My initial thought is to advise them to continue to offer the fee to avoid alienating buyer agents, especially if this is how buyer brokers are creating their short lists to share with clients.

As an investor-focused agent in the Cleveland market I always have my clients write the following contingencies in when buying a house that's tenant occupied:1) Offer contingent on home inspection- usually a 7-10 day contingency period, this contingency allows you to either A) move forward with the deal B) renegotiate the price if issues are found, or C) walk away from the deal2) Offer contingent on appraisal if you're going financing3) Seller to provide copy of current lease agreement4) Seller to provide a rent roll/tenant ledger with proof of payments received5) Seller to provide copies of 3 previous months of any utilities paid by the landlord6) Seller and tenants to fill out Estoppel Certificate.

This is what you have been doing for ten years.You may have clients and students with results.

We had to do this up in NJ because one of our property management clients refused to listen to us regarding the plan for improving their property.

I have several developer clients in KC.

Some of my clients have new carpet in a house they purchase and know full well it will need to be replaced in 1-2 years, and then they do LVP. 

My clients and I are using DSCR loans on our multi family acquisitions.

For example, I work with insurance relocation companies to house their clients who lost their house.

My name is Neil and I have  recently  worked with my  first  client in setting  up  a  real estate business and in order to get started, I am interested in deal evaluations and making offers as a wholesaler and with creative deals in the Los Angeles area.

*This post does not create a CPA-client relationship.