Before You Read Another Estate Agent Review, Read This

If you are choosing an estate agent to sell your home or rent out your property, chances are you will start by reading online reviews.

That is a sensible step, but reviews should be used carefully and as part of a wider decision-making process.

Where to Find Estate Agent Reviews

Most reputable estate agents will actively encourage you to read their online reviews.

Google is usually the easiest place to start, as reviews often appear alongside an agent’s listings and business profile.

Google may also show an automated summary of reviews for agents in your local area.

Other platforms that host estate agent reviews include Trustpilot, Feefo, GetAgent, ESTAS and AllAgents.

Can You Trust Online Reviews?

It is important to understand that reviews on many platforms are not independently verified.

In most cases, anyone can leave a review, whether or not they have actually used the agent’s services.

When reading reviews, look out for vague or generic comments that do not mention a specific transaction, experience or member of staff.

While not all short reviews are fake, patterns of unclear or repetitive wording can sometimes be a warning sign.

How to Get the Most Value from Reviews

Avoid forming an opinion based on just the first few reviews. Scrolling further down often gives a more balanced picture of how an agency performs over time.

Pay attention to who is leaving the review. Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords all have different expectations, and tenants are statistically more likely to leave negative feedback if something goes wrong.

Clicking on reviewer profiles can also help. Genuine reviewers often have a history of detailed and varied reviews elsewhere.

It is also worth reading how agents respond to feedback. Professional agents tend to welcome constructive criticism and explain how issues have been addressed.

Why Reviews Are Only Part of the Story

Online reviews can be helpful, but they should not be your only deciding factor.

An agent’s local reputation often says just as much as their online presence.

Asking friends, neighbours or colleagues for recommendations can provide valuable insight, as can local social media groups.

Better still, speak directly to the agents you are considering. How they handle your initial enquiry can tell you far more than any review score.

Buying and Selling the Ethical Way

We are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network, a national group of independent agents who are independently assessed against strict standards of honesty, service, professionalism and community care.

We are currently the only local agency in Runcorn to be part of this network.

To find out more about how we work and why we meet the Ethical Agent Network standards, contact HomeSmart Estates on 01928 246 888.

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