TOPIC: Deposit made for Inspections

You can email a contract over email or our upload service and have them fax it to you. Or you simply take it as a $100 deposit that's forfeit if they cancel. Obviously Will is right. This will only work in some markets, but I bet it'll cut down on the cancellations.

Oh yeah it'll cut em down!  lol

Fortunately I've only had one cancellation, and she made the appointment then immediately called me back and canceled it "due to her Realtor couldn't open the house at that time".  I said okay, and knew she wasn't going to call back.

John, I avoid this reason in this way. I tell them I will be contacting the realtor myself, " I will call Mrs. blah bla blah, that way I can get some more info on the home, and also verify that we will have access on Tues at 9:00. If I run into any problems I will call  you back with a time that works better for them. WE can go from there after that. See you on Tues." Works like a charm. This way you don't have a realtor trying to talk your client out of using YOU because they don't like you or feel you are too picky or whatever. Give it a try.

"due to her Realtor couldn't open the house at that time".  

This  excuse just don't fly with me, I see right through it and try to cut it out before it has a chance.

I like that!  I'll will try to remember to use it.  I keep phone logs so I get all the Realtor information up front!

I am sorry for always being a wet blanket on this topic, but I am fresh off of settling a lawsuit with a greedy customer from three years ago in my home improvement days. It was for "Technical Violations" of the Consumer Fraud Act. So when a topic comes up about taking a deposit and not refunding it due to a cancellation, I get scared. I am all for locking a job up however I can but two things I know I will be asking my Attorney are: 1. Does this open up new regulations I need to be aware of under the CFA? 2. Can the client get their deposit back be contacting the credit card company? I may be an alarmist, but you cannot imagine how awful the CFA is to a business owner until you have suffered its wrath.  >

I totally agree Drew. You need to cover your butt if you are going to proceed with this procedure. Contact your attorney and make sure it is done the proper way. Good advice, karma for you.