How much do you charge to clean up someone else’s mess?

Today, I was asked by a friend to help out his buddy, who decided to by a house from a FSBO without representation. He said his friend didn't know about using a real estate agent and that the seller could help pay for the agents services, if the seller agreed.

The seller is willing to pay for me if the buyer is willing to raise the price of the house by that much. The buyer is willing to do it if I agree to a lower commission that I would normally charge when helping a buyer .75% to be exact. Well, here is the problem... I would be taking on cleaning up the mess the buyer and seller have already created with earnest money, down payments paid directly to the seller, liens put on the property in the last 30
days, and wanting to do a contract for sale now.

Neither knows what they are doing and it is clear to me that I may be getting myself in to a situation that could be a lose-lose-lose situation for the seller, the buyer and myself, since no one really wants to pay and only want to use me because they don't know what they are doing. I could do this, and make it a win-win-win, but I'm wondering how fragile the egos are, after already having to admit they don't know what they are doing. Are they willing to bow their head one more time and take some advice from someone who has done more than my fair share of these contracts?

This sale is pending on a contract, that if had it gone through me, would have been done in less than 15 days, has now dragged on for 7 months. The seller is tired of paying a second mortgage, but still doesn't know what he is doing, and doesn't even want to pay a lawyer to represent him.

So, my question to you, my fellow Activerainers, how much do you charge someone to clean up their mess?

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739