Whether you’re new to the market or you’ve been around the block, online reviews for real estate agents are incredibly important. Learn how to ask for real estate reviews here.
In decades past, anyone looking for a real estate agent would take the same approach: ask around.
Friends, family members and neighbors were the primary source of referrals for someone looking to buy or sell a property. While real estate agents still rely on word of mouth, people share this information online now.
Getting positive client reviews is essential to remaining competitive as a real estate agent.
In Real Estate, Reviews Matter
Most people today won’t even stay in a hotel without checking out its reviews, and many won’t even buy a pizza without scouring the restaurant’s Yelp ratings.
So when a person who is accustomed to reading online reviews needs to hire a real estate agent, you can expect that the person looking to buy or sell a house will do plenty of research online first.
In fact, 90 percent of consumers read reviews at least occasionally, according to a recent research. The research also found that 88 percent of people trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations from friends.
So if you still think that your real estate business depends on word-of-mouth recommendations from previous clients, you’re right. It’s just that prospective clients no longer rely solely on recommendations from people they know personally.
That can be a great thing for you: Future clients don’t have to know your previous clients in order to find you. But it does mean that you have to pay close attention to what people are saying about you in reviews.
Building Trust with Potential Clients through Social Proof
Building trust with potential clients is incredibly important for any real estate agent looking to grow their business.
One effective way to establish trust is through social proof, which involves showcasing your best reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients on your website and social media profiles.
By highlighting the experiences of previous clients, real estate agents can demonstrate their expertise, reliability, and commitment to providing excellent service.
This can help potential clients feel more confident in their decision to work with the agent, ultimately leading to increased conversions and a stronger reputation.
SEO Matters Too
Getting a steady stream of online reviews attracts customers in less obvious ways, too.
When lots of people talk about you online, search engine algorithms factor that into the way they rank sites.
So when someone Googles “real estate agent in Columbus”, local agents who have lots of online reviews will be listed more highly than agents with little internet presence.
Another perk you might not think about? Some people love to share the reviews they write on their social media pages. One satisfied client who shares her rave review with 500 Facebook friends can bring lots of new attention to your business.
Preparing to Ask for Real Estate Reviews
Before asking for real estate testimonials and reviews, it’s essential to prepare and set the stage for a successful review request.
This involves building a strong relationship with clients, providing exceptional service, and establishing clear communication channels.
Real estate agents should also ensure they have a system in place for collecting and showcasing their reviews and testimonials, such as having a dedicated review page on their website and using review management software.
By being prepared, agents can increase the likelihood of receiving positive testimonials and reviews and make the most of the feedback they receive.
Setting Clear Expectations with Clients
Setting clear expectations with clients is vital when asking for real estate reviews.
Agents should explain the importance of reviews, how they will be used, and what type of feedback is being requested.
This can help clients understand the value of their feedback and feel more comfortable providing a testimonial.
Clear expectations can also help agents avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunications, ensuring that the testimonial and review process is smooth and successful.
Identifying the Right Time to Ask for Reviews
Identifying the right time to ask for reviews is super important for real estate agents.
The best time to ask for a review is typically after a successful transaction, when the client is most satisfied with your services.
Real estate agents can also ask for reviews at other key milestones, such as after providing real estate advice or showing a property to a first-time buyer.
By asking for reviews at the right time, a real estate agent can increase the likelihood of receiving positive feedback and make the most of the review and testimonial process.
How to Get Reviews From Real Estate Clients
Don’t worry, getting online reviews is nowhere near as challenging as negotiating a million-dollar deal. It’s actually pretty simple. Here’s how to do it:
1. Wait until the deal is done or your business with the client is completed. That might mean waiting until the client signs the last bit of paperwork or decides to end their search – but basically, asking about reviews should be one of the last things you do before parting ways.
2. Ask a few questions about your service in order to get honest feedback from your client. Say something like, “It was such a pleasure to work with you. I’m always trying to get better to serve my clients’ needs, so can you tell me if there was anything else I could have done for you?”
3. Assuming the client is satisfied with your work (and most clients won’t continue to work with real estate agents who aren’t satisfying them), say something like, “I’m glad to hear that. It really means a lot. And it would be really helpful to me if you would leave a review about me on [site] and/or [site].” Words like “helpful” are very effective for getting your client to actually write a review. After all, everyone wants to be helpful.
Of course if your client expresses displeasure with your service? Apologize or otherwise make it clear that you’ll take those notes to heart and then drop the conversation. Obviously you don’t want to ask dissatisfied clients to review you.
Sites That Matter
There are two categories of review sites that are the most important for real estate agents. Make sure to vary the sites you mention when asking for reviews, because different prospective clients favor different sites, and you should aim to have good reviews on all the major ones.
Mainstream: Yelp, Google and Facebook are the major, mainstream sites that most consumers use for reviewing all types of services.
Niche: Sites that cater to real estate, including Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com, are favored by some clients looking for industry-specific reviews.
Check out each of these sites. Your business may already have pages on them, and you can create profiles on sites where you’re not listed. Each site varies, but you can “claim” your page on most, which allows you to edit the business information and publicly respond to reviews posted about you.
Be sure to set up and claim your profiles before asking clients to review you!
Personalized Email Requests
Personalized email requests are helpful when real estate agents are asking for reviews and testimonials from their clients.
Agents can craft a personalized email that addresses the client by name, references their specific experience, and explains the importance of their feedback.
The email should also include a clear call-to-action, such as a direct link to a review platform or a testimonial template. By making the request personal and convenient, agents can increase the likelihood of receiving a positive review or testimonial.
