e110519 Can I Be Featured on a Website for Realtors?

Identifier: e110519

Date: 06/06/2021

Question: 

I have the opportunity to have my company featured on the website of Realtors in the Toledo area. I have the choice of competing with other companies for the business and if I get the business I pay a flat fee of $35 to the company that created the website, not the realtor. Or, I can be the only company on the realtor’s website and pay $25 per month per realtor to the website company, regardless of the number of leads I get and number of leads I close. Once again, the money for these leads goes to the website design company, not the realtor. I see this as a lead generation program, just as any other form of advertising or marketing of my company. Can you give me your seal of approval for this program?

Response: If a home inspector is paying a marketing company for setting up and featuring home inspection services on a website and NOT paying a real estate licensee, it is no different than advertising in a newspaper or magazine that focuses on real estate. If the real estate licensees involved with the transaction do not receive any form of compensation, directly or indirectly, by the home inspector, there is no conflict. If an advertising fee is paid, regardless of whether or not the inspector gets the inspection job, and regardless of the outcome of the inspection, there is no conflict.

Reference: ASHI CoE