incredibleagents.com tries, but they have no way of verifying the transaction and the person placing the reviews.

The challenge and ultimate barrier to such a tool is that it takes the cooperation and participation (on some level) of the majority. The majority who most likely won’t shine, but show up dull. Therefore, not likely if it requires promotion by the very people (brokers and agents) it will hurt.

The answer, eventually, will be the ability to search (google style, or something else) a specifically created search: “Realtor – by name” service. This service would return summary recap performance rating based on what was gleaned from on-line comments, status update, positive and negative references/reviews/remarks, marketing footprints/fingerprints, etc. A service developed using a specially developed Realtor/real estate agent algorithm.

In the future, as more and more people use social medias to comment and converser about their real estate transactions, experience, etc., and for fun throw in a query to the private date pool from futuristic, know everything about every property, RPR, just such a service might be available. Imagine a paying a $25 fee to a service that would serve up that kind of information, sorta like a Car Fax or a Credit Report, or full blown Realtor Dossier?

Putting that aside, it is certainly an issue in the UK and we are beginning to see an increase in customer awareness of certain review sites. There are a few sites that are beginning to host specific reviews on Estate Agents and I am getting lots of agents asking me how they should approach them and where they should direct clients with positive reviews.

I started off by telling them to do a Google search of their company name with the word ‘review’ and see where they are already commented on. If there is a site already high up the results with comments on their business then jump in and make sure you are getting good feedback.

However, nowadays my advice to them is to ignore specific review sites such as some of the ones mentioned above (incredibleagents.com etc) because there is no guarantee they will be around for the long term. Google however are here to stay and if you are in the Google business directory (I’d expect all good REA’s are) then you have the opportunity to be reviewed there. Direct happy clients to post reviews here and it will not only help the public perception of your business but also increases the likelihood of you appearing on the first page for local business searches (forgive me if Google work differently over there).

In terms of working to build a more positive view of the indusrty, I’d expect this can only come through a collective effort probably through a large organisation such as NAR (don’t know the politics of that). We have no barrier to entry in our industry whatsoever (not even basic exams) and have similar issues with rogue performers and I’m of the opinion that the public when actually being involved in the moving process wil ake their own opinion based on the people they deal with – that’s where individuals make a difference.

Last word comment I promise…Go look at the question you answered yesterday on benefits of using an Agent…You tell me if that one comment made a difference in that thread vs the other thread you are familiar with about what does an Agent do, what is there value? (I call it the I work hard for my money thread lol)

The industry IMO is losing credibility mainly because the public now has a window and can view you as never before.”

Reviews wont change that.

“Is there a way to help show that it “doesn’t have to be like this” and that there is a better way of conducting ourselves online?”
Yes, you go somewhere where you can show it and show it to those that matter (the public).
I use Trulia as an example only because it’s the most known to me.

As Agents often accuse the public of being too general in their view of Agents (they don’t separate us from the bad ones they lump us together) it is my opinion Agents do the same often with the public. As you look at the Forum Agents often see the worse of the public (Agents are crooks, Agents are evil) just as the public who passes by sees (Buy buy buy, call me, blah blah) The two observers never meet and talk because neither wants to dirty themselves, both just shake their heads, go their separate ways with incorrect assessments of each other. (Man those Agents are car-sale blah blah vs Man the public won’t listen, we need to educate them, they know nothing) The truth is the majority of both sides have much in common and need to talk but never meet……………

Trulia for example (I do not know zillow that well) has Community guidelines about Spam behavior blah blah but they are mostly unenforced plus you have 1 moderator who working a 9-5 M-F so 5 to 9 and weekends are an unmonitored free for all spam away ect.

Agents should fix that, you are the ones who want to be heard so create an environment where you can be. Let the public see you are taking responsibility for doing something that simple. Make it known that you want Trulia to enforce it’s guidelines and monitor the Forum. It’s a priority for “good agents” to do that in every window.

I answered a 1000 questions before anyone gave me enough credibility to listen so why would you expect to pop in and out, answer one question here/there and have credibility?

I’m blah blahing and that’s not my intention so I apologize but this cannot be explained in one comment so perhaps you would all consider this challenge….

Pick a day M-F between 9-5 round up as many “good agents” as you can and go to Trulia, answer questions, if you see spam flag it and say something, if an Agent is talking nonsense then say so, don’t back down, work the Forum for a day in numbers, represent yourselves/your industry the way you think it should be for just one day..just one!

Come back here or anywhere and discuss that day…What did you see? A lot of what behavior, questions, types of agents, contributors…discuss how many members of the public see it every day 24/7…Analyze it, look at the Forum, read thu review how the day you were there in numbers appears to you from the position of viewer compare with any random day you wish that you were not there.

If you can’t or do not see the difference in what the Public sees regarding Agents between the day you are there in numbers vs the normal day of “bad agents” controlling the Forum then I have no point and will not push it any longer.

My main point/thought opinion is this….You can discuss Trust, restoring it, ranking systems ect. all you want but IMO in the minds of a majority of the public you have no credibility so no matter what you do you will never have the public interest or attention long enough to GAIN Trust. YOU MUST ESTABLISH SOME CREDIBILITY FIRST so you have an opportunity to earn the Trust.

“Is there a next step?”
Only if you get past the first one otherwise what difference does it make.