As consumers, we rely on reviews for many things in life, including products, restaurants and businesses. So looking at reviews to find the right real estate agent to sell your property should definitely be on your to-do list. When the time comes to do your research, here are the things to look out for when reading reviews so you can be confident in your final decision.
7 Things to look out for in reviews for real estate agents
Here are several things to keep a keen eye out for when reading reviews to find the best real estate agent for you and your property:
1. Reviews that mention the agent’s experience in the local real estate market
The best real estate agents are ones that have a thorough knowledge of your local area. This is beneficial for multiple reasons:
- They’ll know the best selling strategies, including the property value, the expected selling price and the most advantageous selling method.
- They can tailor a marketing plan that will expertly target potential customers.
- If the real estate agent has recently sold similar properties in the local area, they should have an existing database of prospective buyers. This is typically landlords looking for their next investment or buyers that previously missed out on a similar property.
- They can discuss the area’s advantages with prospective buyers. This might be the great schools nearby, the public transport links or the average demographic.
So definitely keep an eye out for good reviews that positively reference an agent’s local market knowledge and experience, as this makes a big difference when selling properties.
2. Whether the reviewer had a positive or negative experience working with the real estate agent
This is probably one of the most important things to focus on. If reviews reference a negative experience like tardiness or unprofessionalism, you probably don’t want to give that real estate agent your business. However, if most reviews focus on positive qualities like open communication, proactiveness and transparency, you may have found the right agent for you.
It’s also important to look out for trends. If several reviewers point out the same issue, the real estate agent may have some work to do. In contrast, if several reviewers point out the same positive quality, the real estate agent is doing something right.
3. Reviews that provide specific details about what the agent did (or didn’t do) to help them buy or sell their home
As they say, the devil is in the details. When a reviewer goes beyond “they were a good agent,” you’re in luck! Whether you’re buying your first home or an investment property, you want a real estate agent who understands your needs. If you see reviews where someone specifically calls out an agent for being late or going against their wishes, you should keep looking.
This is also relevant to real estate agents selling property as well. Home sellers should keep an eye out for people going into detail about the agents’ positive and negative qualities to help them make an informed decision.
4. Recent reviews
Recent reviews will help you develop a more accurate view of the real estate agent’s performance in today’s property market. A real estate agent with a wealth of experience might have excellent reviews from five years ago. Still, these will be outdated and irrelevant if they haven’t kept up with the times and embraced social media, for example.
As with many industries, a person’s attitude and work ethic can change over time. If someone has multiple bad reviews from years ago, don’t write them off just yet. They might have gained more experience and improved their performance since then.
5. Reviews focusing on marketing and advertising costs
Do the reviews mention that the real estate agent provided detailed information about marketing and advertising costs? If so, this is a good sign, as marketing is usually an additional cost on top of commission. In fact, marketing costs in Australia can range from $2500 to $10,000 depending on the property’s price and location.
It’s also extremely helpful to understand what you’re paying for, so keep that in mind when it comes time to interview prospective real estate agents.
6. A good quantity of reviews
This directly relates to an agent’s experience. If they have extensive real estate experience with positive outcomes, they should also have an extensive amount of quality reviews with people gushing about how they’re extremely professional and trustworthy. If they have minimal reviews, they may need more experience or noteworthy skills.
7. Trust your gut
Good reviews and multiple five stars are beneficial, but you should always trust your gut when it comes to a big decision, like choosing the right real estate agent to sell your house or apartment. If you meet them and something feels wrong, or you don’t unequivocally trust them to have your best interests in mind, it’s best to go with another real estate agent.
Real estate reviews FAQs
What about property manager reviews?
Landlords should also look out for many of the factors mentioned above when researching property manager reviews. For example, reviews regarding the manager’s experience, whether reviewers recommend working with the particular manager, the review’s date and the property manager’s fees. A landlord should always trust their gut when finding the best fit for their investment property.
Here’s our guide to all things property management to help you make the right decision. But something to look out for includes their communication skills. If past landlords or tenants are negatively commenting on their lack of communication, this isn’t a good sign. You also want a property manager who is quick to respond to urgent tenant requests. If their rent roll is at capacity, they probably don’t have the time to dedicate to your property.
What’s the next step after reading reviews?
So, you’ve read a lot of reviews and made a shortlist of potential real estate agents. Here are our recommended next steps:
- If you weren’t satisfied with the number of reviews, ask the real estate agents directly for references or if they can pass your information on to a few of their previous clients. If they offer great professional service, this shouldn’t be an issue.
- Interview the agents. While online reviews are so important, getting a feel for an agent offline is also imperative. This is when trusting your gut comes in.
- Take a close look at the contract. Once you’ve picked your selected agent and it’s time to sign the contract, don’t forget to read the fine print. It should outline the expected fees and their preferred commission structure, whether that’s a percentage-based fee based on the final selling price or a fixed price. You should always remember that across Australia, you’re free to negotiate real estate fees. Here’s more information about the whole process of negotiating and how to handle it correctly.
Where do you find real estate agent reviews?
While many people immediately turn to Google reviews or even Facebook, LocalAgentFinder provides homeowner feedback on local real estate agents.
Ready to find the right local real estate agent for you?
Over one million people visit LocalAgentFinder annually, and our client testimonials speak for themselves. But our free comparison service is truly a one-stop shop, as it allows you to both read homeowner reviews and compare agents. Because, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t make any decision based solely on reviews. Here is just some of the information available on our website:
- The agent’s fees and commission and how it compares to the area’s average fees and commission rates.
- The performance of their recent sales, including the selling price and time on the market.
- Current listings.
- Their marketing strategy.
- Unbiased homeowner reviews.
Our stress-free services are also entirely free for property owners, with no strings attached. You can view as many agents and reviews to your heart’s content, and only the agent/s you decide to contact will know about it. Plus, our customer care team is based in Australia and readily available to answer any questions or offer advice. So give them a call on 133 033.