Yes & no... a buyer told me he expected part of my commission as part of any transaction (after I'd shown him a few homes), claiming his last agent had done that.  He was not licensed.  I didn't work with him after that declaration.

If I am asked up front to reduce a commission, I actually resent it. If down the road, repairs are adding up and we are runing into financial difficulty, I am ore open. In general, I like to be able to decide when I wish to offer a discount and don't respond well when it comes up in the very first conversation.

I actually just get into the HUD and find other areas that can be cut besides commission.  You would be amazed what you can find when you look.  

I haven't had buyers ask me this. I don't think I would like to be asked this question. I would respond with a NO. Now if a transaction was in process and something was needed to get the transaction closed, I might help out the situation. It would depend on a lot of factors. 

Debbie - sure have and I won't do it. Did you ever ask your surgeon to reduce his or her fee to make sure the operation was a success?

Reduce it for what reason??  The BAC is a co-op fee split advertised commission.  It has nothing to do with my client getting the home.  The "deal" is not contingent on negotiation the BAC to benefit the buyer.  People just don't understand how it works. I coughed up $1,000 of my commission once when my clients were too freaking cheap to sign off . . . and it was $1,000 difference.  And now, years later, they're sitting on over $50,000+ in appreciable equity -- thanks to me!  I don't cough up anything these days.

I have done a couple of small adjustments over the years. It was at the end and we were pennies from being able to close with clear title.

Last case, was the listing agent, asking for part of the commission, since her client's property did not appraise.  I told her quite frankly, I was not paying because the property was priced to high and did not appraise.

We get many buyers approaching listing agents direct asking to make a deal, many are from abroad and don't understand our processes or it is just natural for them to negotiate and try to get a better deal.

I have sometimes been asked by agents to kick something in to make a deal close, I have done it occaisonally but try not to open the box.

Yer, very often they do. When I was a newer agent I let them take advantage of me all the time.

Debbie Reynolds - yes, some of them do. Not always, though. 

I think real estate agents work hard for the money, have bills to pay and it shouldn't be asked by a buyer to cut commission.

I have had a buyer, where I had to reduce my commission to cover the undisclosed one-time Captialization Fee. It wasnt listed on the MLS nor was it listed in the Seller's Disclosure Statement. The selling agent somehow seemed to think it was "both our bads" however, they would not offer to split this cost out of our commissions. 

I have never had a buyer ask that. I have fixed a few things right before closing to help my buyer, but they didn't ask, I just did it. I have had listing agents ask me for $$$$. Guess what response they got?

It's  the "Gift That Keeps on Giving"  once you open your wallet to your buyer It's Owed to them! I had a Short sale listing that a First time buyer with theyre own agent bought, then at crunch time the selling agent who was broke and theyre buyer who was strapped came calling for Big dollars to close the deal I said no the Lender stepped up and paid them plus the HOA Transfer Fee's then who did he call? You guessed right wanted me to reimburse him that's what listing Brokers due on short sales  he said and I discusse this with your Qualifying Broker needless to say I stuck him with it,  as it was his choice and I gave him one Refferal Buyer then told him you got your money now, and never again will I send you a loan! 

I did it once Debbie and will never do it again. The deal was going to fall apart and it was my listing on a very expensive house. Both myself and the buyers agent had to throw in $1,000 and if ever faced with that again I would hold strong at no.

How about you?

Yes, and I have on occasion.  But not often.  I have even given a small personal loan.  Short term and have never had any problems.

Just like Cindy Davis  and Andy Madrid I will work with the other agent to make a deal work. Sometimes we share unanticipated costs. Sometimes we both show up in jeans and gloves to finish a clear out. I like working with folks who will do what needs to be done to get the job done.

If the request comes directly from the client AFTER an agreement is in place, the answer will be no. Have they asked? yes. How did I response. "Which room of the house do you not need?" Silence. "I should not have asked you to do that. Sorry."

I haven't been asked by my buyer client but I have been asked by the listing agent if I would absorb some additional costs to close the gap.  I have only done it once because I knew that the deal would fall out because of it.

I hve had buyers ask about me putting part of my commission toward their costs - I explain I dont do that, and why would I? Needless to say, he has still not bought a house, and is bouncing from agent to agent...

People who want something for nothing are not the type of people I want to work with, and will avoid them. There will be more demands and problems later in the transaction.

I have however shifted some commission into a deal to close a gap and keep it together, but never at the request of my client.

Only if they are putting me on the deed.

I tell them that the commission agreement is between the seller and the listing agent and not something that I will or can negotiate.

Once.  Their lender suggested it as the cash to close amount had changed.  I asked them if their lender had shared with them that the lender could contribute to get the deal closed??!! 

It has happened when buyers are interviewing agents. I talk about discount brokerage and discount services. I don't work with them.

I was not asked to do so, but I am paying for a septic inspection on a vacant lot. The inspection was cheap because there was no pumping involved. I was in dual agency and I want to make sure the transfer happens properly. My mistake, so I paid.

Yes, I did one time. And, both me and the selling agent reduced our commission to get the house SOLD.

