Contrary to what others may think, I’m a big fan of mixing friends and business. When I got married last year, one of my best friends, who is a professional wedding photographer, took our photos. The best part of this arrangement was how comfortable I felt with her as she snapped pictures all day. She also provided extra love and reassurance whenever the day became a tiny bit—or, let’s be honest, very—stressful. (And she still enjoyed dancing and champagne at the end of the night!)
In the real estate business, family and friends of real estate professionals often hire an outside realtor rather than their loved one. Essentially, they’re afraid that anything going wrong during the real estate transaction will damage their personal relationship.
Margaret Smith comments that this situation has happened several times for Pickett Street. “It’s so hard to watch,” she says, “because most of the time they end up picking some random person they met at an open house—and this agent doesn’t have a great track record.”
These days, it’s easy for our lives to feel devoid of real connection—Amazon can deliver practically anything to your home in two days, and online communication replaces many face-to-face experiences.
This is why, when family and friends consider working with a stranger to buy or sell their home, Pickett Street educates them to think otherwise. Unlike working with a stranger, working with someone you already know and trust promises that you will experience security and real connection.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new friend, reach out to Pickett Street at 425-502-5397, or email them at info@pickettstreet.com. In the meantime, here are a few of the benefits of mixing friends and business.
1. They will be honest with you.
According to businesswoman Erica Cerulo, who started the fashion website Of a Kind and wrote Work Wife, mixing friends and business often involves “a willingness to be vulnerable with one another and not be afraid to express that you’re overwhelmed.”
Pickett Street’s agents genuinely want what’s best for their clients. They can look up any real estate agent’s stats to see how many homes they’ve bought or sold homes. They will also strategize with you to create an individualized plan.
2. They might just be the best in the business.
This particular point was critical when it came to choosing my wedding photographer. My friend is not only a wedding photographer, she’s also one of the leading photographers in the state. As a result, it just felt silly to not hire her.
The same goes for Pickett Street—the team’s agents are highly specialized. Lead listing agent Jesse Moore only works with sellers, not buyers. As Margaret explains, “This way he is able to specialize in selling homes and sharpen his expertise in that area only.”
Important trivia: Jesse started working in real estate in 2006 and has listed a total of 300 homes since 2012!
3. Working with the people you love reimagines the workplace.
As Erica Cerulo notes, “We think the qualities of female friendship have reshaped the workplace. By leading with qualities like compassion, vulnerability and emotional transparency, you create a totally different environment.” I love that.
So, moral of the story: when you need professional support, reach out to those you love (hint, hint—like Pickett Street!). Mixing friends and business has the power to create a real estate transaction that’s not only easier, but also more compassionate, more honest, and more meaningful.