For rent by owner, applicant brings realtor...who pays realtor?

[Alyssa K.]

First investment property (Texas), currently accepting applications. We aren’t using a realtor, I have a marketing background and have been able to drum up enough interest without one. If an applicant is using a realtor, will the realtor expect to be paid by us? For the particular applicant that raised this question in my mind, her friend found the listing, I spoke with the friend, then I reached out to the prospective applicant, I coordinated a time to meet and show the property to her and her fiancée; then she lets me know she is working with a realtor. We are using BP paperwork for the application and lease. After doing all the “work” I don’t want the realtor to expect a commission for just coming to the showing with them, but want to make sure I communicate this in the right way.

[James Wise]

Originally posted by @Alyssa K.:

First investment property (Texas), currently accepting applications. We aren’t using a realtor, I have a marketing background and have been able to drum up enough interest without one. If an applicant is using a realtor, will the realtor expect to be paid by us?

For the particular applicant that raised this question in my mind, her friend found the listing, I spoke with the friend, then I reached out to the prospective applicant, I coordinated a time to meet and show the property to her and her fiancée; then she lets me know she is working with a realtor. We are using BP paperwork for the application and lease. After doing all the “work” I don’t want the realtor to expect a commission for just coming to the showing with them, but want to make sure I communicate this in the right way.

 You haven't entered into any contract or agreement with this Realtor so that's on them. I'd hope they are smart enough to know how they get paid but we can't 100% guarantee that the Realtor is that savvy. Ya see, there is only 1 kind of Realtor who drives a tenant around to randoms rental listings....A brand spankin' new Realtor who's got no other source of income as this type of work pays less than running the cash register at Mcdonalds. So it's very possible this Realtor has no idea how they get paid, This isn't really your problem though. You may want to ask the tenant if they will be paying the Realtor for their services because you won't willing to pay the Realtor just to save everyone some time. After that let the tenant & their Realtor / friend work through everything on their own. While you still market for other tenants. If the tenant & Realtor work it all out and come back to you great, if not you didn't miss a step marketing to other tenants.