Does it Bother You If Your Friends, Relatives Don't Use Your Services?

Yes it does, but I got over it too.  Now, I would prefer not to work with my friends and family.  It's a tough market, let them get pissed off at someone else and feel bad about not using me! 

Lenn- what's funny is I often read posts that say "Don't use someone as your agent just because they're your aunt/uncle/cousin etc. "   And, a few posts later.. I'll read one that talks about why their aunt/uncle/cousin didn't use them as their agent.   You can't win. 

Lenn, I prefer not to work with family and friends. Several years ago, just as the market was beginning to tank, I listed homes for two friends ... people who I had known for 40 and 17 years. Both listings were canceled due to the crashing market. I am no longer "friends" with either. The manner in which they treated me was abusive.  Had nothing to do with me ... it was the market. I worked my ass off for both of them. Neither were easy or fun to work with. 

I sold my sisters home a few years ago and she tortured me.  It was awful.

Lenn I understand  why someone would not want not want those who they know to not know the details of their life.  But even though I understand does not mean that it does not sting when they choose to use someone else.

I enjoy working with friends and family, and feel I am the one who can do the best job possible for them.

Hi, Lenn.

     Noah handled this topic quite well.  Good choice for a Reblog; we have all been through it!

Good morning Lenn. Here is the part that is tough, very often buyers and sellers have a friend or family that has a license, but probably shouldn't and would be much better served to hire a real profession to to serve them.

I've come across people who've had a relative in the business that they didn't want knowing their "business" lol.  It happens.  The only time I get upset (and it's usually with myself) is when I know I didn't do a better job of keeping top of mind that I do this for a living :).  

Lenn,

I've had this happen to me once in almost 5 years, and I demonstrated true professionalism when I came face to face with it. Did I like it? No, of course not. However, I was very gracious and professional about it. Friends and family have free will in these situations. They make decisions based on their comfort level. I agree with you, it absolultely does not mean we are bad realtors. I am very confident in my ability to help any client buy and sell real estate. Great blog!

My friends and relatives use my services.  But I always render it for free, so what do they lose?

I don't let it bother me as either I didn't do a great job in my relationship building or they simply weren't comfortable with me in their business. I had the exact same thing happen: went on list appointment, the seller's neighbor was an agent and friend, but the seller simply didn't want to strain their relationship. After all, she could fire me a lot easier than she could fire her friend and neighbor. Luckily we had the house under contract in less than a week so it wasn't too awkward for my seller. 

It used to bother me Lenn.  I actually prefer working with strangers.