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ABOUT AGENT REVIEWS.

By
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

ABOUT AGENT REVIEWS.

Sad to say but I believe that Jeff is right in his statement that "Agent Reviews are here to stay".

SAD to say because, after watching and being a part of the review syndrome for years, I rarely participate because, as a Buyers Broker, the review systems give me and others who practice buyer brokerage short shrift.

My first broker said, "Lenn, get listings and you'll be successful in real estate sales".  Did I listen?  Of course I did.  That said, what followed was a series of listings whereby my relationship with the owner/sellers almost always turned adversarial.  Many owner/sellers aren't interested in your experience and ability to manage a sale of their home.  Many just know that the house must be in the MLS to reach prospective home buyers.  Marketing a listing, qualifying a buyer, preparing promotional material happen all by themselves.  Unless of course, it's expensive magazine advertising which many owners owners don't understand isn't "targeted" to prospective buyers but to general magazine readers.

Truth be told, I like working with home buyers.  Better still, home buyers like working with me, or so they say.

The only listings I've accepted over many years are homes to which I sold to home buyers.  Even then, if the property isn't located in my general marketing area, I bring in a local listing agent.  I know many wonderful listing agents.  After all, they represented owner/sellers of homes that I sold.

What's the point Lenn?

      Know yourself and do that which you enjoy.
      Stick to your market area or refer to an agent in the area.
      Have relationships with listing agents to best serve your past buyers when they sell.

 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com.

 

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Comments (77)

Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Sally.  What I mean by "Agent reviews" í reviews òf agents by buyers and sellers.

FOR THE RECORD.  I once said to one òf our agents that "buyer representation and seller representation are both good.  Just don't believe for a nanosecond that dual agency, by any permutation ỏr obfuscation used by states, boards of realty, ỏr dual dudes and dudettes í ever going to be fair to either buyer ỏr seller".  

O.K.  I know the meaning of "FAIR".  I don't believe that's the goal of buyers ỏr sellers.  Only agents who do the dual deed.

Vigorous representation of buyers or sellers ís my goal.

Jul 25, 2015 10:08 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I totally agree with you Lenn.  I too started out as a Listing Agent, and did a great job at it.  Somehow, someway I turned into a Buyers Agent.  They sought me out and here I am.  I have done one or two dual agency transactions and hated every minute of it because I knew, deep in my gut, that it wasn't fair to either party.  I loved the paycheck!  That told me the only reason I did it was for the money and not what was best for my clients.  I do not do that anymore.

Jul 26, 2015 12:13 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

All great points Lenn!  You're the master!

Jul 27, 2015 12:50 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Lenn

Great post . . . . Agent reviews are here to still . . . . the key to the reviews is the purpose of the review . . . . how it's used . . . . and the expectations come into the review . . . . and the expectations after the review.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Aug 05, 2015 12:23 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Lou.  Truth is, the agent review sites, or at least many of them are money makers for the site owners.  Your review is viewed by as many as you are willing to pay for.

Aug 08, 2015 09:20 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Lenn it is always good to stick with the role you enjoy.Providing outstanding customer service is the way a business thrive.

Have a great week.

Aug 09, 2015 04:44 PM
John MacArthur
Century 21 Redwood - Washington, DC
Licensed Maryland/DC Realtor, Metro DC Homes

My problem with "agent reviews" lies in the dynamic of how reviews come into existence. Few satisfied consumers feel the need to write a review about their home buying experiences. In order to get one, you have to ask. For some, asking is easy. For many, it is not second nature. Now, if you were to stop and think, most spontaneous reviews are not good. People that are not satisfied with any aspect of the home buying experience ofen target the agent and share their angst. Companies that provide "testimonial" sites encourage asking for good reviews. They point at sites like Yelp. Well, here's a clue. People on Yelp fancing themselves as either food critics or movie critics. They don't share reviews, they do their best to become recognized (not so much for what they say but for how often they say it). Home buying is no where near the regular experience of dining at Pizza Hut or spending a date night at an IMax. For all that is written, people seeking information will take a good review with a grain of salt and ask their mom or dad or uncle or brother or co-worker if they know of a good real estate agent. Reviews are from strangers. How valid are they? If you think about it, they are much like references on a resume. If they are good, you post them, if they are bad, you don't. Oh, Lenn Harley is good, she is the Grande Dame of Real Estate. Reviews? She don't need no stinkin' reviews.

