Terms of Use

Terms of Use

Effective date: October 2, 2026  ·  Last updated: October 6, 2026

1. Agreement

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of https://thereferralshop.com/ (the "Site"). The Site, named "The Referral Shop," is operated by Doug Bross of the Bross Chingas Bross Team ("we," "us"), licensed real estate professionals affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty, 355 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880. Broker of record: Coldwell Banker Realty, CT Real Estate Broker License No. REB.0788195, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIH LLC. "The Referral Shop" is the name of the Site (a trade name) and is not a separate company or legal entity. By using the Site you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.

2. Who we are

The Site is operated by Doug Bross of the Bross Chingas Bross Team, licensed real estate professionals affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty. Coldwell Banker Realty, CT Real Estate Broker License No. REB.0788195, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIH LLC, is our broker of record. Doug Bross directly places every referral made through the Site, as a referral from Coldwell Banker Realty to the receiving brokerage. Coldwell Banker Realty receives all referral fees. "The Referral Shop" is the name of the Site (a trade name), not a separate company or brokerage. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Equal Housing Opportunity. We follow the federal Fair Housing Act and Connecticut fair housing laws.

3. What the Site does

The Site provides a relocation guide: you can share housing, commute, and lifestyle preferences to receive town matches across a region you choose, browse community guides, and ask to be introduced to a licensed real estate agent. The town match is free. The match uses only the housing, commute, and lifestyle preferences you provide; it does not use protected characteristics, neighborhood demographics, or steering criteria.

4. Agent introductions and referral fees

Referral basis. Introductions are made on a referral basis. We make reasonable efforts to connect you with a qualified agent in your chosen community, but agent availability varies by market and timing, and we may align you with a different agent in that market. We do not guarantee any particular agent, result, or outcome.

Licensing. Agents we introduce are independent real estate licensees who must hold an active real estate license in the state where the property is located. Our Connecticut team does not provide brokerage services or negotiate on behalf of buyers or sellers outside Connecticut. Once introduced, the receiving agent and their brokerage are solely responsible for any real estate services, advice, and representation. You are not required to work with any agent we introduce.

Referral fee disclosure. If you close a transaction with an agent we introduce, the receiving agent's brokerage may pay a referral fee, brokerage to brokerage, to our broker of record, Coldwell Banker Realty, CT Real Estate Broker License No. REB.0788195, a wholly owned subsidiary of CIH LLC. Referral fees are not paid to or by individual agents, and they come at no additional cost to you from this referral. Before an introduced agent speaks with you, we send a written referral agreement from our broker of record to that agent's brokerage.

Agent selection. Every agent we introduce is license-verified — we confirm an active license in good standing with the state licensing authority before placing a referral — and screened for production and professional standing using public sources. This is not a ranking by The Referral Shop, and public production figures are not independently audited.

No agency. Using the Site does not create an agency, fiduciary, listing, or buyer-representation relationship with us or with any agent until a separate written agreement is signed with that agent.

5. Calls and text messages

We contact you only by the method you choose. If you choose Phone call and check "Call me about this request," Doug Bross of the Bross Chingas Bross Team, Coldwell Banker Realty, and the licensed agent and brokerage you are introduced to may call you about your inquiry. They will use automated technology or a prerecorded or artificial voice only if you also check the separate, optional automated-calls box. If you choose Text message and check "Text me about this request," the same parties may text you about your inquiry. Marketing texts are sent only by Doug Bross of the Bross Chingas Bross Team, Coldwell Banker Realty, and only if you check the separate, optional marketing-texts box. Consent is never a condition of buying any property, goods, or services, and you can choose Email instead. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel texts or HELP for help. To stop calls, tell the caller or contact [email protected] or (203) 526-6537. We honor opt-out requests promptly and no later than 10 business days after we receive them. Full details are in Section 6 of our Privacy Policy.

6. Information is general and may change

Town, price, commute, school, and other guide information is a dated research snapshot (prepared September 2026) from sources we believe reliable, and it is provided for general information only. Price measures and availability vary by market; not every town has a verified price snapshot; commute figures are approximate; and school references are starting points for your own independent research. We do not guarantee that the information is accurate, complete, current, or suitable for your needs. Verify everything with official sources and a licensed professional before making decisions. Nothing on the Site is legal, tax, financial, mortgage, appraisal, or investment advice, and nothing is an offer to buy, sell, or finance real property. The Site is not a listing service.

7. Your responsibilities

You agree that the information you give us is accurate, that you are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority where you live), and that you will not: (a) use the Site unlawfully or in violation of fair housing or other laws; (b) submit information about someone else without permission; (c) use bots, scrapers, or automated means to copy or harvest the Site or its data; (d) interfere with or attempt to breach the Site's security; (e) introduce malware; or (f) use the Site to send spam or to compete with or reverse engineer the Site. We may suspend or block access at any time.

8. Intellectual property

The Site, its design, text, data compilations, and software are owned by us or our licensors and protected by law. You may view and use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes. Photographs and other third-party content carry their own credits and licenses (for example, Creative Commons), identified in the relevant town guide, and remain subject to those licenses. Coldwell Banker® and other marks belong to their owners; no license to use them is granted. If you submit feedback or comments, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use them without obligation to you.

9. Third-party sites

The Site may link to third-party sites, sources, and agent or brokerage websites. We do not control or endorse them and are not responsible for their content, services, or privacy practices. Your use is at your own risk.

10. Disclaimers

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DOUG BROSS, THE BROSS CHINGAS BROSS TEAM (INCLUDING IN OPERATING THE SITE UNDER THE NAME "THE REFERRAL SHOP"), COLDWELL BANKER REALTY, AND THEIR AFFILIATES, OWNERS, OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SITE OR ANY AGENT INTRODUCTION. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE SITE WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100). Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limits, so some of this may not apply to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless us and our affiliates from claims, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your violation of these Terms or of any law in connection with your use of the Site.

13. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut, and you consent to that jurisdiction. Nothing here limits any non-waivable consumer right.

14. Changes, termination, and general terms

We may change the Site or these Terms at any time by posting an updated version with a new effective date; continued use means you accept the changes. We may suspend or end access at any time. If any part of these Terms is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. These Terms and the Privacy Policy are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Site. Our failure to enforce a right is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms; we may.

15. Contact

Doug Bross of the Bross Chingas Bross Team — operator of The Referral Shop (site/trade name)
Coldwell Banker Realty, 355 Riverside Ave., Westport, CT 06880
Email: [email protected] · Phone: (203) 526-6537