How much does a real estate referral actually pay
The answer comes down to three numbers: the price of the property, the agency commission, and the share passed on to whoever brought the deal. Here is the calculation, to run with your own figures rather than a stranger's.
Run the numbers with your own figures
The starting values are an example to show the mechanism, not a market average. Replace them with yours, the calculation updates itself.
The ranges actually observed
These are the ranges from our commission grid, word for word. Nothing forces you to follow them, they only say what is commonly practised.
| Case | Observed range |
|---|---|
| Referring a seller | 10 to 25 % of the agency commission |
| Referring a buyer | 5 to 15 % of the total commission |
Who pays what, plainly
You want to refer
0 €The referrer account is free, and it stays free. You track your referrals and your commissions without ever paying anything.
Create a free accountYou want to receive referrals
49,90 €The business pays for the tool. 49.90 € excl. VAT per month for an independent, no commitment, 15 day money back guarantee.
Ask a question on WhatsAppWhy an agency agrees to pass on part of its commission: tracking about 10,000 customers for almost three years, researchers measured that a referred customer is on average at least 16 % more valuable than a comparable customer acquired otherwise (Schmitt, Skiera and Van den Bulte, Journal of Marketing, 2011). And on a purchase as heavy as a property, McKinsey measures that word of mouth is the primary factor behind 20 to 50 % of purchasing decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Is paying a referral fee in real estate legal?
In France it is, as long as the referrer only makes the introduction. The moment they negotiate, show the property or advise, they fall under the Hoguet law and need a professional licence. That is where the line sits, and it matters.
Do I need a written agreement?
Nothing forces one, but without it you have no proof of the rate and no proof of who brought what. That is the first cause of disputes. The agreement template is freely available on the site.
When is the commission paid?
The usual practice is to pay once the agency commission is collected, so after completion. Writing it into the agreement avoids any misunderstanding.
What if two people claim the same referral?
That is exactly what tracking settles. The contact arrives time stamped under the name of whoever sent it, and the question no longer arises.