Recently, I heard a story where an agent found out that a brother put his house in the market and the Seller did not hire nor tell the agent relative. After a small family event, the Seller did not mention anything to the relative nor did the agent. I am going to tell you that the agent is hurt about this decision and the relationship between the two has been compromised. My question to the Seller is WHY? What is going thru the mind of the Seller that he cannot be upfront to his own family member about this. Why did the Seller remain to make it a secret? Did he think that the family member was not going to find out? Did the Seller feel that the family member was not good enough to hire them as their Realtor?
In the same token, I want to ask you if you had a friend who was a Realtor, would you do the same? Would you tell your friend that you were going to use a non-friend or another friend to sell or buy a house? Would you keep it a secret to your Realtor friend? Would you bother telling your friend about it? After all, we are on the MLS often enough to notice if your home was for sale.
Let me tell you from a perspective of a Realtor.
I can understand that friends don't want to do business with friends. It makes sense BUT it would only be fair that you approach your Realtor friend that you intend to sell your house and not use a friend PERIOD. A good Realtor friend should understand without questioning the friend's decision. I have a friend who has told me this and I supported this decision. That person in my opinion, is someone who was honest and valued our friendship.
A Realtor friend who runs a successful real estate business should at ALL times have the opportunity to earn your business PERIOD. You have heard your Realtor friend talk about their sales; you've read their successes in social media like Facebook; you should trust your friend to be able to do business with them. After all, how many times did you ask your friend for real estate advice? How many times did you consider selling your house and confiding this idea to your friend? How many times did you ask your friend for a name of a contractor, a plumber, an electrician? How many times did you ask your friend to pull comparables for you to protest your taxes? How many times did you think of moving and you asked your Realtor friend to show you a house he/she saw online? If you trust your friend enough for advice and your friend has been there for you for all your real estate needs, your Realtor friend DESERVES to be the FIRST person you interview when it comes to selling your home.
A professional Realtor should treat the transaction as a business like no other. The friend will be treated as a client and in most cases, better than a client. This is the time for the Realtor to step-up and shine given the circumstance since you know that you need your friend to rave about you in front of your common circle of friends after the transaction is over.
Do not at any case ask your Realtor friend to discount the commission because you are friends. This is a business transaction, there should be no special favors. The Realtor has to spend the same amount of marketing, time and effort as a regular transaction. If the Realtor volunteers that they want to give you a discount, so be it, but one should not ask. Our commission is our bread and butter. This is how we earn to pay our bills, to pay for our gas, our dues, mortgage just like how you or your spouse has to go to work to earn a paycheck. A friend would know this because your Realtor friend may have confided to you about their financials, etc.
The business transaction works both ways. If the Seller is self employed or works for a service industry, (whether it be a dry cleaning business, car sales, mortgage, professional cleaning, landscaping, restaurant owner, etc.) you would expect your Realtor friend to support you by sending business and referrals your way. Reciprocate by giving your Realtor friend your business.
In this business, I have seen this relationship to be one way, the lack of reciprocity, the lack of loyalty. Do not at any cost let this happen between you and your Realtor friend. I think its time you heard what its like to be on the other side of the table. Perhaps the relationship isn't a good friendship after all.
Think about it. All we are asking is your honesty and the opportunity to earn your business. Don't be selfish. Friendship is a two way street. You'll feel better about yourself in the long run.
