Is your Agent your friend?

Over the years a few sayings always come back full circle. One of which is don’t lend money to family and the second is don’t go into business with friends. Many times the relationship sellers have with their agent is born out of a sense of obligation. Is the agent you pick just a regular fixture in the community or possibly a neighbor?  You really have to question is this agent the best person for the job. Lots of times a client picks an agent to represent them that they see continuously around town. At times they also feel a sense of obligation to use that agent.

Selling or buying a home is a business decision most of the time. This is no different that entering into a partnership with the end game of profitability. You have to pick the best business partner to get to the finish line and not always the agent who is a fixture in the community.  Some agents’ whole business is centered around a small area or community. They do not do much business outside of that area. This means that many of their buyer pool and clients only look into that area. If they are predominately a sellers agent with specialized marketing to attract sellers, what about the buyers? If their sphere is only a few miles how can they attract a buyer form another state or another country?

In the end selling a home is no different then forming a partnership.  If things move smoothly and as planned then the appearance is everyone is happy and pleased with the result. What if the friend agent you pick is really not that great at their job?  It’s best to really do some due diligence and see how the agent stacks up. Oh course you have to align yourself with someone that you feel comfortable with and can work with. You also have to be prepared for a bump in the road. A real estate transaction can be stressful and difficult at times. What if things don’t go as planned, can you still maintain a friendship after the sale? Sometimes it’s best to use the professional you respect but wouldn’t necessarily call a close friend.

Most of the times a bond is formed between the agent and the client and a sense of trust is developed over time. If you have this bond then it can be a great match, but if you don’t really know the agent then do your homework. Make sure that your decision is not based on who’s signs you see the most, but the agent the has the same core values as you do. Make sure this is an agent you can work with, speak your mind and have discussions with on strategies. Make sure that the agent has enough time to really devote to you and your property.