Why You Shouldn’t Hire Family as Your Real Estate Agent

You know the old saying, “family and business don’t mix”? While it is not necessarily the case for all situations, it is definitely something to keep in mind when it comes to buying or selling your home.

I am definitely a family man. But when it comes to business, I like to separate the two. I am not saying that their support and advice don’t matter, they are much needed. But, with a lot on the line and emotions running high, there could be many things to sour the relationship. So when you are in need of an agent, I would look outside the family ranks for these reasons:

High Emotions

You will have a lot invested in the situation. This can cause you to get a little emotional with whoever is representing you as your agent. Working with a family member can get things even more heated. In a tense situation you might let your emotions get the best of you with a family member, or vice versa. Working with a trusted real estate agent outside of your family can help in tense situations. You will approach them formally and they will keep their cool.

Open Communication

I think one of the biggest issues when working with family is that you can’t fully express your thoughts and opinions. It can be difficult to express disagreement with a family member when you are taking into consideration their feeling and emotions. In other cases, they might think they know what is best for you and will not consider your suggestions. When working with a real estate agent there must be an open line of constant and honest communication. It is the only way to achieve the best results.

They Are Lost

Having a knowledgable and reliable agent is crucial for getting desired results. Agents need to know the market, understand how to advertise your property, and have a network to help better serve you. Your aunt might have many years of experience, but they might not have a history of success, especially if they haven’t adapted their business methods. Always research potential agents and meet with the to gain an understanding of their expertise.

Now You’re Stuck

So your uncle is your agent for selling your home. But there is one problem, your home is in real estate purgatory! It has been on the market for ages and he is doing little to get your home exposed to the right target audience. In most cases you would let this agent go. But, since it is your loving uncle who is married to your favorite aunt, you just don’t know how to go about doing that. Working with family can get you stuck in a bad situation.

Start Divisions

It is really hard to not spill the beans to your family members, even when it is about other family members. Coming from a big family, I can attest to the fact that when there is a quarrel or disagreement there will be dividing teams. You might speak your mind to your family member who you are working with, but they don’t take it lightly. Yep, the next phone call they make is to someone in the family and it spreads like wildfire. Don’t put yourself in a soap opera, hire an outside agent.

Leave family business to reunions, barbecues and holidays. When it comes to actual business like buying or selling your home, hire an agent that you can build a trusting relationship with and avoid the drama.