Real estate agencies and agents can benefit greatly from review and comparison websites because it allows consumers to find the best-suited agents or agencies not just for their real estate needs, but helps in providing them with the best options based on their preferences.
Over the years, the real estate market has changed dramatically and unlike traditional marketing and listing options, prospective home buyers prefer to search for available options online.
The first thing that comes to mind for prospective buyers is to look for the ideal candidate who can best help them find their dream properties. They do this by searching online through feedback and reviews for trustworthy, reliable, and dependable real estate agents or agencies to help them with it.
Reviews have played a significant and integral role in changing consumer behaviour, where 97% of consumers globally look for online reviews of businesses to help in their decision-making process.
Coming up with a solid review marketing strategy is key to making an impact on home buyers and allow them to sell more properties.
There are a number of industry-related platforms that are available online and may be worth directing clients for reviews and testimonials to establish the profile and professional credentials of a real estate agent.
It is therefore important to choose the appropriate platforms that incorporate testimonials and reviews published in Google, Facebook, and your own website.
How agents could strategise their efforts to showcase reviews
It is important for real estate agents to develop their review strategies and which includes the review platforms where they could direct clients to.
When promoting a review and comparison site, agents need to carefully consider which ones could provide the most impact for their real estate business and online profile.
- Make sure that the platform is able to manage and moderate feedback and reviews.
- Find out if the platform uses reviews to mask their true business model which they use for ‘lead generation.”
- Find the platform that provides a realistic and true reflection of the service or business, as well as highlight the success of the real estate agent.
realestate.com.au – review and comparison
One of the recent platforms online, it has been gaining strong and steady traffic regularly from visitors. It is a recognizable brand for many prospective homebuyers and professionals from the real estate industry.
Real estate agents have also taken advantage of the platform in providing them with a suite of review options that have been effective at lead generation packages and increased revenues.
Domain.com-au – comparison
The platform has provided consumers with an easy-to-use interface and informative analysis of real estate agent performance grouped according to their chosen fields of specialization and area of expertise.
However, the site is purely a comparison platform without the option to leave a review for an agent, except to post listings, sell, lease offerings, and ensure that the information is accurate and updated.
RateMyAgent
Considered a pioneer in real estate agent ratings and reviews, the platform verifies and assures both agents and consumers of accurate information in its database.
It also ranks and awards top-rating agents in their respective areas and can use it to leverage their promotions to their clients and service areas.
While the basic service is free, it offers a subscription option for an advanced suite of options. It also integrates reviews from Google and Facebook.
Open Agent
While it is being promoted as a review and comparison website, it has been known as lead generation websites as the purpose of its development. It seeks out details of consumers wanting to compare agents and offers to sell those leads to agents who signed up for the service.
The platform also gets a share of the commission for any sale generated from the platform’s leads. While it eliminates prospecting and client nurturing, the platform raises questions such as agents who are not signed up for the service or are not included in the roster for the review and comparison.
Google reviews
Since Google is an open-source platform, it also has a fair share of complaints and negative feedback. Additionally, customers who have not sold our bought anything find this as an alternative venue to leave a review without getting it moderated.
One downside is that negative reviews are not removed and have the same visibility as positive reviews, but with the right review strategy, you just might be able to leverage on Google reviews for its massive reach to a more diverse and extensive market.
Facebook reviews
Just like Google reviews, Facebook is similarly liberal in treating both positive and negative reviews.
Nonetheless, having an effective review strategy can surely help you harness the power of the platform’s massive reach and networks to promote your brand and business.
Own website
If you want to have total control over the reviews and feedback coming in, then your own website is the best place that you can do so.
You have the ability to moderate and manage reviews on your website plus include a variety of dynamic and compelling content for your review and comparison capabilities for your customers.
With a website by iDashboard your reviews & testimonials appear on both the employees profile pages as well as a dedicated testimonials page.
Just make sure not to make it appear too self-serving as it could turn off customers and potential clients to your site.
In a nutshell, there’s no exact and precise platform that can cater to all your real estate review and comparison preferences, but it does give you options that you could take advantage of. Just remember to do your research and find a platform that could best give you the answers you need.