Apartment Living: Finding the Right Place to Call Home

When you decide to buy or sell a house, you might start thinking about hiring a real estate agent. As you consider who to hire, you might think of a good friend you know. Of course, your friend might expect you to hire them for the job, but should you? While this arrangement works out in some cases, it's typically better to hire someone else when selling or buying a house. Here are some reasons you shouldn't hire a friend as your real estate agent.

They might not be the best agent

Your friend that works as a real estate agent might be a great friend. In fact, they might be someone you've known your whole life, but that doesn't mean they're a great real estate agent. But you need a great agent when buying or selling, so it might be better to find an agent based on their experience and reputation. The result is that you'll have the best agent around to help you buy or sell a house.

You shouldn't mix business with pleasure

Secondly, you've probably heard the saying, "don't mix business with pleasure." This saying has been around for many years and holds much truth. Mixing business with pleasure can result in problems. For example, suppose you list your house with your friend but can't find a buyer. You might feel disappointed and bitter with your friend, and you might blame them for not working hard enough on your sale. The result could be an end to the friendship.

Your friend might not be honest

Additionally, your friend might face challenges telling you the truth when working as your real estate agent. On the flip side, an agent you don't know might be more apt to be honest. For example, suppose your house has bad odors. Would your friend tell you this when listing your home? Another real estate agent would tell you, as they know this could hinder your sale. However, your friend might not want to hurt your feelings.

Hire another real estate agent

If you need a real estate agent and decide not to hire your friend, you might want to sit down and talk to them about it. You can let them know why you're not hiring them, which might help you avoid a breakdown in the relationship. You might even ask your friend for recommendations of other agents to interview and hire.

To get started, contact a real estate agent in your area today.