Who pays, and how much, in practice
In most Batumi transactions the selling side pays the agent: a private seller under an agency agreement, a developer under a partner programme. A market benchmark is 2–5% of the price; some developers pay more. The buyer never sees this commission, but it is built into the property price.
Why "free" means a conflict of interest
An agent paid by the seller has an economic interest in closing faster and on the property with the larger commission. Title, physical and economic verification are not part of that model because nobody pays for them. Hence the familiar patterns: "exclusive" listings, pressure from booking deadlines and yields computed from the July rate.
The buyer's representative model
A buyer's representative is paid by the buyer and works under the buyer's mandate: criteria, budget, timeline, acceptable risk. They keep no listing showcase, search the whole market, verify properties before the deposit and negotiate on the buyer's side.
How the GeoTrust offset works
The GeoTrust fee is 3% of the transaction price. Every documented commission we receive from the seller or developer reduces that fee. If the seller pays 3%, the buyer pays nothing on top; if the seller pays 1%, the buyer's remaining fee is 2%. A $500 retainer starts the work and is credited in full when the deal closes.
- The size and source of the seller commission are documented for each transaction.
- Fee, retainer and offset terms are fixed in the agreement before work starts.
- The buyer sees what the representative receives from each side.
What to ask any agent before working together
Three questions that quickly reveal whose interests an agent represents.
- Who pays you on this deal, and how much?
- What exactly do you verify before the deposit, and on which documents?
- What happens to your fee if I walk away from the property after verification?
Related questions
If the seller pays you a commission, whose interests do you represent?
The buyer's. The seller commission is not kept on top of the fee; it is credited in full to the buyer, so we have no incentive to pick a property by the size of the payout.
What is the $500 retainer for?
The retainer starts document review, valuation and address disclosure. When a transaction closes, it is credited in full against the final settlement under the agreement.
Can the price be negotiated when the seller has an agent?
Yes. The buyer's representative negotiates on the basis of the verification results: gaps in floor area, condition or economics are arguments for a lower price.
Sources and official resources
Legal and tax details are confirmed by a specialised lawyer under the law in force on the transaction date.
How the fee and offset are computed: the Honest Economics section on the home page