Professional and Career Topics

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings? 

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings? 

I have always wondered the same. As an owner of a civil and surveying firm, our risk was high and liability essentially forever.  The land owner, developer, contractor, local approving agencies, realtors don't have that liability, and yet a realtor can make a lot of $ on one sale, not to mention resales like you said.  😡

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings? 

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings? 

Hi Abi!

Q1. "I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property. . . "

A1. What, how, and why is because its the law!

Q2. What is ASCE and our companion engineering societies doing to change those law?

Cheers,

Bill

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William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2023 09:26 AM
From: Abieyuwa (Abi) Aghayere
Subject: Jury Decision on Realtors - What does this mean for AEC industry?

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings? 

Your response highlights the perversity of the situation and what the public is willing to pay for services. As to the original question, I don't think the Missouri ruling will impact civil engineering other than this chat space.

Hi Abi!

Q1. "I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property. . . "

A1. What, how, and why is because its the law!

Q2. What is ASCE and our companion engineering societies doing to change those law?

Cheers,

Bill

------------------------------
William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
Buffalo, N.Y.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880


Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2023 09:26 AM
From: Abieyuwa (Abi) Aghayere
Subject: Jury Decision on Realtors - What does this mean for AEC industry?

I've always wondered how and why real estate agents can get 5-6% of the sale price of a home every time the building is sold while carrying little to no liability, while the engineers who designed the property get only a fraction of that amount for their fees and yet they are liable for the performance of that building for the longest time! I believe structural engineers are responsible for the safety of more lives at any one time than physicians, so why can't structural engineers (and other engineers) adopt a subscription payment system on the buildings/structures they design if they are going to continue carrying the liability on those buildings?