a surprise fee, write the offer so the seller pays the fee. If it is not in the compensation offering in the MLS, file a complaint with the Boad after the closing.

Say what? And was this fee to present an offer disclosed in MLS?

Not clear, do you have the buyer?

Sounds like you have permission to contact the seller, that helps.

Next, do you have a buyers agency signed with your buyer?

Have your buyer write this fee into the offer as something the seller will pay for.

Junk fees are what I call them!

Sure, write the Offer, reflecting the fee will be paid by the seller, unless that fee is clearly stated in MLS.

If they balk, report the agent to your MLS Board.

Unusual.  Is his limited service a Flat Fee listing? If so, he is only advertising in the MLS. Write the offer and give it to the seller.  Sounds like he is not getting paid the amount he wants from the seller so he is trying to drum up revenue by charging you.  Does he think he should get a referral fee? Yes, sounds fishy.

I don't understand, why is he writing the offer? I'd write the offer & send it over, then I'd call him off the hook. I like to try calling from different phone numbers throughout the day til the mope picks up. 

If you are representing the Buyer build the fee into the Seller contribution. You have permission to deal w/ Seller direct ask them what the fee is? Have not come across this fee scenario before.

That is wild!...is what I say.

Jeez. He wants to charge you a fee, or the buyer?
How much $? Is it worth whining about?

How bad does the buyer want the house? Ask him what he wants to do. If he asks what do you think I should do? I'd say can you walk away from this deal over what, 300 bucks if you don't get it?

Yeah?

I would write the offer, and in it, provision that such transaction technology or WTF ever fees to be paid by the seller. The seller wanted to do this cheap, he gets what he pays for. If he wants a deal.

If buyer's gotta have this house, and he's willing to pay it, all bets are off. Write it up, deal with the seller, make the deal for your client.

I'd move on Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS . What's in this for you?

Our state rules require a minimum level of service.  Part of that level is to negotiate on behalf of their client, also we are prohibited from telling another agent to negotiate directly with our client.

Doesn't seem right. Wayne's got a good idea. That's what I would do in my area.

If it is not in the mls then you do not owe it. He told you to call the seller so call the seller and present your offer to the seller per the listing agent instructions. The listing agent already got paid to put it in the mls so no need to even think about it.

Ask the buyer what he/she wants to do if they really want the house. Maybe they will pay the fee. But my first thought was " tell agent to eat manure and die"

I agree with Wayne Martin 

Interesting, I have no experience with this type of transaction.

Walk or run away, 

I'm assuming it's some kind of transaction fee in the $100 to $200 range. If this is the case and it's payable at closing I wouldn't worry about it - but that's just me. If it's the right place for the client and some 100ish dollar fee comes out at closing so be it. If I honestly  think there's a better home for my client, I'm pointing out as many "cons" about the home as possibe and directing the attention to something else. 

If its an up front fee to present an offer, I would be hunting down both the seller and the listing entity. Let them know that I have a good offer for them but neither myself or my client will be paying any extra fees and any and all exchange of funds will take place at closing.

Breaking News :  the state of Washington joins the Wild West. 

What's listed in the mls?  Anything can be asked but what has been agreed?

Guess, I am clueless.

Charge YOU a fee?  I am confused.  Is he offering you a fee to write up a deal on behalf of a buyer? What does MLS say?  Does the buyer have representation? It almost sounds like a FSBO.  Need more information to answer your question.  We have limited service real estate companies in our market, but full co-op fee noted in MLS.  We do negotiate directly with the seller - and do twice the work, but if the property works for our buyers, it can work.  We have closed a number of these successfully.

Our Board does not allow limited service listings. So many variables in this, but so many unkind things I'd like to say about the lister. 

I see a couple of these in my board too.  They call it a "technology fee".  I'd write it into the offer that it's a seller's fee or "buyer will not pay X fee."  There is a place in our contracts on page 5 for extra fees.  I'd put it there.

I agree with Wayne Martin 

That's a good one... never heard of it. I would present the offer directly to the seller, and let the seller figure that one out.

Haven't seen that but have seen fees disclosed in the MLS on rare occasions. Would do what Debe Maxwell, CRS said.

I have never heard of this before but have seen other junk fees in the MLS listings. I would not pay the fee since if the deal did not close, you or your buyer would be out the money. 

In our MLS limited service listings have to enumerate services provided, is that required in yours? I would call our MLS director first and ask if that is permitted then call our legal hotline for guidance before contacting the seller. Better safe than sorry. 

do the math, lay aside the judgment or obstacle and rise to the occasion. Why? We are seeking results not tangents or excuses. 

A situation to avoid.

Do you have a DUTY to your client to do WHATEVER the other side compels you to do?

Most agents say yes. Most agents are over-paid and will GLADLY pay other up to 50% (often more for white tower franchises) of their compensation for the PRIVILEGE to do so.

But. lets not stop there.BROKER established this precedent by imposing fees on their agents and encouraging their agents to pass that fee to the other side disguised as a MLS fee or marketing fee.

Let's not overlook the revelation some BROKER add a service fee if they are required to write a commission check to THEIR agent.

If you see a problem with this 'deferred responsibility' business model, it may be time to start kicking the a** of some BROKERS.  (yep, it may require a collective effort from those who are in the menu.)

What ever the agent chooses to do, be aware, the only face the client sees is the one they will place blame upon.  It going to take courage to choose to be different and stand up to brokers who see agents as fungible assets.

I agree with Wayne Martin 

Wait a second while I get my 10' pole out of my trunk.

I have a theory about what might be happening.  It IS fishy!

Hi Paul, is this F#X%A, a local company that has advertised a lot?  I did one deal with them and it wasn't a big deal. Another agent I know got burned, paying a non-refundable fee within 5 days and then backing out.  Everything was disclosed, but they didn't enjoy the experience. 

I'm not sure I'm following this.  Are you the buyer's agent writing an offer to his seller?  Then the commission should be posted in the mls.  Why do they want to charge you a fee for bringing their seller a buyer? If you are negotiating the offer directly to the seller than I would suggest bringing this to his attention.  I wouldn't pay that fee.

As Captn' Wayne wrote. The seller obviously is a penny pincher so let him pay the fee

Low budget new fangled brokerage?  Don't pay an upfront not refundable fee

Well, if they contracted you for MLS % minus their fee ( for the lead) after COE, why not? The issue with these companies: the leads are cold and do not care about working with you.

Just say NO.

The seller went to a limited service company that wants to charge others for their limited service. Does that make any sense at all?

I say stop dealing with nutties..... 

unless the fee is outragous I'd write the offer and pay it... if it's in the best interest of my client.

Very odd and I would talk to your Broker

This is a new one to me.

Doesn't make sense.

If it's not notated in the MLS, write the offer. If the offer is not presented, I would report them to the board of realtors. Doesn't sound legit.