How Do You Handle Parental Involvement in the House Hunt?

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

How Do You Handle Parental Involvement in the House Hunt?

When you are buying your first home, the feeling to reach out to mom and dad may be stronger for some than others.  Should your parents be involved in the process?  Are they local?  Are they interested in being involved?  Do they feel they need to be involved because they are making a down payment gift?

Parental involvement can be a blessing or a curse, all depending on how willing your parents are to be part of the process.  In the course of house hunting, your agent will educate about many things.  Market conditions are at the topmost important considerations when it comes to making an offer.  If your parents haven't heard any of the facts and figures about market conditions, and give you contradictory advice to what your agent is suggesting, who do you trust?

The best practice is if you want your parents involved and they want to be involved, everyone should be hearing the advice the agent is giving.

Comments (7)

Brad Thomsen
Big Bear Realty - Edmonds, WA
Real Estate Services

Good post

Get all the decision makers at the table or watch your deal get blown out.

Have a Great 2021

Happy Selling!

Jan 10, 2021 02:08 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Everyone needs the same information to give the best advice.

Jan 10, 2021 02:16 PM
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Great topic Chris Ann Cleland 

I have experience with this topic and how difficult parents can be. 

Jan 10, 2021 03:24 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

They can also be very helpful IF they are getting the same information and not going off of how it was when they bought their first home.

Jan 10, 2021 07:05 PM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Getting them all on  the same page upfront is so important!  Good topic to discuss here Chris Ann.

Jan 10, 2021 03:49 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Always glad when you approve Anna Banana Kruchten CRS CRB, Phoenix Broker .

Jan 10, 2021 07:05 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

this is a great topic to discuss with your clients.  I generally just cringe and want to pull a blanket over my head - but that is how I feel at the end of a long day LOL

Jan 10, 2021 05:43 PM
Chris Ann Cleland

Anyone who gets involved as a sounding board can be trouble.  Best friends.  Co-workers.  The cousin who had their real estate license for six months in 1984.

Jan 10, 2021 07:09 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Yes, indeed, if parents (or friends for that matter) are going to be involved they need to be in on the initial consultations and not step in the middle with limited understanding of current market conditions.

Jan 11, 2021 09:56 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

Carol Williams --Agreed.  Once had a mom who considered herself an expert, having been licensed for 2 years in the early 80's when her son was looking for a home around the time the market started to crash.  She was full of horrible advice.  Even thought that his uncle, a veteran, could give him his VA eligibility.  It was just so awful.  Eventually, they found a home, but the upheaval with the mom always budding in with advice that was not at all relevant or timely, was a mess.

Jan 11, 2021 01:05 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I don’t. People can do whatever they want so long as it flows well and makes sense for the client.

Jan 12, 2021 06:17 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Carol Wilson that’s a great point that they have to be all In. Like I said the whole thing has the flow and make sense and then go from there.

Jan 12, 2021 06:19 PM