Today I was reflecting back on the last few years I have been a real estate agent.  I started to think about my friends and family who have hired someone else to be their agent.  It reminded me of how hurt I was the first couple times it happened and how I have become used to it.  I started to think about reasons some people close to me may have for not allowing me to work for them.  Below are some real reasons I have heard and some possible reasons I came up with and my thoughts on them.

Your friend or family member is a full-time agent and you didn't use them because you do not want them to know your financial situation.  This is certainly a valid concern you may have when choosing to do business with a friend or relative.  Personally I wouldn't want some of my friends or family to know how much money I make, what my credit score is like, or what sort of debt I have.  Your real estate agent does not need to know about your financial information, that is for your mortgage professional.  The only thing I ask your mortgage broker is the amount you're pre-approved for and the amount you plan to use as a down payment.  I would also ask that he explain what sort of monthly payment you can expect to pay on your pre-approval amount to make sure you are comfortable with that.  Just because you are pre-approved for a certain amount, does not mean that is what you are going to feel comfortable paying monthly for the next decade or more.  In some circumstances knowing more about your situation may be helpful to your agent, but it is definitely not mandatory.

Your friend or family member is a full-time agent and you didn't use them because you do not want them to know how much you paid for or sold your home for.  If you did not know, in most counties you record your deed at your local recorders office.  Now, you may not be required to record your deed but your title company will record it for your protection against future claims to your title.  When your deed is recorded your transaction becomes public record.  Anyone can visit their county recorder's office and view the details of your transaction.  In larger municipalities you can even view county records on-line making it even easier to access.

Your friend or family member is a full-time agent and you didn't use them because you still see them as they used to be.  You remember your nephew Johnny from back when he was an awkward looking teenager with braces and his mid-pubescent crackling voice.  You remember chatting with his mother about how she wished his college grades were better and about anytrouble he may have been getting into.  Or perhaps when you think of John you think of his passed career.  Well those days are over, Johnny is a professional now.  He is a businessman who has the knowledge, experience, office support, and training to make your next real estate transaction pleasurable.

Next time you are going to be involved in a real estate transaction, consider if you have a good friend or relative that is a full-time real estate professional.  I'm not saying they will be the best person for the job, but I do believe they deserve an interview so you can make an informed decision.  What better person could you hire to represent you in your transaction than someone you already know, trust, like, and feel comfortable around.

If you can think of any other objections to hiring someone who is close to you as your real estate agent, please post it below. 

If you would like more information regarding real estate or homes for sale in Saint Charles County including Saint Charles, Saint Peters, O'Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, and Wentzville, please visit my website at http://www.snarzyk.com/ or feel free to call me at (314) 210-1996.

© This article is copyrighted material written by Steve Snarzyk, Realtor®.  You may not duplicate, print, or copy and paste this report without the permission of the author.