Posting names on websites for non-payment

[Carl H. Lederhaus]

I have had only 1 person not pay me for my services. This lady called me and asked me to inspect a home she was buying as an investment. She had lost her husband and was told by her family that she should invest in some local properties. She hired a buyers agent and started looking. I did the inspection on a dump of a house. I wrote up everything that was wrong with it. She paid me on the spot and I e-mailed the report that night. When she got it she called to ask me if I would buy the house. I told her I could not discuss that with her. I told her to find a family member or friend to show the report to and the make your choice. The deal fell through because everyone thought like I did about the dump. I deposited her check in the mail 3 days later and found out she put a stop payment on it. I stopped at her home to ask why and she said that since she was not buying the house her agent told her she did not have to pay me. I explained to her that I get paid no matter what.
Well we went to her agents office to talk to him and she asked why he would have told her not to pay me. He said that my report broke the deal so I should not get paid. She paid me any way plus the fee I was charged for by my bank. Not only that, I got 6 more inspections out of her for other propertise. She hired another agent who looked out for her.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Payment due at the time of the inspection or before.

No pay... no report.

Never have any problems now.

Agreed.

I usually get paid at the inspection or before but I never give a report without payment period.

[Doug Edwards]

Originally Posted by clederhaus

I have had only 1 person not pay me for my services. This lady called me and asked me to inspect a home she was buying as an investment. She had lost her husband and was told by her family that she should invest in some local properties. She hired a buyers agent and started looking. I did the inspection on a dump of a house. I wrote up everything that was wrong with it. She paid me on the spot and I e-mailed the report that night. When she got it she called to ask me if I would buy the house. I told her I could not discuss that with her. I told her to find a family member or friend to show the report to and the make your choice. The deal fell through because everyone thought like I did about the dump. I deposited her check in the mail 3 days later and found out she put a stop payment on it. I stopped at her home to ask why and she said that since she was not buying the house her agent told her she did not have to pay me. I explained to her that I get paid no matter what.
Well we went to her agents office to talk to him and she asked why he would have told her not to pay me. He said that my report broke the deal so I should not get paid. She paid me any way plus the fee I was charged for by my bank. Not only that, I got 6 more inspections out of her for other propertise. She hired another agent who looked out for her.

Well, that agent is an idiot!

[Dominic J. Maricic]

I would say the agent is criminal!

[Carl H. Lederhaus]

Dominic,
I thought the same thing and voiced it to my client. She said she would file a complaint about it.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by clederhaus

Dominic,
I thought the same thing and voiced it to my client. She said she would file a complaint about it.

Good for you. I'm sure the Realtor board or any association they belong to would be interested in hearing it as well. That's just unbelievable.

[Chuck Evans]

Originally Posted by dedwards

Well, that agent is an idiot!

^^Carl, I see you posted above while I was typing - good for you^^

I think I would have told him right then and there that I was filing a complaint with the RE Commission and was going to advise my client to do the same since he advised her to break a valid contract with you, which could have gotten her in legal trouble. Tell him to be prepared to explain why he was giving RE clients legal advice.

On the original question: I would not post that type of thing on my website. Doing so will not cause you to get paid and will in all likelihood cost you clients who look askance at that kind of thing. In the end, it's a waste of time and effort and will cost YOU credibility.

I generally try to get paid on-site. If the client will not be present, I send a PayPal invoice via email and ask them to pay it and complete the agreement prior to the inspection. Only on rare occasions have I gone ahead and released a report prior to being paid. In five years, I have never gone without being paid and can count the number of reminder notices I've had to send on one hand.

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I would say the agent is criminal!

That agent's name should be on the *Wall of Shame*...

[dmcauley]

Gregory,

Three thoughts on this predicament.

1. Don't do it. Possible legal action from the person who did not pay for slandering them on the web. Makes you look like unprofessional.
2. Get paid at the inspection. Whether by credit card or some other means. The client can get reimbursed at closing from the title company, if that is part of the deal.
3. As my contract states, no report will be delivered without the agreement signed and paid for prior to or at the inspection. No money - no report. Easy, never been burned!

[Frank M. Carrio, CMI]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Payment due at the time of the inspection or before.

No pay... no report.

Never have any problems now.

• No pay... no report.

Agreed!

I do the same and ........ I have never had a problem.