When it becomes time to purchase or sell your primary residence or to make an investment in real estate, the first part of the process involves choosing a professional real estate agent to represent your best interests.  With over 10,000 Realtors in Northern Virginia, there are plenty of choices.  

These numbers are down from a few years ago when the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS (NVAR) boasted close to 16,000 members. 

Nevertheless, it sometimes seems as if everyone has a friend, neighbor, cousin, or uncle who "is in real estate."  When you deal with a home purchase or sale, you are likely considering one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime.

Should you choose to work with a friend?

Everyone wants to work with someone that they KNOW, LIKE & TRUST.  Before you choose to work with a friend or relative, consider these important questions to determine whether that decision will be in your best interests:

•  Is your friend a full-time REALTOR?

During the boom market, there were many agents who got into real estate to "make a quick buck."  They thought they would give real estate a try.  

Jedi Master Yoda says "Do or do not.  There is no try."

Real estate requires full time attention and dedication.  Gone are the days when real estate deals could be completed with a handshake or a scribble on the back of a banana peel.  Realtors today need to be knowledgeable about contracts, negotiations, agency law, fair housing requirements, neighborhood pricing, economic trends, marketing, technology, internet search techniques, and a wide variety of other skills.  Part-time real estate agents just cannot keep up with everything that is required to best serve their clients in today's market.

• Does your friend have a track record of real estate success?

It's one thing to want to help out a friend.  Perhaps you see a friend struggling in the slow real estate market and want to help them out with a sale.  These altruistic feelings are part of your human nature.  

Ask yourself how much experience your friend, family member, or neighbor has when it comes to selling real estate.  If you were having heart surgery, would you trust the operation to your friend who just graduated from medical school and has never performed the procedure?  Will you spend your hard earned money and buy a stock on a tip from your neighbor who dabbles in the financial markets? 

Make sure that the professional you choose for your real estate needs has a solid track record of success.

• Can your friend distance their emotions from the negotiations?

You and your friend have a personal relationship.  Adding a professional relationship to the mix might be like trying to mix oil and water or fire and ice.  How much do you value your friendship?

One of the most important roles of a Realtor remains helping to negotiate the deal.  Successful negotiations require the negotiator to remove their emotions from the transaction.  Most homebuyers and home sellers have a lot of emotion vested in the deal.  A professional real estate agent distances themselves from the emotions and works to get the best price and terms for their client.

Emotions can get in the way when there is a friendship involved.  Will your friend tell you what you want to hear to maintain the friendship?  Or will they be brutally honest with you even when you might not like what they have to say?  What if the deal goes sour -- what will happen to your friendship?

Read Choosing a Good Negotiator for Your Real Estate Deal to understand the importance of negotiations in the real estate process.

Nothing is wrong with working with your friend, as long as you know that they are a full-time professional Realtor with a successful track record who will always work in your best interests.  Many of my friends have chosen to engage my services and these have been some of my most enjoyable transactions.  Many other clients become my friends throughout the process and remain so afterwards.

Brian Block -- your best bet and trusted counsel for professional real estate services.  Not your friend... I'm your advocate.  Please note that friendships may form throughout the process and if established you can expect to receive birthday cards, holiday cards, invitations to parties and sporting events throughout the year.