Mr. Landlord: When You Convince All of Your Other Service Providers to Reimburse You...Call Me!

If you've read any of my writings over the last few years, my positions are clear about the silliness that some die-hard commercial landlords still play when it comes to paying commissions that are due real estate brokers. Most landlords are very professional, appreciate the efforts put forth by commercial real estate brokers, and gratefully pay their compensation in-full and on time. But, there still exists this small, decreasing group of curmudgeon-like landlords, who think it is their right to treat brokers unreasonably and unfairly. Their days, like their ability to realize great success, are numbered.

One of my all-time favorites is how many in this dying little group of commercial landlords think that real estate brokers are the guarantors of tenant creditworthiness, and that commissions paid to brokers should be conditioned and contingent on tenants performing their lease obligations. Some of these knuckleheads even think brokers should reimburse landlords when tenants default. The answer to this is really simple. Commercial brokers:

* Are not credit analysts, and cannot provide you with any more details than you can obtain on your own