So today I got a phone call from century 21 regarding a local branch wanting to have me as their exclusive pressure washer and have me in their portfolio.
I’ve wanted to work with a realty group for leads, and the price is only $400 for the year. My question is, has anyone here taken this opportunity? Did it work out for you? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but it just seems like a really good option and wonder if there is some kind of catch.
At $400, I might risk it, but much over that if my payback isn’t 3 to 1, with very little work on the front end, I usually pass.
Be careful. This is in my actual contract.
“For properties currently for sale or rental properties, 50% is required prior to starting work. For clarification, the only instances we have ever NOT received payment on the completed work was for properties in this status and as such we now require a 50% deposit. We understand that a deposit can be a sensitive subject, but you will receive a complete refund of your deposit within 1-3 business days should you decide against having your project completed.”
Am I understanding this correctly?
You have to pay them in order to be their pressure washer of choice.
Unless you are sure that good paying work will be forthcoming, I would not pay that. I would agree to pay a reasonable percentage of each job until I had paid that $400.
I am in with the largest realtor in my area…it has not brought any work at all. The people selling the homes will not put more money into them to improve the curb appeal. Actually, I think they are getting the yard guys to do what little cleaning they are having done, because it is cheaper.
Thank you for that. I think at 400 dollars, I’ll take a chance at it. One job will pay me back the fee. I’ll be talking with the lady more tomorrow and ask her more questions.
I was a Century 21 “preferred vendor” it didn’t pan out. If they are honest they will tell you that to make it work you have to basically “camp” in the selected office so you develop a relationship with the agents etc. Starting out is seemed like a good deal since I wasn’t that busy etc. I got one job out of it after 2 years. I was in the agent hand out folder etc. I’m not saying you couldn’t make it work, especially if you live somewhere that has an “off season” so you can go sit and meet them etc. You generally won’t be working for the “agent” but for the actual homeowner.
They do offer payment options. Maybe a percentage is one of them. Also worth asking.
That disappointing to hear. I work a lot, so I don’t have time to “camp” out and mingle. Where is your service area? Is it busy there? So even with you in the portfolio, you weren’t getting calls. I assume they either didn’t recommend getting the home cleaned or already had someone in their personal network.
OR…could be like the folks in my area…they will not spend the money to clean their house that is listed.
I tested the waters out with a few of the big realtors in this area. They all want kickbacks. Who ever is giving the biggest one is getting the recommendations. It all seemed kinda shady. I found I got better results with a more direct approach. A glossy mailer aimed at a home owner trying to increase their homes worth while cutting the middleman out. Also most realty web sites have a new listing section thats more useful than any single realtor. Not saying it’s the most appreciated approach but it seemed to net better profit than giving 25% to a realtor.
Sha. Zam. Thats beautiful.
I have never thought about that. Phenomenal advice. Thank you.
Working for agents is akin to slamming your fingers in a car door. Feels so good when you are smart enough to quit doing it
hilarious
My wife is a Realtor (one of the top ten in the area, no less) and I agree with this. I refuse to join her board’s “associate member directory” that the agents give to clients which features all the preferred home service companies because instead I just stop by all the homes for sale with signs in the front yard and leave a marketing piece. I will say this though, none of the agents here want a “kickback” of any kind, that’s actually against the law in KY, they just want the job done quickly so I always move agent referrals to the front of the line and the referrals keep pouring in… No money out of pocket and I do more real estate work than probably anybody in the area.
I’ve neen burned to many times not getting paid. Plus they want it for asap. They put that in their emails lol. I’m usually 3 months out on the schedule when it’s slow.
I never have. I just take the check from the owner’s hand and put it in my shirt pocket when I’m finished with the job…
While i may not have nearly the experience or background in the professions as most here, there have been 2 instances this past year where i squeezed a last minute job the afternoon they called for a company becuase house was being showed the next morning and previous people looking at house commented on nastyness… the other i pushed a job back in the day to get to a house done in the morning.
One of the jobs they were generous and paid a tad more than i charged. Both took all my info, expressed their appreciataion and told me they would be calling anytime they needed anything.
Not a big deal, i didnt know them from Adam, but i was somewhat hopeful. No calls from them again. I personally wouldnt pay up front to have a chance to Bid a job… now throwing them a percentage of any work they throw to me, yeah… have a few landscape guys that will call if they dont wanna hammer away on a ladder for 8 hours at a job. I always throw them a bone.
It’s probably illegal here too but these people are shameless about it. I actually said that to a gentleman once and he told me it was a “grey” area. I never looked into the legality of it but it’s defanitly happening here.
My wife is a Realtor (one of the top ten in the area, no less) and I agree with this. I refuse to join her board’s “associate member directory” that the agents give to clients which features all the preferred home service companies because instead I just stop by all the homes for sale with signs in the front yard and leave a marketing piece. I will say this though, none of the agents here want a “kickback” of any kind, that’s actually against the law in KY, they just want the job done quickly so I always move agent referrals to the front of the line and the referrals keep pouring in… No money out of pocket and I do more real estate work than probably anybody in the area.
I agree with this. I’m currently in Southern California, and I have an agent who has referred me 4 jobs in the last 8 months. No expectation of kickback whatsoever. Just cleaned her house the other day, actually. Gave her a $20 discount as a thank you. We’re all good.
On an unrelated note, my wife and I are moving to Lexington KY in two weeks, and we’re taking our business with us. Glad to hear that KY is similar in this regard. Storm windows on the other hand, not looking forward to cleaning them…
Oops, forgot this is PWRA, not WCRA. Those four jobs were window cleaning jobs. I imagine the principle will apply the same way.
