How to politely request late payment from a real estate agency client

Late payment from a real estate agency client usually comes down to their process, not bad faith. Here's who pays, when, what tends to hold payment up, and a polite reminder you can send today.

Who pays, and when

The broker, office manager, or the agent who hired you. Cash flow often depends on deals closing and commission coming in.

Why payment runs late

Spending can wait for the next closing, especially when the market is slow.

Tips for chasing a real estate agency client

Confirm whether the agent or the agency is paying.
Link the invoice to the listing or campaign it covers.
If payment is tied to a closing, agree a date anyway.

Example reminder email

Subject: Quick reminder: invoice [number] Hi [first name], I hope all's well. Invoice [number] for [amount] was due on [date]. If it's already on its way, thank you, and please ignore this. This invoice covers the work for the listing and campaign noted below. Is this being paid by the agency or by the agent directly? You can pay here: [payment link] Thanks, [Your name]

Write your reminders

Fill in the invoice to get four emails for a real estate agency client, from a heads-up to a final notice, with the dates to send them. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Your reminders will appear here.

Want these sent for you?

We're building a tool that sends these reminders automatically from your own Gmail when a Stripe invoice goes overdue, all in one email thread, and stops the moment it's paid. It isn't ready yet. Planned price: $19 a month.