Does Hiring "Cousin Vinny" Really Make Sense?
Everybody knows someone who is a real estate agent. It could be a brother, aunt, or even your best friend's cousins step-father, and it doesn't matter who they are, you are often pressured to use them. Sometimes it does work out, but is it really worth the risk? After all, buying and selling a home involves a lot of important decisions to be made, and one mistake could mean disaster.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE HIRING "COUSIN VINNY"
For those of you who have seen the movie "My Cousin Vinny", the situation presented here is familiar to all of us. We are looking to hire someone to help us with something and decide to fall back on a relative due to pressure from other family members. Before you make a rash decision, think about this:
1. Is this family member a full time agent? I don't want to knock the part-timers, but sometimes a part-time agent will only be able to give part-time effort.
2. Is this person familiar with the area that you are looking to buy or sell? Real estate is very local and hiring someone that doesn't have extensive knowledge of the area could be a mistake.
3. Does your family member have the up-to-date skills needed to thrive in today's challenging market? The real estate industry has changed rapidly over the last 3-5 years, with technology playing a major role. Does your "cousin Vinny" possess all the tools to get the job done?
4. What happens if things don't go well? There is a good reason that a lot of people don't mix business and family. Will there be tension within your family if something goes wrong? Will family dinners suddenly be awkward if problems arise with your transaction?
5. When all is said and done, is this person that best one for the job? Remember, buying and selling a home is a major financial transaction, so hiring a real estate agent to assist you should be taken seriously.
The #1 reason that you should hire anyone is because you think they will do a great job for you. If you decide to hire the best person for the job based on qualifications, and they happen to be your relative, then that's fine, although there still may be major headaches involved here. However, if the only reason you hire someone is because you are related, then you are choosing them for the wrong reasons, and this could lead to trouble down the road.
Hiring a real estate agent is a business decision. Taking emotions and relationships out of the equation will help ensure that you are making the right choice, and for the right reasons.
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About The Authors:
Dan and Amy Schuman live on the East side of Cleveland and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.
For Ohio and Cleveland Oh real estate and homes see Cleveland OH real estate
For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.
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Does Hiring "Cousin Vinny" Really Make Sense? is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©December, 2010
