Agent/Broker Split Opinion

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Agent/Broker Split Opinion

Lindsay Ferguson
Member since 2021 · 2 posts · 0 votes

Hello fellow agents! I'm really looking just to get non-biased opinions on an issue. I've been with my current broker for 8 years. Typically, we get 70/30 for a sphere sell. I recently had a sphere of mine reach out to me directly about buying a house, and we actually closed today. Hooray (kinda)! Well that sphere of mine just happens to be my broker's ex-girlfriend. They dated years ago and are now both married to other people. We live in a fairly small town so a lot of people know the same people, etc. Naturally I expected a sphere split to me of 70/30. Well when I approached the topic in the beginning, he said "not my sphere, not your sphere, so 50/50." So naturally I challenged that (because again, she reached out to me directly), and I guess this made him mad and he then decided that after "further reflection," she is actually his sphere, therefore I get 30% and he gets 70%. I'm irate. I feel like I've been cheated by someone that I've been abundantly loyal to. What would you do in my situation? Help! 

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  • Dan Maciejewski
    Realtor · PInellas County Largo, FL · Member since 2016 · 902 posts · 810 votes
    5y

    Leave.  That's the kind of thing that I really can't get over.  I've been a walk away with minimal notice kind of guy.  That's probably why I'm in my own business now.  

    My thought:  you will never be able to work together the same again.  And someone that can arbitrarily take your money (no matter who's in the right) will absolutely do it again and probably has before.  

    If it's such a small town that there aren't any other brokers, that kind of stinks for you.  

    As far as the money, I don't know if it's worth it to file a complaint or if it would even get anywhere.  Technically t's his business and since you both know the client, it would be a gray-ish area that you'd have to trust a board to decide on.  I'd say 50/50 -- The brokers on the board would probably side with him and the agents might side with you and no clue how the other parties would sit (assuming your board is made up like ours).  

    I would say the hassle isn't worth the time you will lose or the possible few thousand dollars you could claw back.  I would chalk it up to the cost of learning and make sure I learned from this.  My lesson would be that anything gray-ish like this needs to be discussed up front well before closing.

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  • Lindsay Ferguson
    OP
    Member since 2021 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    5y

    Thank you, Dan! I think I agree that the best option is just to leave. But it still stings. Just knowing that his decision was based on sheer emotion (because how dare anyone challenge him), and not based on what's "fair," should be enough for me. I've been on this "team" for 8 years, so the thought of going out on my own is just a little scary. It's a small town, but not TOO small. There are plenty of other brokerages.

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  • Dan Maciejewski
    Realtor · PInellas County Largo, FL · Member since 2016 · 902 posts · 810 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Lindsay Ferguson:

    Thank you, Dan! I think I agree that the best option is just to leave. But it still stings. Just knowing that his decision was based on sheer emotion (because how dare anyone challenge him), and not based on what's "fair," should be enough for me. I've been on this "team" for 8 years, so the thought of going out on my own is just a little scary. It's a small town, but not TOO small. There are plenty of other brokerages.

     Yes, that would be my issue.  I hate having my income determined by someone else's feelings.  Clients are another story.

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  • Mason Hickman
    Real Estate Agent · Sandwich, MA · Member since 2014 · 974 posts · 636 votes
    5y

    @Lindsay Ferguson

    I’m with you; compensation should never be arbitrary and needs to be formulaic. Too much room for emotions and hurt feelings if someone can arbitrarily decide how much to pay you.

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  • Jonathan GreeneBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Madison, NJ · Member since 2016 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    5y

    Leave right away. Not only is that ridiculous, it's likely an ethical problem for the brokerage. You don't get dibs on sphere after breaking up with them and moving on. Unless there is a paper trail of active participation between your broker and his ex (your client), you should be on a 70-30. Go to a different brokerage. Send it up the line to your broker's boss.

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