Does Christies International Real Estate charge a fee to evaluate alternative suppliers or items?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you want to use a material, supply, equipment, product or sign that we have not yet approved, or you want to purchase any items from any supplier that we have not approved, you must first notify us in writing and must submit to us, at our request, sufficient information, specifications, and samples for us to determine whether the services, material, supply, equipment, product or sign complies with our specifications and standards, or whether the supplier meets our approved supplier criteria. We reserve the right to approve or disapprove without any obligation to provide an explanation of the approval criteria to you. Within 90 days of receiving your request, we will either accept or reject the proposed item or supplier. You will not distribute or offer for sale any products or services of the proposed supplier until you receive our written approval. We do not charge a fee to evaluate alternative supplier or items. We may revoke our approval of any supplier or item with 30 days' prior written notice to you. Upon receipt of written notice of such revocation, you must cease to purchase from the disapproved supplier(s) or to purchase the disapproved item(s).
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 20–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christies International Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not charged a fee for the evaluation of alternative suppliers or items. However, if a franchisee wants to use a material, supply, equipment, product, or sign that Christies International Real Estate has not yet approved, the franchisee must notify Christies International Real Estate in writing and submit sufficient information, specifications, and samples for evaluation.
Christies International Real Estate will then determine whether the proposed item or supplier meets their standards. Christies International Real Estate reserves the right to approve or disapprove any proposed item or supplier without providing an explanation of the approval criteria. Within 90 days of receiving the request, Christies International Real Estate will either accept or reject the proposed item or supplier. The franchisee cannot distribute or offer for sale any products or services from the proposed supplier until written approval is received.
Christies International Real Estate also retains the right to revoke approval of any supplier or item with 30 days' prior written notice to the franchisee. Upon receiving such notice, the franchisee must stop purchasing from the disapproved supplier or using the disapproved item. This process ensures that Christies International Real Estate maintains control over brand standards and quality while allowing franchisees to suggest alternative options without incurring a fee for the evaluation process.