Think about how you find a new restaurant. What’s the first thing you do? You Google it, you read reviews, and you see what people are saying. When you’re looking for a new place to eat, you’re not just reading the menu—you’re reading about the service, the vibe, and most importantly, the experiences other people have had. The same goes for finding a Realtor.
If you need to hire a realtor, your first step should be asking your friends and family if they know someone. A referral by someone you trust is always better than relying on the internet. But if that's not an option, there is a hack that will help you sort the good from the bad.
Realtor reviews are an excellent source of information. They tell you what it’s really like to work with someone. Are they responsive? Do they understand the market? Did they go above and beyond? A great Realtor isn’t just about closing deals; it’s about making the process smooth and enjoyable. Reviews on Google and Zillow can help you see who’s truly looking out for your best interests.
We recommend starting with Zillow. Insert the neighborhood you are interested in and you will get a massive list of agents. This is not an accurate list of who actually sells homes in that area since agents can list any cities they want in their profile. But it's a start. A good rule of thumb is to look at the map of sales in an individual agent's profile, that is a direct feed from MLS and will tell you which neighborhoods they have actually sold homes in.
Note that the first page of agents that appears in a search AND the "Top Agent on Zillow" designation are not based on reviews or the number of transactions. They are listed first because they are paying Zillow for leads. Once you get a page or two in, the list is sorted by the top reviewed agents/teams.
When you see "Team" next to a profile in the list, that means the review rating is based on an average of every agent on that team, not just the individual in the photo. It is far more important to look at the reviews in individual agent profiles since you will be working with an individual, not the entire team.
A good starting point once you are looking at individual profiles is to look at the number of transactions in the past year. A successful full-time agent should have at least 20 transactions a year. Less isn't necessarily bad, but it may indicate the person is only part-time or has less experience. In the "Get to Know" section of the profile, note the # of years of experience. The more deals an agent has done in their career, the more likely they have honed their negotiation skills and can spot potential inspection issues before you even write an offer.
When you read an agent's reviews, try to get a feel for what it would be like to work with this person. Did the reviewer mention the things you care about? After you have a short list of agents from Zillow, cross-check each agent's Google Reviews. A good agent will have the same or a similar rating on both platforms. It is a red flag if the reviews on one platform are noticeably different than on the other. Note that Zillow is more permissive about the removal of negative reviews than Google.
The most important tip is to take the time to do your research. This is one of the biggest transactions of your life, make sure you are partnering with the right person to get you through it. It is easy to write a great profile (or blog post!), which means you need to dig deep to ensure you are hiring someone that is the right fit for you.
Once you’ve read the reviews, make a shortlist of Realtors who stand out to you. Then, schedule interviews. Yes, interviews! Just like you would with a contractor or any other professional. Ask them about their experience, how they’d handle your unique needs, and what their approach is to buying or selling. The right realtor will make you feel confident and comfortable.
Reviews can do more than just give you a sense of a person's track record, it also reveals true character. Patterns start to emerge: Is this person consistently praised for responsiveness? Do clients rave about this person's honesty and advocacy? Or do the same complaints, like poor communication or pushy tactics, pop up again and again? By diving into multiple reviews, you can uncover recurring themes that tell you who a person really is, not just as a professional, but as someone you’ll trust with one of the biggest decisions of your life.
So, next time you’re in the market for a realtor, remember: do your homework. read reviews, and ask lots of questions. It’s your home—you deserve the best.
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