How-To - Referrals

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 (outdated homes, homes with tiny back yards, etc.)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. Get the Referral Agreement signed. (See below in the Getting Paid section.) 

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: Each agent will need to start their own Skyslope file!  The Originating Agent who sent the referral will start a Skyslope Referral transaction. The Receiving Agent will start a normal buyer or seller transaction. They are NOT connected!

SCENARIO 1: You receive a referral from an outside brokerage or someone at eXp who is not on your Team

• STEP 1: REFERRAL FORM SENT TO YOU BY THE AGENT WHO MADE THE REFERRAL TO YOU

  • • ONLINE:  The easiest way to handle a referral is through the international eXp Referral Portal. 

The agent sending the referral goes to https://agents.exprealty.com/referrals and signs in with the OKTA login. Then search for the agent that who is receving the referral that will be working with the client, type in the client names and % amount and hit send. Check your email for the esign document and then let the other agent know to look for the esign. DONE!

• • • PDF: If receiving that referral from a non-eXp agent, get the Referral-In PDF form with our W-9 signed by the other agent's broker to accept the referral and agree to pay them commission for the referral.

• STEP 2: SKYSLOPE

  • • You represent the client and will need either a Buyer Rep Agreement or a Listing Agreement.

    • You 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 the signed Referral Agreement with W-9 for the other agent's brokerage. 

    • Remind the other eXp agent that they will need to set up their own Skyslope Referral Transaction file. They only need to upload the signed Referral agreement.

    • Per the CDA, at closing, eXp will withhold funds for the referral first, then they calculate the 80/20 split that you normally pay unless capped. (This is so you are not paying 20% on money you didn't receive).

      • • The other agent/brokerage will NOT show up on the CDA because eXp will withhold the funds for the other agent. 

        • You will get paid your commission from the title company as normally paid per the CDA. (Leases are different)

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

        • If they are an eXp agent, the other agent will be paid directly from eXp as a corporate Direct Deposit disbursement. 

SCENARIO 2: You receive a referral from an agent on your local team

• If the referral is FROM another eXp agent that is on your team, you are the agent running the transaction. You will set up a normal transaction file in Skyslope and add them as a Co-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. 

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 

SCENARIO 1: You referred the client out to another eXp Agent (originated the referral):

• STEP 1: REFERRAL FORMS:

  • • ONLINE: The easiest way to handle a referral is through the eXp Referral Portal. The agent sending the referral goes to https://agents.exprealty.com/referrals and signs in with the OKTA login. Then you search for the agent that you are sending the referral TO, type in the client names and % amount and hit send. Check your email for the esign document and then let the other agent know to look for the esign. DONE!

      1. • Alternative Method via PDF: If referring out to an out-of-state eXp agent, get the Referral-Out PDF form signed by the other agent's broker to accept the referral and agree to pay you commission for the referral.

         • Alternative Method via PDF: If referring with a Texas eXp agent, then you will use this Referral eXp PDF Texas form

• STEP 2: SKYSLOPE REFERRAL FILE

  • • You will start a Skyslope "Referral" transaction file and all you need to upload is the signed agreement. (see below)

    • Exp will withhold your portion of the GCI for the referral on the primary agent's transaction.

    • You will get paid via direct deposit from eXp after closing. 

SCENARO 2: You referred the client to an outside brokerage (originated the referral)

• If referring out to 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 a commission for the referral.

• Start a Skyslope "Referral" file. (see below)  

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

  • • HINT: Sometimes, the brokerage is willing to instruct the title company to cut a check directly to eXp.

NOTE: This process 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, follow these steps, and you will see that the Checklist tab is minimal!