Phone Calls and Text Messages for a Personal Touch
Phone calls and text messages can be used to add a personal touch to the review request process.
Agents can use these channels to follow up with clients, answer any questions they may have, and provide additional information about the review process.
By combining phone calls and text messages with personalized email requests, agents can create a multi-channel approach that increases the likelihood of receiving a positive review.
3 Additional Tips That Will Help You Increase Your Review Numbers
The reviews and testimonials you receive are extremely important and relevant to your potential clients. Here are 3 additional tips that will help you get more reviews:
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask… Again
A lot of real estate agents are often afraid of coming across as too pushy when they ask for reviews. The fact is that writing a review isn’t as important for your client as it is for you. So, they might take their own sweet time in writing the review or might even forget about it.
However, don’t be afraid of reminding them a few more times. If you did a good job, your client won’t mind the reminder.
2. Have a Structured System For Your Reviews
Review management can be hectic. But a lack of structure will cause you to miss out on many potential reviews as you may simply forget to ask or follow up with a client.
To fix this issue, you can use a dedicated review software like ReputationStacker that asks your clients to leave a review and automatically reminds them if they haven’t responded in a while.
This will ensure that the process is hassle-free for your clients and you won’t miss out on any valuable feedback.
3. Don’t Chase All 5-star Reviews
Even if you believe you did your best and gave 100%, your clients might not always give you a 5-star rating and that’s perfectly fine.
You can certainly ask them what was lacking on your part but it’s not worth worrying over. Getting a 4-star rating isn’t bad, either. In fact, it can even make the review more believable.
After all, getting all 5-star reviews over your entire career is a little unrealistic, and even if you do manage to convince all your clients to give you 5 stars, the perfection of these reviews may appear fake to new potential clients, and they may avoid you and your services altogether. Simply focus on providing a great client experience, and getting (mostly) positive reviews will take care of itself.
An Automated Approach
High-volume businesses that serve dozens of clients or customers each day can afford to accept that only some people will write reviews.
But you spend a lot of time with each client, and can only serve so many people at once, so you should aim to have a very high rate of return with online reviews. Ideally, every single client will leave you at least one review.
Use an automated system like ReputationStacker to take the work out of getting more online reviews.
It works simply: All you have to do is add your client’s email addresses or phone numbers into the system and ReputationStacker contacts them with a one-question survey. Satisfied clients are directed to the review site of your choice to post a review, and dissatisfied clients are given the option to contact you directly to resolve any issues they may have.
Closing Time
Real estate is competitive, and getting a steady stream of great reviews is one of the best ways to separate yourself from the pack.
Prospective clients rely on feedback posted on mainstream and niche sites to decide who to hire, and getting reviews can improve your standings in search engine results.
Ask clients to write reviews, and follow up using an automated system like ReputationStacker to make sure you’re getting all the reviews you can.
FAQs About How To Ask For Real Estate Reviews
Why are reviews important for my real estate business?
Real estate reviews provide social proof and build trust with future clients. Positive reviews can highlight your strengths and differentiate you from many agents, ultimately helping to attract more home buyers. They play a crucial role in your marketing materials and agent profile online.
How should I ask clients to leave reviews?
The best way to get more reviews is to be client-focused and personalize your approach. Consider making a friendly follow-up call or sending an email with a direct link to review platforms like Google Reviews. Review software like ReputationStacker makes it easy for satisfied clients to leave their feedback and post a review.
What are some effective ways to request reviews?
You can make review requests through various methods such as a follow-up call, a well-crafted email signature, or by providing a review link in your marketing materials. Leading questions and testimonial templates can also guide your clients in writing a detailed review.
How can I handle negative feedback in a review?
Address negative feedback constructively by responding to the review professionally and offering solutions. Use it as an opportunity to improve your service and demonstrate your commitment to client satisfaction. A positive response to constructive feedback can also positively impact your reputation.
What are real estate testimonial templates and how can they help?
Real estate testimonial templates provide a structured format for your clients to write their reviews. They can guide clients to include key details about their experience, which makes it easier for them to provide useful feedback and for you to showcase those testimonials effectively.
Can video testimonials be beneficial, and how do I collect them?
Yes, video testimonials can be highly impactful as they add a personal touch and enhance credibility. To collect video testimonials, request them from satisfied clients and offer them guidance on what to include. You can use simple recording tools (professional is not always better when it comes to video testimonials) and share the video on your website or social media.
How can I ensure my reviews reflect positively on my real estate business?
Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews and make sure to follow up with them in a friendly manner. Highlight your strengths and successes in client interactions to ensure that the reviews reflect your commitment to delivering excellent service.
What role do online review platforms play in my real estate business?
Online review platforms, such as Google Reviews and Zillow, are essential for increasing your visibility and credibility. They help in building social proof and can influence potential clients’ decisions. Maintaining a strong presence on these platforms can make all the difference in attracting future clients.
How often should I request reviews from clients?
Aim to request reviews shortly after the closing table or after successful real estate transactions. A timely follow-up ensures that the experience is still fresh in the client’s mind, making them more likely to provide a detailed and positive review.
Are there any automated systems to get reviews from my clients?
Yes, review software like ReputationStacker makes it easy for clients to write a real estate agent review. The system sends out a single-question survey and asks clients to leave a review on the review platforms of your choice. It also aggregates all of your reviews into a single dashboard, making it easy to respond, and it includes a widget that turns your reviews into real estate testimonials, which provide strong social proof proof on your own website.
