There are times when you have started working with a client and they decide to look somewhere out of your area.  Maybe it's a friend who is buying a house, but they're in another part of the state or country. Great news!  eXp allows you to make a referral to another agent and still get paid. You can also accept referrals of clients as well from other licensed agents!

1. Establish your creditability, build rapport and a relationship with them. 

2. Understand their needs. 

3. What problems are they trying to solve? (schools, proximity to work, size increase, etc.)

4. What's important to them? (must have a safe yard for Fido or kids, must have a space for a home office)

5. What are deal-breakers? (outdated homes, homes with tiny back yards, etc.) - It's important to know what they won't accept so you can make a good hand-off to the other agent and they don't waste time showing houses that they don't like. 

6. What is their budget? 

7. Talk about next steps and making the handoff to your trusted partner in that area.

8. Make the referral connection to another licensed real estate agent. These forms are already pre-signed by the eXp TX Broker.

   • If referring with another Texas eXp agent, then you will use this Referral form

   • If referring out to an out of state eXp agent or another brokerage, then you will get this Referral Out form with our W-9 signed by the other agent's broker to accept the referral and agree to pay you commission for the referral.

   • If another agent is making the referral to you, use this form Referral In form with our W-9, signed by the other agents broker to approve the referral.

COMPLIANCE NOTE: Referral fees are paid from brokerage to brokerage, not between agents.

ORIGINATING BROKERAGE - The agent who made the referral to the other agent. This agent earns the referral fee.

RECEIVING BROKERAGE - The agent who is actually going to work with the client. This agent PAYS the referral fee.

NOTE: If you are the agent who is working with the client, you will start a Skyslope file like any normal transaction

If you received the referral from an outside brokerage

• If the referral is FROM another Texas licensed real estate agent, you are the agent running the transaction will set up a normal transaction file in Skyslope.  On the Commissions tab, you will mark the referral type as External. Add the referral agent's name and the percentage split per the signed referral agreement.  (see below)

• You will need to upload a W-9 for the other brokerage. (You can do this later on the documents tab as well.)

• You will get paid your commission from the title company as normally paid per the CDA.

• Per the CDA, at closing, eXp will withhold funds (in addition to the normal 80/20 split) to cover the referral fee

• After closing, the other brokerage will be paid via check cut from eXp. 

If you received the referral from another eXp Agent

• If the referral is FROM another Texas eXp agent, you are the agent running the transaction will set up a normal transaction file in Skyslope and add them as a Co-Buyers Agent on the Transaction screen.  When Compliance generates the CDA to send to the title company, both agents will be paid directly from the title company according to the split on the commission tab. 

• If the referral is FROM an out-of-state eXp agent, you are the agent running the transaction will set up a normal transaction file in Skyslope and add them as a Co-Buyers Agent on the Transaction screen.  When Compliance generates the CDA to send to the title company, you will be paid directly from the title company according to the split on the commission tab.  The other agent will be paid directly from eXp as a corporate Direct Deposit disbursement. The other agent will NOT show up on the CDA because eXp will withhold the funds for the out-of-state agent similar to the outside brokerage above.

NOTE: If you are the agent who made the referral to another agent to work with the client, then you will be starting a Skyslope file as a "Referral" transaction 

If you referred to another eXp Agent outside of Texas (originated the referral)

• If the referral is TO another eXp agent, the other agent running the transaction will set up a file in Skyslope and add you as a Co-Buyers Agent on the Transaction screen.  When Compliance generates the CDA to send to the title company, you will be paid directly from the title company according to the split on the commission tab. 

If you referred to another Texas eXp Agent (originated the referral)

• If the referral is TO another Texas eXp agent, the agent running the transaction will set up a file in Skyslope and add you as a Co-Buyers Agent on the Transaction screen.  When Compliance generates the CDA to send to the title company, you will be paid directly from the title company according to the split on the commission tab.  

• NOTE: CONTACT THE TITLE COMPANY DIRECTLY ABOUT WHERE TO SEND YOUR CHECK/WIRE. Your payment preferences will not be included on the CDA from eXp. 

If you referred to an outside brokerage (originated the referral)

• The other broker will get paid at closing and then they will pay eXp after closing based off of the referral agreement. Ask the brokerage for a copy of eXp commission check to upload in Skyslope and eXp will pay your commission after you upload that copy of the check!  

• NOTE: This is a process that involves YOU tracking the referral check getting paid by the other brokerage. eXp is not going to track this closing down, but if you have disputes about getting paid, you can involve the Texas Brokers.

When you set up the Skyslope file, you will follow these steps and then you will see that the Checklist tab is very minimal!