I reached out to my brother-in-law for casual advice on selling an investment property, but he soon shifted to seeking a referral fee. Is this typical?
That’s quite unusual. It makes me wonder if he has some standing referral agreement—maybe not common practice for casual advice. Has anyone experienced a similar family twist in real estate deals?
Based on my experience, this is not the most common practice for family providing casual advice. When a family member takes on a more formal role in a transaction, it typically requires a clear understanding or agreement regarding any fees. In my situation, I had to clearly define boundaries to ensure that any advice rendered was either complimentary or compensated appropriately if it went beyond casual input. It is important to clarify these expectations early on so that both parties have a mutual understanding of the roles involved.
this seems kind of odd. it feels like he went formal with your casual request. not all fam cases turn into money matters. might be best to chat with him to clarfy expecations so theres no mixup.