Refer your client to a local real estate professional.

I would place my bet on it not being convenient. Most importantly your full duty of service to your client would be compromised. Not saying that it cannot be done, BUT does it really make sense?

"Convenient" - It would not be convenient for me.  I would refer that client to a local agent - but not just refer to any agent ... I would interview and vet out agents to ensure the person I am referring will provide exceptional service! 

I am not sure how you can provide top shelf service from that distance.  Is it your best use of your time?  Are there more details on why you would want to do it?

That's the kind of business I refer out for a referral fee. I work a 50-60 mile radious around Charlotte, which I can reach with an hour to 75 minutes at the farthest. But going 3.5 hours away puts me in a market I don't know.

convenient? no. I would not do it based on my business model. I only have an area decided on for a territory & do not go outside it. 

I don't think you're doing your client any justice here.

Nora,

I would be delighted with a referral commission....Driving 7 hours (round trip) would set my teeth gnashing...learning the ins and outs of a new marketplace would take time.  We turned down the leasing and selling of a huge retail center,(it was a !/2 away if the freeway in LA was normal), because we did not really know the marketplace...A

Only if the realtor knew the area, knew the price points/statistics/geography/local issues and was willing to travel 7 hours for every showing, inspection, appraisal, etc.

(PS, I wouldn't do it).

If I did not have a member of our team there then I would refer it, this is far to far to go to effectively work with a buyer.

I know Realtors who travel very long distances to represent clients. Personally, I refer.

I'm not in Texas so I can't advise you.  Here in AZ unless an agent has knowledge of the market 3.5 hours away the commissioner would highly frown on this practice.  Outside of ones specialty.  And more importantly, unless I had a vaction home 3.5 hours away why on earth would I even consider taking anyone out there.  Refer it out.  Now let's hear from some Texas folks!!

Do they have a plane? LOL
IDK, depends on the circumstances. 

Do they have time? Do they know the market there? 

Do they own property there? Do they have vendor resources there?

I would not. I like to be within 20 minutes of what I'm working on . . . in my experience even 45 minutes-hour is too far to pencil out for me.

Sure...why not?  My FLORIDA real estate sales license states I do business throughout the state. Some from the other coast thought to take advantage of this.

However, these just might be the right words to enable another to image what a ship looking for a rock looks like. The trespassing agents does not know the most important thing in real estate....location, location, location. Incompatible systems. No access to local MLS. 
Come to think of it, would this satisfy fiduciary obligations?

I thnk the best business option for you, and for your client, is a referral to a good agent in the other city and who knows that market well, after you have talked to several and vetted them, and perhaps got someone as a recommendation.

I wouldn't do it for any client, but I would do it for some. I have for my brother a couple of times.

How much does the local MLS cost? How many trips are you willing to make? How busy are you?

Depends. If you have time, it might be worth it. Sometimes it makes more sense to let a local referral agent handle it.

I've had offers on listings over the years from people 3+ hours away in California as well.  It happens and if accepted that agent knows they need to be there.

It doesn't sound "convenient" and you might not be able to provide the best service not knowing intimately the area in question. It would be more prudent to refer it out. You might even incur a liability - there was a lawsuit, where the buyers felt they overpaid because their agent didn't know the area well and didn't provide good price advice. Buyers won.

Convenient, no, advisable, no, done, yes.  Avisable, no.  Too much liability and lack of fiduciary duty.

Our Division of Real Estate is cracking down on agents working out of area, and would always refer a buyer out if that far away.   I don't know areas that far away, and would not be of much help to a buyer.

In what capacity is the assitance being offered? A licensee cannot turn their license on or off even if working for family and friends. Its dicey to go around this. Other agents would take exception to this. 

I am currently going 1 hour one direction and 90 minutes another helping buyers.  It goes against my typical "refer out" buyers I can't help within a half hour or 40 minutes.  When you take the length of the commute back and forth, and the property tours into account, unless you are on a team or a have a licensed transaction coordinator, what other business issues/leads are you missing because you are on the road?  

Just refer that person to a good realtor in that area. Not convenient and no doing the buyer a good service since you don't know that area.

I would definitely refer it out.  That being said, I have a best friend who lives in Houston (I'm in Austin) who refused to work with anyone else but me when purchasing her new home.  I made her sign a disclosure stating that my knowledge of the area was limited, and relied on assistance from a local agent in regards to preparing a CMA. It was not convenient for me to work with her, I had to drive 3.5 hours for the showings, inspection and closing BUT I also got to spend time with my bestie - helping her buy her first home so it wasn't a total waste of time.

Convenient? That would be no. However I have helped past clients, friends and referrals purchase because i was asked to, and i knew the area clear across our state. I guess if you know the area then yes, do it, if you do not know the area, referring them to someone who does, may be better

Convenient - no! Prudent - no! Is your E&O current and in force? Refer it! 

It's possible if the "client" isn't too needy. Travel time is the determining factor as to how it affects your presence in your local market's needs. Chartering a helicopter or small plane may work in a pinch if the compensation warrants it.