Listing Your Home With A Relative or Friend..

When you think of listing your home you many choices & thoughts. The single most important decision should be who you list your home with.

Here's both my perspective & opinions from past clients:

1. You should think twice before listing with a friend or family member. A lot of times people will list their home or do business with people outside the family/friend network, and for good reason. Perhaps you don't want your neighbor who is also a Realtor knowing your personal financial business, maybe you don't want your wife's who is an appraiser to hear about your negative equity. This is a normal and common feeling. Most importantly you want to be able fire the person you're working with without hurting feelings or damaging relationships.

I sometimes encourage friends and family to list elsewhere, as I value our relationship more than a commission.

2. Everyone expects a "hook-up" or a discount with family members or close friends, and that's perfectly understandable to a certain degree.

Here's what you don't want:

A) Your buddy listing your home for almost nothing. Why? Let me explain, he isn't getting paid! Yes, you still get what you pay for in this world. The one motivator to almost all people is a financial gain, even if "we're buddies." Do it right the first time, not the second.

B) A relative who just got licensed to list your home. You are not doing this person any favors. In fact it's my opinion you are doing nothing more than setting this transaction up for possible failure. I told my friends & family to "wait" when I got licensed. I know that sounds crazy, but to be honest I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. I didn't want my close friends and family members to be Guinea pigs. Today, I get more referrals & more business because I was fair & honest with them from the get go.

C) Don't list your home with a part-time agent who is also a friend or relative. If somebody dabbles with real estate or does it for "extra-money" then it is likely you will receive "dabbling" type rewards & efforts. This isn't to suggest that ALL part timers do not do a good job.

Contrary to wide spread misconception, there is an enormous amount of effort, resources and money spent marketing, advertising and exposing a home. It's much more than slapping it on the MLS.

I serve all of West & Northwest Houston 24/7.