Realtor contacting me with potential tenants!

[Mark Benevento]

A realtor keeps contacting me with potential tenants, what is the proper/legal way to turn them down if I don't want to give referral fee? Thanks!

[Walt Dockery]

What I have done is simply say "I am more than happy to show the property to your client, however I want you to understand up front I am marketing this property myself, have received a high degree of interest doing so, and don't pay realtors any type of referral fee". If they're working in the best interest of their client, they'll still show it to them IMO.  If not, plenty of other fish out there. 

The above assumes you're having a good level of interest in the property. If you're having difficulty finding a tenant you might want to consider a referral fee.