Leading The Way With 100,000 Agent Reviews

It's been over a year since we launched Agent Ratings and Reviews. 

Today we are leading the way with more than 100,000 reviews of local real estate agents submitted by our users.  At launch, there were a few skeptics that felt that this could hurt an agent's business just as much as it could help, but, great service cultivates referral growth. Premier Agents with five or more reviews get more than twice as many contacts than agents with zero reviews.

Today, we're expanding Ratings and Reviews to all real estate professionals.  All you need is a profile on Zillow and you immediately can start requesting reviews.  Agents, lenders, title companies, stagers, inspectors etc., start taking advantage of this awesome opportunity to show off what it is that you do best!

Consumers typically write reviews to share their experiences about services, products, and people, but they're also reading reviews by others to assist them with real estate buying/selling decisions and in choosing their real estate team of professionals.  Many agents and lenders are increasing their contacts and business using client ratings and reviews.

During a "Rating and Review" webinars, ActiveRain members Peggy Lyn and Chris Speicher from the Speicher Team shared the below email. This contact became a closed transaction and their client for life.

This new client also took the time to write a glowing review for the Speicher Team.

Testimonials & Reviews

Check out the Speicher Team ActiveRain profile and see how they're using "reviews" on their page.
Here's another great sample of how they're using Ratings and Reviews on their website.
Look how Jay Thompson, The Phoenix Real Estate Guy is using reviews: ReviewOurAgents.com
Erica Liodice from RealLiving.com shares how Ratings and Reviews are generating new business.

The Power of Consumer Reviews

Take a look at the screen shot below, it tells consumers a couple things:

1. The agent with reviews actually is working with clients selling and buying homes.

2. The agent's responses to the reviews are marketing opportunities to future viewers.

3. Agent's with large volumes of reviews translates as "many transactions" to prospects.

Check out these agents, many have more than 50 reviews.  Start requesting reviews from your past clients,  it's easy and the results will not only set you apart from the competition, the power of third-party referrals and endorsements are nearly as good as word-of-mouth referrals. Plus they stay online for others to see indefinitely.

Using the Facebook Apps/Tabs to populate your Facebook business pages with reviews is a great way to promote your five star service to social media channels.  Adding a co-branded reputation widget on your blog and website also will attract additional contacts and produce visitors looking for reputable professionals to represent them in their real estate transactions.

I know that you stand behind the services and experiences you provide to your clients.  I also know that consumers not only deserve this type of ratings and reviews service, they expect and even demand it.  I'm very excited and pleased that so many members are benefiting from this feature and service.