James:  Interesting!  If I bungled my mother's transaction, I would encourage her to pursue the same avenues as she would with anyone else.  Having said that, I never thought about the appearance of it in the court room.

Justin:  Justin, my judgment was clear.  She got everything she wanted and even though the buyer had to make more repairs than she had hoped, she said at the closing table "I am glad that you are the buyer on my condo."

John:  I think you hit the nail on the head -- family dynamics do come into it.  One typically has a closer relationship with certain family than they would others; and it is often a different type of connection.

Joan:  It is tricky.  Luckily, my mother and I are enough alike that we are usually on the same page.  The same concerns she has/had are the same concerns I have/had.  It was much easier to anticipate her wants and needs.  In fact, I took things into consideration that she never thought of.  For instance, she said that she never wanted to move again.  I showed her ground floor condos that were handicap friendly.  If she never wants to move, then what she ultimately bought needed to be able to handle anything that comes down the road.  If she were to ever need to be in a wheelchair, she will not have to move, as her unit is already handicap friendly (outside entrance, wider door frames, large bathroom with turn radius for a wheelchair, etc).  It was much easier broaching that subject with her than it would be with anyone else -- plus, I already knew our family's health history!  I doubt any other agent she hired would have thought that far ahead -- especially since she made the "not wanting to move" comment in passing.  What she says is what she means though, so even the slightest comment made in passing is meant to be taken seriously...anyone else may have missed it altogether.

I am kind of shocked that there hasn't been anyone really for it.  What about the hundreds of thousands (or more) successful family businesses out there?

My mother's transaction was one of my easiest and best.  It was smooth as could be, minus our one moment of stress.  If every transaction were as easy...

Is my family different than the norm?  Isn't there anyone else that has done it successfully, where both parties would wholeheartedly do it again?

It was not the first time I worked with family either -- just the first time in real estate.  The other times I worked with family (I worked for my mother when I was a teen -- and then she worked with me for awhile -- I worked with my brother's fiance, and other examples), were also great experiences.

Perhaps it comes back to family dynamics?  I think one thing that helps is the respect we have respect each others strengths.  I respect my mother for being my mother -- so even though sometimes she gives me advice that I already know, I know she is doing it as a doting mother.  When it was time for her to buy, she knew I was the expert and sat back and let me guide her without questioning me.

There we go... now I have some people helping me not question my sanity anymore!

Coeur:  I think that is key -- business and family seperate (during a transaction).  Our calls about the house were about the house -- three hours later, a call may have been about "how is your day going."  I did call her Mom though, except in front of the other parties.  I wasn't going to address her by anything different because I assumed a different role.  In Maryland, we disclose on an addendum that we are related to our client, but the actual relationship is not specified.  Since my mother and I have different names, it was decided that the other side would not know she was my mother (they only knew we were related) until the time was appropriate.  My mother did decide it appropriate at some point before closing though.  Nobody was surprised though.

Jane:  I would not recommend representing yourself, either.  In my state (and it may be nationwide -- or even an insurance company mandate), my E&O insurance does not cover transactions where I represent myself.  That alone is worth using another agent, on top of having their insight, unbiased opinion, etc.  Doctors shouldn't examine themselves, lawyers shouldn't represent themselves and agents shouldn't represent themselves.

Richard:  Well, at least your dad wasn't down the street and using another agent!  Did you at least get a referral fee? :)  Trust me, my momma talks about me every chance she can. ;)