How referrals work.

Nothing as the referrer. There's no retainer, no monthly fee, no lead-farm dues, and no upfront cost to submit a referral. Bryan only earns a referral or commission fee when a transaction actually closes. That fee is paid at closing out of the commission earned by the River Hills Properties agent who handles the deal — it's a standard industry referral split, not an additional charge layered on top of the transaction.

Two standard New York forms come up before the first showing — the same forms any NY REALTOR® would present, nothing unique to Bryan's referral model. First, the NYS Disclosure Form for Buyer and Seller (DOS-1736-f). It's a state-required disclosure (not a contract) that explains the agency relationship — seller's agent, buyer's agent, broker's agent, or dual agent — and the fiduciary duties involved. The River Hills agent presents it and asks the client to acknowledge receipt with a signature. Second, a written Buyer Agency Compensation Agreement. As of August 17, 2024, NAR rules require a written buyer agreement before the first home tour, in-person or virtual. The agreement specifies the compensation the River Hills agent will receive in a clear, objectively ascertainable amount — not open-ended — capped at that amount, and fully negotiable between the client and the agent. Commissions are not set by law.

If the referred client is a seller, the River Hills listing agent presents the NYSAR Exclusive Right to Sell Listing Agreement — the standard NY listing contract used across the state. Worth knowing before signing: (1) Commission is fully negotiable. The form requires the seller to initial a specific disclosure that reads 'compensation is not set by law or by any Realtor® association or MLS and that compensation is fully negotiable between the SELLER and the LISTING BROKER.' There's no standard rate. (2) Offering compensation to the buyer's agent is optional. Post-NAR settlement (effective August 2024), the seller has an explicit yes/no choice on whether to offer any cooperating-broker compensation, and if yes, the seller sets the amount. (3) It's an 'exclusive right to sell', not 'exclusive agency' — meaning the listing broker is owed commission during the listing period even if the seller finds the buyer themselves. NY law (19 NYCRR § 175.24) requires this distinction to be explained in writing on the form. (4) A Property Condition Disclosure Statement is generally required for 1–4 family homes under NY Real Property Law § 462. The seller can complete it or provide a $500 credit to the buyer at closing. (5) The listing period, commission, and cooperating-compensation choices are all negotiated between the seller and the River Hills listing agent before signing. Bryan doesn't present this form himself — the River Hills listing agent does — but the seller reviews, negotiates, and signs it directly.

A River Hills Properties agent from The Mosher Team does. Bryan pairs every referral with the specific agent whose territory matches the target town. That agent handles showings, offers, negotiation, and closing. Bryan stays on the email chain from introduction through close so nothing falls through the cracks.

Yes — if you have a preference, just say so in the referral form or the introduction email. Otherwise Bryan will pick the River Hills agent whose regular working territory best matches the target city or town.

That's one of the most common cases. Bryan's whole model is built for exactly this: a referrer who is not local, a buyer or seller who needs someone on the ground in the Mohawk Valley, and a single person staying on the email chain to translate between the two. Corporate relocation, agent-to-agent, or personal friends — all work the same way.

If they already have an agent they're happy with, no. Bryan's referral model exists for people who don't yet have local representation or who want a second opinion before committing. He's not in the business of poaching clients.

Yes. Bryan routes multi-family and commercial referrals to River Hills agents who actually work those segments, not whoever happens to be on floor duty. Mention the investor or commercial angle in the referral form notes and he'll match accordingly.

Yes. Bryan Bennett is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with River Hills Properties under office license # 10391201446, operating as part of The Mosher Team. His NY agent license number is 10401363239. He's a member of the Mohawk Valley Association of REALTORS® and participates in the NYS Alliance of MLSs data feed.

It's the reason the referral model works, not a conflict. For day-to-day responsiveness, Bryan can't physically show you a home in Utica on a Tuesday afternoon, so instead of pretending he can, he pairs every lead with a River Hills agent who actually works that town. Bryan handles the relationship and the email chain; the local agent handles the physical work. Everyone wins, nothing is hidden. That said — Bryan has family in Central NY and travels out for planned engagements when a client specifically requests it (see the next question).

Yes, with planning. The default is that Bryan pairs every referral with a River Hills Properties listing or buyer's agent who does the physical work in the Mohawk Valley while Bryan stays on the email chain — that's what lets him respond quickly, cover more of the valley, and keep the fee structure clean. It's what most clients end up preferring. That said, Bryan has family in Central NY and makes trips out to the area regularly, so if you specifically want him on-site for something — listing consultations, key showings, an open house weekend, the closing table — mention it when you send the referral or fill out the contact form. You'll coordinate the visit together, and Bryan will still pair you with a River Hills agent for the day-to-day work between trips.

Within one business day, usually same day. Every referral and inquiry goes directly to Bryan's personal inbox — there's no lead-routing software, no assistant, no round-robin. If you need urgent turnaround, say so in the form and he'll prioritize it.

Standard real estate referral fees are paid at closing by the agent or brokerage that handles the transaction — in this case, the River Hills Properties agent who represents the client through close. Bryan and the closing agent split a portion of that commission per a separate referral agreement between them, and the referring party pays nothing directly. The underlying commission the client agrees to pay their River Hills agent is spelled out in advance in a written Buyer Agency Compensation Agreement — required by NAR rules effective August 17, 2024 — in a clear, objectively ascertainable amount, capped at that amount, and fully negotiable between the client and the agent at the time of engagement. Real estate commissions are not set by law.