Free Homeowner Tool
Does This Person Make More Money If I Make a Certain Choice?
The fastest way to judge anyone's advice about your house is to ask one question: how are they paid, and does their pay depend on what you decide? An advisor who only earns if you sell has a reason to push selling. One who earns the same across every path has no reason to steer you. This tool maps the incentive behind any agent, buyer, or advisor — so you can weigh their advice accordingly.
Who are you evaluating?
The key question
Incentive Map
Select the role, how they're paid, and whether their pay varies — to see the conflict reading.
Why this question matters
Every person circling your house has a financial structure. Most won't volunteer it. Knowing it doesn't mean their advice is wrong — it means you know which parts to verify independently.
Full pay disclosure at How We Work →
Who earns what — and when it matters
Cash buyer
Earns: spread (buys below market, earns the gap on resale or rental)
The lower your price, the more they make. This is the structural fact behind every repair-cost estimate, urgency claim, and "fair offer" they present. It doesn't make them dishonest — but it makes their math worth verifying independently.
Wholesaler
Earns: assignment fee (sells your contract to another buyer for more)
A wholesaler's profit is literally the gap between your expectations and what the contract is worth to an end investor. They must find a buyer willing to pay more than you agreed to — which means their offer price has a ceiling you never see.
Real estate agent
Earns: commission on sale (only if you sell — not if you rent, hold, or take a direct offer)
The structural conflict isn't commission percentage — it's that the agent only gets paid on one outcome. An agent recommending you list rather than rent or hold may be right. But the advice isn't neutral, and the paths they don't earn on tend to get the least airtime in the conversation.
Surplus / unclaimed-funds finder
Earns: 30–50% of funds recovered on your behalf
Many finders target tax-sale surplus and foreclosure excess that Maryland law allows you to claim yourself through a straightforward court process — or through an attorney for a flat fee. A finder taking 40% of a $50,000 surplus earns $20,000 for work that a real estate attorney would typically charge $500–$1,500 to handle. The business model requires you not knowing this.
"Free" advisor
Earns: referral fee when you work with someone they recommend (often undisclosed)
A "free" consultation that ends in a buyer or agent referral is only free if the advisor doesn't earn when you transact. Many do — they earn a referral fee from the buyer or agent, which is a commission-equivalent that remains undisclosed. Ask: "Do you receive any payment when I work with someone you recommend?"
Lender
Earns: loan origination fee on any new loan you take out
A lender recommending you refinance to avoid selling earns on the new loan. One recommending you sell earns on payoff and potentially the buyer's loan. Both recommendations can be sound — but the recommendation isn't made from a neutral position. Compare total costs across options independently.
Common questions
How do "we buy houses" companies make money?
They make money on the spread between the price they pay you and the eventual resale or rental value after any renovation. The business requires buying below market value — the margin between your price and theirs is their revenue. This is a legitimate business model, but it means their financial incentive is to minimize the price you accept, not to maximize it. Their repair estimates, urgency claims, and "as-is" framing all serve that interest.
Do real estate agents earn more if I sell for less, faster?
Not on commission percentage — but the time math works differently. The difference in commission between a $250k and $280k sale at 5.5% is $1,650 to the agent, while you gain $30,000. An agent has a weak financial incentive to fight hard for extra dollars, but a strong time incentive to close quickly and move to the next client. The deeper misalignment is structural: agents only earn if you sell — not if you rent, hold, or take a direct buyer offer.
What's wrong with surplus-recovery finders?
The fee structure — often 30–50% of recovered funds — is applied to money that may already be legally yours. Tax-sale surplus and foreclosure excess proceeds have established Maryland legal processes for recovery that you can access yourself or through an attorney for a flat fee. A finder who takes $20,000 of a $50,000 surplus earns more than most attorneys would charge for the same paperwork. The issue isn't that finders are illegal — it's that their fee is rarely presented alongside the cost of the alternative.
How does Residios get paid?
Residios earns a fee across all five exit paths — listing referral, direct purchase, investor introduction, relocation, and retention — structured to be similar regardless of which path you choose. The design removes the financial incentive to steer. The one disclosed exception is the Old Line Homes contractor relationship, which is named on every page where it appears. Full disclosure is at /how-it-works.
Does a conflict of interest mean the advice is wrong?
Not necessarily. A buyer offering below-market may still be your best net outcome when carrying costs and timeline are factored in. An agent pushing a listing may be right that it maximizes your price. The conflict doesn't make the advice wrong — it tells you which parts deserve independent verification. An agent's listing recommendation is worth checking against the net sheet. A buyer's repair estimate is worth checking against an independent contractor bid.
Related tools & reading
General information only — not legal or financial advice. Conflict-of-interest disclosures may vary by state and license type. Consult a licensed Maryland attorney for specific guidance.
Want every option mapped by someone who earns the same either way?
A Home Transition Review lays out all five paths in writing — from someone whose fee doesn't change based on which you pick.