I've had Buyers ask me for part of my commission BEFORE we go out for the first time. My answer usually puts that to bed immediately but if they insist I tell them there are probably other agents out there willing to help them.

No, I've not had any buyers ask so far (knocking on wood). I have made concessions, with the other agent cooperating, to make something work where both parties just would not bend in a couple of cases  to keep the deal together, but it's been a long time.

Sellers yes, but not buyers.  That said, I've sometimes paid for a last-minute issue.  I once bought a horsey swing for a swing set, because the seller took it with her.  Just so you know -- it cost more than I would have thought possible!

I've done it in the past without buyers even asking knowing they truly couldn't. Not something I like to do though.  

Yes they ask all the time, bith buyers and sellers. Each case is different and i do think about it, but do not always do it as most time they dont need it, they just want a bnetter deal at my expense.

I would ask them if their boss ever asked them to put money into the pot.

I have never been asked that question, but I have heard other agents say that they have had to do it to save the deal  I do  not discount my commission and I donnot 

Yes but in our area if you list a property for 5%- 2.5 and 2.5, the property is rarely shown, stays on the market longer and and ends up losing money with values dropping and paying more mortgage payments. I only had 2 houses that I listed for 2.5% and neither one sold. Both got mad and rented them and of course were mad at me. I had advised them to not list for the lower amount. Now I just say NO.

Depends on the situation.  Normally the answer is no.  Here in Arizona I dont cost the buyer anything to work with me, as long as the property is listed on MLS.  For free, they get an amazing amount of service and knowledge as I help through out the entire process, all the way until after sign, close, and record.   I dont know of another situation where someone works this hard for a client, who never pays them.  That being said, this year buyers asked that I reduce my commission and was told if I did they would list their home with me once we completed their purchase.  I performed.  They did not.  Next time, get it in writing.

Of course. Doesn't happen often but it does happen. I tend to be okay with that to get someone out of my car and on to the next deal -Assuming they aren't asking for a lot - sometimes a little contribution from me makes them feel they are okay to give a lot on their side.

Oh Debbie Reynolds you have asked a great question.  My reply (still haven't been able to use it as I have never been asked) would be "don't ask anything of me you wouldn't ask your heart surgeon before they operate".

I have been asked by attorneys, by sellers and agents on the other side of  the deal, but never by one of my buyers.

I have not kicked in. First, the commission does not belong to me, so making any reduction in the commission (which is one way of them asking me) is not going to happen. I tell them to ask Warren B..... (just kidding about WB) 

As far as out of my own pocket.... nope. 

I have been generous when things have been needed by my own client. Bought one young couple a washer and dryer. 

Don't believe I have been ask but I have on the HUD lower my fee when a deal needed it.

Not recalling any buyers asking me this ... 

but, So many times by a seller . I bend at times, and often at listing time not during negotiations. One of my standard remarks includes if I cant negotiate for myself how good will I be negotiating for you ! My intentions are alway, 100% of the tme, to get the seller the highest and best sale. 

I've never had a buyer ask. I've had a few sellers ask if I knew of any place they could find some more money, ha, ha, ha, and I have at times helped them to find that place, which was not my pocket, btw. To "help make the deal come together" sounds sleazy to me, as though they should not be buying that home, maybe? Every once in a while on a short sale I might pay an extorted demand from the 2nd bank if the lenders don't object and it's been enough of a hassle that I want it over, but I rarely, if ever, contribute anything to "make a deal work." The parties themselves tend to satisfy that request.

A very good question.

Clients themselves would not have been asking us for the handouts had we not encouraged them to do so. In certain communities where I work, this has become a norm. As the industry is flooded by too many agents vying to grab the slice of the pie, some of them resorted to advertising 'money back' to attract clients. 

Now to have I been asked to give up? Yes.  

Have I given up some part of my commission? Yes, but only in form of re-inbursement for home inspection of Lawyer's legal fees...but only after closing

Rajeev

Help make the deal come together? 

There's an old saying that goes, "I don't share in your profits, so don't ask me to share in your losses".

Debbie, this has not happened to us on the buyer side.  Has happened on the listing side.

Some people ask you to reduce your commission just to get a better deal, but yes, that happens occasionally.

Yes it has happened and we agreed with some negotiation. Often the public feels like they feel the pain and so should we if we want a payday. Conditions must be right, however; like a tight money situation for the seller, etc.

I have never had that happen.  I work hard for my money.  Does your boss ask you to do that?

See Cindy Davis 's answer because that is mine, as well. 

No, but when at closing table and toilet kept running in final walk through and Buyer was not going to close without some answer, the Seller's agent beat me to the punch on offering $100 to have Buyer buy "buoy kit" at Home Depot and install it themselves.  That is a down to the wire situation and most agents would do something like that.

If a Buyer is asking early on,  I would side with Randy Leaf on this one.  I question their true ability to purchase if they are scrounging nickels and dimes in their search...would hate to see someone be foreclosed upon and would point out to Buyers that price point may be higher than their comfort zone. 

No. I have not had this situation come up. I don't know that I would do this anyway. Depending on the people and the situation I may consider it.