Agents

Should You Choose Someone You Know As Your Real Estate Agent?

02.19.2021

Are you preparing to buy or sell a home? If so, one of the first steps is figuring out how to choose a real estate agent. You have no shortage of options, given the ever-growing number of real estate professionals out there. To give you an idea, CREA (the Canadian Real Estate Association) has over 135,000 members. Chances are, you have some sort of connection to at least one agent.

The question is, should you really work with your sister-in-law’s boyfriend’s cousin just because they’re licensed? Are all real estate professionals created equal, or should you put some serious thought into who you work with?

If you’re trying to decide whether to work with an agent you know, here are a few things to consider…

Honesty is important

Your agent has an obligation to tell you the truth. If you’re a seller, that may mean informing you that your home could use some strategic improvements. If you’re a buyer, it could mean (gently) breaking it to you that you likely won’t get quite as much as you think with the budget you have.

Real estate agents must frequently have difficult conversations with their clients. Unfortunately, a friend, family member, or even an acquaintance may be hesitant to tell you things you don’t want to hear (even when you need to).


One of the best ways to know if a real estate agent is right for you is to be up-to-date on the market yourself. The posts below will help:


Real estate can be stressful

A home purchase or sale can have a major impact on your life. For this reason, tensions often run high during the buying and selling processes. Whether you’re a seller receiving feedback after a showing or a buyer who has to compromise during negotiations, there are bound to be emotions involved.

With an impartial agent, you can ask as many questions as you want—and express any anxieties you might be feeling. That can be hard to do when you hire someone with whom you have a preexisting relationship.

How close is too close?

Whether your agent is a friend of a friend, a second cousin, or someone closer, you may not want them to be privy to all of your personal business. Let’s say you’re getting a mortgage. Do you want them to know about your finances? What about if you’re selling due to a separation. Are you comfortable with the fact that they may learn some of the basic details during the process?

Of course, none of this means that an agent you don’t know won’t care about you. The best professionals are always invested in your experience and outcome. That said, working with someone who doesn’t regularly talk to those closest to you frees you up to be completely honest—and focus on the process.

You may be biased

Last but not least, you probably won’t hold someone you know to the same standards as any other professional. They may be decent at what they do—but if you don’t compare them to other local agents in an unbiased way, how can you be sure that they’re among the best?

Working with a family member, friend, or casual acquaintance could mean settling for a slightly lower level of service than you’d opt for otherwise. It may also mean you won’t have access to the strongest market knowledge, industry connections, or negotiation expertise.

At the end of the day, your real estate agent should be a true expert. While it’s possible that a professional you’re personally connected to fits the bill, it’s important to do your homework before deciding who to partner with.

You should also carefully consider the implications of embarking on the buying or selling process with someone you know—and how it could change your relationship. The right agent may not be who you think, and it pays to put in some serious thought!

Preparing to buy a home? See our featured listings to learn what on the market. Getting ready to sell? Set up a seller’s consultation to get started today!