Aug 11, 2015 03:52 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

John.  Agreed.

I went through the gauntlet getting client reviews for Zillow and over the course of a year, produced zip.

Live and learn.  

I'm convinced that it's a failed system and prone to deception.

I suspect that consumers would be suspicious of agent reviews anyway.

Even with no cost involved, not worth the time.

Aug 14, 2015 12:20 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jennifer.  Thanks.  That's my plan.

Aug 14, 2015 12:20 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Lenn, I know MY niche and don't falter or sway from that. I advise my buyers of that when they want to see lake or river or water property that isn't HERE. I tell them that if an agent tells you they can help you anywhere, they aren't serving you. 

Been awhile since I stopped by and lo and behold another Lenn Feature. No surprise, missy!!

Aug 14, 2015 02:01 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Good afternoon Lenn - some of us are better at working with buyers and some are better at working with sellers. Knowing yourself is key to doing a great job, and you obviously do.

Aug 14, 2015 05:33 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Lenn...I have very few reviews. I don't ask for them. Perhaps I need to adapt to yet another change and begin to ask. 

One thing that will not change for me, my unwillingness to do dual agency. I want to represent my client and I cannot represent both sides of a transaction. As far as I'm concerned neither party would be represented.

I lean your way. 

Kate

Aug 15, 2015 06:55 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Gayle.  Knowing your "niche" is 50% of knowing your job.  I agree.

Wayne.  Folks have been surprised at how quickly and completely I can change hats from buyer agency to seller agency.  It's easy.  Just know the rules and represent the person who hired you.  No dual agency for me.

Kate.  I believe that the "review" system is a money maker for Zillow.  Beyone that, it's worthless.  Agents kow it.  Consumers do not.

Aug 15, 2015 09:25 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Lenn. A well deserved feature and a topic that you handled very well. You're right, agents are here to stay and I am delighted that is the case.

Aug 17, 2015 07:34 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Thanks Joe.  Things are just fine.  Thanks for asking. 

I'm taking some time to rearrange personal matters but keeping up with ActiveRain. 

Stay tuned.

 

 

Aug 18, 2015 04:21 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Wow, I found you again. I thought I had lost your posts.  I think I am following way too many people!  Take care!

Aug 21, 2015 12:42 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I like your sentence, "Know yourself and do what you enjoy!"  I believe those who do, perform better, and they last!

Aug 21, 2015 05:43 PM
Lori Cain
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer

I am finally at a point in my career where I can AFFORD to only work in my preferred market area, which is midtown Tulsa. There was certainly a day when I would assist Buyers or Sellers in any area of Tulsa and even surrounding suburbs and towns. Now, I refer that out.

I do enjoy working with BOTH Buyers and Sellers, IF the property is located in my geographical area of expertise. Otherwise, refer out.

Love "know yourself and do what you enjoy!"  Makes work seem less like work!

Aug 24, 2015 01:10 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

I am willing to spend some money with Zillow in a zip code that rarely becomes available. What Z told me and what would help in that eventuality, is that I get agent reviews. And the only way to do that is to ask my clients straight out. For them to find the time and inclination, I would need them to do it when I'm with them, look up how to do it, etc. And I feel very uncomfortable about it, but may end up doing it for the good of my brokerage. Yelp? Not a fan because reviewers are often disgruntled customers. Not that I have them but...

Aug 26, 2015 10:31 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Gary.  I purged my FOLLOWING list some months ago. 

Myrl.  Thanks.  I agree.  Keep it simple.

Lori.  Thanks.  Focus is so important.

Hella.  I tried the Z thing last year with a local Zip, but it didn't work for me.  The banner ad that was fairly expensive produced 2 contacts that produced nothing. 

It could work for you though because you have listings.

Aug 27, 2015 12:05 AM