"Protecting" broker fees

Have noticed this phrase used a lot on many firm websites (we buy off market and will protect brokers fees). Does this essentially mean the buyer will pay the commission to the broker bringing them the opportunity? Isn't common practice for seller to cover the fee? Is there a specific reason why a seller would not be willing to cover the broker fee, outside of being a dick?

Optically, I know a lot of buyers who don't want to pay fees on their side of the ledger simply because you cannot finance the fee through debt. Sometimes it's because the buyer is also a dick and it becomes a pissing match over which side will pay.

Anyone here have a method to dealing with?

7 Comments
 
Best Response

I'm a broker so this might come across one sided. There are a few reasons why a website will say this and I'll try to give an example or two from the brokerage side as to why we want our fee protected.

Let's say I'm a broker, going about my normal business and uncover a property that the owner would be willing to sell, for a reasonable price, but is uninterested in actually putting it up for sale and do not want our services. Lets say you're an institutional buyer and this property fits the bill perfectly for you. As an institutional buyer, you don't really need my help on the closing and don't necessarily need me looking for a property for you, but will send you anything that might fit. Since I cannot get a listing agreement with the seller, I can at best hope for a commission agreement from them, basically saying they'll toss me a few points give or take for finding the buyer. In the event that they don't let me do a commission agreement, by "protecting my fee" (saying you will give me a couple points give or take) I can still bring the deal to you and you can get access to deals that other can't.

To answer your question, technically, the buyer does pay the fees in a normal transaction, they're just included in the purchase price.

 

out of college, i've never heard of this. moving cities and getting a relo package, happens all the time. relo is sweet.

 

The worst group of middlemen parasites I've met to date. I agree with PoppingMyCollar...

"Cut the burger into thirds, place it on the fries, roll one up homey..." - Epic Meal Time
 

Molestias id ad qui. Voluptatem dicta molestias magni et. Est non quasi tempore quasi. Ut nobis aliquam asperiores non minima laborum sed. Sit debitis aut at voluptas et quia voluptatem.

Aut nostrum quaerat molestias iusto. Placeat illum facere voluptas commodi dolorum. Nostrum fuga asperiores sit alias.

Nam reprehenderit quam beatae magni officiis corporis. Et asperiores ut veniam vel. Molestiae qui voluptas odit est placeat. Sit temporibus nihil laboriosam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”