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Are U a 10?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Buyers' Choice Realty

Have you checked your ratings lately?  If not, you may be hurting your career and not even know it.   The all knowing CONSUMER is constantly striving to stay ahead of the curve.  Inquiring minds want to know, and they use the Internet to do so.  A number of services rating all professionals from attorneys to doctors, to, yes, Realtors, have been springing up all over the Web. 

Savvy consumers peruse these sites before they call the needed professionals, and it would behoove you to stay ahead of the curve.  Acquaint yourself with these sites and make sure your ratings are satisfactory.   One such site I found is called Real Estate RatingZ.  Check it out before you lose business because of it.

Remember, that it's a numbers game, so if a disgruntled client gets on there and writes you up a horrible scenario, all you need to do to bring the numbers up is encourage several of your willing clients, friends or relatives to get on there and give you stellar ratings.   The ratings go from 1 (one being the worst, garnering a green, unhappy face) to 5 (5 being the best and garnering a yellow, happy face).  Example:  say you get a disgruntled client to rate you the lowest, a 1.   You encourage your "fans" to get on that site and give you rave reviews.  You get  six of your fans to score you a maximum 5, so now your final rating looks like this: 1+5+5+5+5+5 +5=31.....  31divided by the 7 contributors makes a total rating of  4.43, instead of the "1" from the disgruntled client.  You now have a good rating and a smiley face.  

If you know of any other Realtors' ratings sites, please share them with us!  Also consider this: if you have a very good closing with an agent who did a superb job, why not give him or her a stellar rating?  So what if they are competition?  I always give credit where credit is due, even when dealing with competition.  Being a top notch agent allows you to let others shine as well...

 

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Comments (10)

Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
I would love to hear from you with other sites rating us, Realtors!  I would also love your input on this post! 
Oct 30, 2007 04:24 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
A whole 3 minutes, and not even a single comment?  I thought this was a FANTASTIC tip!!!
Oct 30, 2007 04:26 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
I'm not a fan of rating systems.  They're too easy to abuse and feel middle-school clique'ish.   I'll take my "ratings" from my repeat clients and their referrals.
Oct 30, 2007 04:36 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
I know what you mean, Kris, but why not win it both ways?  Wouldn't it be sad if a bad rating kept you from garnering valuable clients?  Before the prospects confer with your repeat clients, many times they'll use the web for direction.  Just a thought...
Oct 30, 2007 04:43 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

If a rating system such as the one that your link sent me to had any affect on whether clients chose me or not I think I would get out of this business.  The work I do for a client is MY own rating system.  My referall business is a testament to that.

My business last year was 92% by referral.  This year is it will be about the same, if not a bit higher. If a client was given my name and they googled me they would find much more about me than what a "rating" system that is flawed and can be manipulated could ever tell them. 

I think educated people understand how one can manipulate a system.  You yourself pointed out how to "beat" a low rating by having your friends upgrade it with higher ratings.

There was a post here about a month or so ago by a lady who was going through some personal slanderous stuff on one of these systems.  It was horrifying to me what was happening to her.  I will try to find that link for you to her article. 

If someone would only choose or not choose me based upon a "rating" sytem then I say---next!

Oct 30, 2007 04:52 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
Being a long time devotee of the Martindale Hubbell system (not the on line one, but the real thing at the law library, a place where attorneys rate each other), I may be the only one paying attention to these services.  I agree with your point of view wholeheartedly, however, I personally think we should pay attention to these ratings boards.  If it's a numbers game, why not pay attention to the numbers?
Oct 30, 2007 05:03 AM
Keith Stoller
Keith Stoller Tax & Business Solutions - Bakersfield, CA
I went to the listing and found some interesting stuff on three agents in my region.  I drilled down and one person rated an agent with all ones (poor) and left stellar comments.  In the other two listings, well, I know my spelling and grammar can use a bit of work, but I was embarrassed by people's commentary and what poor writers they are.  Also, the highest rating I saw was a five.  My concern is that people who just look at the numbers may be mislead by the site and the commentators' misunderstanding of the ratings system, etc.  It needs a moderator.  The concept itself is fantastic, however, and could be adapted into a useful service.
Oct 30, 2007 05:04 AM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

I found the post I was referring to in my message above.  I cannot link it as it was a "members only" post.

I don't conduct my business as if it is a number game.  Or a game of any kind for that matter.  We're dealing with human beings - and human beings can manipulate that rating system, as you yourself described in your post how to do so.

I also wouldn't choose an attorney or a doctor or a CPA based upon a rating system such as you described in your post.

We'll disagree with this til doomsday...If you want to delete my comments feel free.  It's your blog/your post after all. 

Edit:  I found this part of their FAQ all too telling...

Who can rate real estate agents?
We prefer that you only rate real estate agents you have first-hand knowledge of. However, it is not possible for us to verify which raters have knowledge of which real estate agents, so always take the ratings with a grain of salt. Remember, we have no way of knowing who is doing the rating - customers, people in the real estate agent industry, regular people, dogs, cats, etc.

Oct 30, 2007 05:07 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Thanks Keith!  Perhaps we'll see some improvement in these sites...  I think it would help if they at least registered an e-mail address...

Oct 30, 2007 05:07 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Kris, no I wouldn't do that!  I agree with you quite a bit; I just keep an open mind. 

I have used the Martindale Hubbell system, and it is truly worthwhile.  I'm sorry that the only Realtor rating system is still in it's infancy and not yet perfected!  If you get a chance, check out the Martindale Hubbell at the local county library; you'll understand why I am sold on it!

I sincerely appreciate your input!

Oct 30, 2007 05:11 AM