FEES
Depending on the nature of the work we’re given, we charge:
- by the hour (£250ph)
- by monthly retainer * (from £5,000pm, minimum periods apply)
- a fixed percentage
- a fixed project fee
- a retainer fee and a transaction fee for property purchases
- nothing for property sales (in normal circumstances).
* If you pay us by monthly retainer, we will offset each month’s retainer against any income we receive from introductory commissions that month. Clients who use us wisely need never pay us anything.
EXAMPLE
You are paying us a £5,000pm retainer. In June you ask us to air freight your household goods from New York to London. The shipper’s standard rate for your shipment is £100,000. The shipper’s introductory broker’s fee is 10%, which is already built into his standard rate. However, the shipper asks if we want anything extra added on. We state that we do not and we confirm this in writing to you and to the shipper. Why? Because to add anything to the price would mean we are acting against your interest.
In July we arrange everything: inventory, packing, storage, outgoing customs clearance, transport, incoming customs clearance, transport, storage, delivery to final destination, unpacking, packaging removal etc. In August the shipper sends us the £10,000 introductory broker’s commission. As this is more than the £5,000 retainer due for August, your invoice from us for the month of August is ... £0.
This means that in August we will be working for you for free. You can be sure that no one else will be.
