Garrick Bradley
RE/MAX Excellence
South Holland
No, I have found that most buyers already know the type of home they want and where they want to live. Most of my buyers have researched the market thoroughly. On occasions when the buyer has asked for my opinion, I have recommended homes that I believe fit their criteria or homes that I believe they will like, but never show a home based on compensation. I do believe the buyer’s agent should be compensated at least at 2.5 percent — this I have found to be satisfactory when I represent buyers. However, when a home does have a higher compensation, I do remember those homes, but I won’t favor them over my clients’ interests.

Jason Engle
@Properties
River North, Chicago
I have shown many properties with an additional agent incentive to my clients in the past, but certainly not because of the agent incentive itself. My clients’ best interest is what drives me, not a small bonus. In the end, a buyer’s satisfaction with their agent and their success with their investment will deliver a better return to the agent in the long run.

Julie Woodward-Trenker
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Lakeview, Chicago
I make it a point to not pay attention to the commission so that I always stay objective. In one instance, a developer was offering an additional .5 percent commission on a property my clients fell in love with. I hadn’t realized it until the listing agent mentioned it upon exchange of the executed contract. At first I thought it was great, but the feeling quickly dissipated when, at the closing, the developer failed to deliver a unit in a condition expected for new construction. He felt that since I was getting extra commission, I should flip the bill to make my clients happy. This only confirmed for me that incentives will eventually work against you.

Kathryn Geldermann
Rizzo Realty Group
Near North, Chicago
Of course I have shown properties with additional incentives. Offering incentives to agents is a great marketing tool. It helps agents get excited about a property and, in turn, their clients get excited as well. But, I take pride in only showing my clients the most remarkable properties that I know will meet their exclusive needs. Regardless of agent extras, the buyer always stands to gain the most in the long run. Long-term customer satisfaction will always be more important to me than, say, a flat-screen TV.