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Answers (16)
- Cheryl Talbot Real Estate, "Virginia Beach Homes"
- Contributions:674
It takes time for clients to want to leave them for you. I think you should ask though. It's a site that is seen by almost anyone looking to buy or sell a home. I believe there is value to your clients testimony of your work but beware, you don't always get the feedback you might be looking for. Thanks
- Mack McCoy
- Contributions:1118
Yeah, Wes, I think there's a lot of that.
Reviews are a funny topic. There was a letter-to-the-editor in the NYT a few weeks ago about TripAdvisor, and how a reviewer of a mid-western bargain hotel chain in the midwest wrote something to the effect of, "The breakfast was unremarkable." Really? At a Comfort Inn in suburban Lawrence KS or something?
Then, reviews can bite you in the backside. The problem with getting a grateful review that you are "a real estate therapist" is that you will likely attract clients in need of actual therapy. "Was patient with me even though it took me 18 months to buy?" Yes, but do I really want to repeat that experience?
Reviews are a funny topic. There was a letter-to-the-editor in the NYT a few weeks ago about TripAdvisor, and how a reviewer of a mid-western bargain hotel chain in the midwest wrote something to the effect of, "The breakfast was unremarkable." Really? At a Comfort Inn in suburban Lawrence KS or something?
Then, reviews can bite you in the backside. The problem with getting a grateful review that you are "a real estate therapist" is that you will likely attract clients in need of actual therapy. "Was patient with me even though it took me 18 months to buy?" Yes, but do I really want to repeat that experience?
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
"If I were a buyer, and I needed to choose to work with a realtor.......................I'd want to work with the one who added the BESTcontent to their responses....the one who comes across as the most professional and knowledgeable..."
I am a buyer and chose to call my current agent based on his contributions to the forum. Any agent who feels that reviews replace quality content in Advice is being shortsighted.
Your profile on Zillow is a multi-part package not just reviews. Smart agents know that buyers want content not just pretty stars. Since most agents here have high star reviews, buyers need to look beyond those to see what kind of agent they really are by looking at what they post. Zillow's format gives agents the opportunity to show their potential clients a lot more than stars.
I am a buyer and chose to call my current agent based on his contributions to the forum. Any agent who feels that reviews replace quality content in Advice is being shortsighted.
Your profile on Zillow is a multi-part package not just reviews. Smart agents know that buyers want content not just pretty stars. Since most agents here have high star reviews, buyers need to look beyond those to see what kind of agent they really are by looking at what they post. Zillow's format gives agents the opportunity to show their potential clients a lot more than stars.
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2736
Joseph, of course the sales rep told you that - it's her job to promote all the options zillow offers, and to help you try to maximize your exposure here (so you will be happy and continue to be a premier agent)
Not to be cynical, but if you draw 10 past clients here,and they have to sign up, which they do, you're most definitely helping zillow, too, with their "unique views" and traffic.
More traffic = more advertisors.
You're paying to be a premier agent..I hope it will be useful for you......so I don't blame you for doing what you're told to do. It's part of what you're paying for.
I can see they must also tell you to post questions, as Wes has been busy posting away.............but, when it comes right down to it:
"if you were a buyer and you needed to choose to work with a realtor with 1 review or a realtor with 9 reviews, who would you work with"? "
If I were a buyer, and I needed to choose to work with a realtor.......................I'd want to work with the one who added the BESTcontent to their responses....the one who comes across as the most professional and knowledgeable...that's how I'd judge others, and how others have judged me.
In addition............
As an agent, if I wanted to refer my client to someone in another state, and looked to zillow agents as a source of that referral, the number of reviews they had wouldn't make any difference to me whatsoever.
Once again, I'd look at what they SAID and how they said it.
reviews might make a difference if EVERYONE an agent worked with left a review......not a select handpicked few.
But, that's just me.
Best wishes in your endeavors on zillow!
I wish you much success!
- Joseph Baylis "New Jersey", "jbaylis"
- Contributions:12
I joined Zillow two weeks ago. The sales rep advised me to get reviews and said it was important for my results. Her exact words to me were "if you were a buyer and you needed to choose to work with a realtor with 1 review or a realtor with 9 reviews, who would you work with"? I thought that was a great question. I immediately hoped I could get 9 reviews. She suggested I could send out individual requests or a bulk request to past clients. She advised individual would get better results . I sent out about 40 review requests to my most recent clients. I was very pleased to have received 10 reviews. I am so appreciative that so many of my past clients took the time.
the review process is easy to fake, and I've seen time and time again, TERRIBLE advice given by agents with 50 + golden reviews.
So, it is completely and utterly worthless, and I won't demean myself to play the game, nor bother my clients with it.
So, it is completely and utterly worthless, and I won't demean myself to play the game, nor bother my clients with it.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
Actually
it may be that the simply disagree with much like Debbie Rose mentioned.
this is what I think about them now.
http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Delete-my-reviews-even-though-they-are-good-please/426315/
it may be that the simply disagree with much like Debbie Rose mentioned.
this is what I think about them now.
http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Delete-my-reviews-even-though-they-are-good-please/426315/
- Gary May, "RealtorTampaBay"
- Contributions:56
There are varying reasons...some people don't take the time required, some have other areas of marketing that they are more involved, some may not realize that they can take advantage of this tool and I'm sure that there are several other scenerios.
- Allison Fishwick, "Allison Fishwick"
- Contributions:92
Just like any other marketing endeavor - if you want it to be effective, you have to follow through on it!
The recommendation through Zillow could easily end up in people's trash, either because of the type of mail or because the person thinks its junk when it arrives.
Some people do not like to make accounts to post reviews and I can understand that.
I do not feel it is an imposition to politely ask your clients for referrals, as my team always stresses to them: Because of YOU our business GROWS! I also refer my clients to each other and my friends and families to my client's businesses - referrals make the world go round!
The recommendation through Zillow could easily end up in people's trash, either because of the type of mail or because the person thinks its junk when it arrives.
Some people do not like to make accounts to post reviews and I can understand that.
I do not feel it is an imposition to politely ask your clients for referrals, as my team always stresses to them: Because of YOU our business GROWS! I also refer my clients to each other and my friends and families to my client's businesses - referrals make the world go round!
- Sharon Patterson
- Contributions:44
In order to write a review, clients have to submit their email address and some other personal information to Zillow. I would imagine some people just don't want to do that.
- Randy Hull, "Randy Hull"
- Contributions:1
I am a new agent to Zillow.com. I have a few reviews now but have requested some reviews from some of my other past clients. Once they complete a review, Zillow proof reads the review for obscenities and vulgarity before posting in on the the agents profile. The process can take 3 to 4 days to complete.
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2736
I can only speak for myself.
I don't have any reviews......and probably won't get any,..... because I choose NOT to go after my clients and ask for them!
My clients are not on zillow.............to ask them to come here, sign up only for the purpose of leaving me a review, imo, is an imposition, so I won't do it.
I am happy enough to know I have happy past clients who refer me to their friends.
I don't need the validation here.
Consumers perusing the site can decide for themselves if they are interested in reaching out to me based on my contributions.
I don't think some green stars will make any difference.
So far, it's been working out just fine for me.
I don't have any reviews......and probably won't get any,..... because I choose NOT to go after my clients and ask for them!
My clients are not on zillow.............to ask them to come here, sign up only for the purpose of leaving me a review, imo, is an imposition, so I won't do it.
I am happy enough to know I have happy past clients who refer me to their friends.
I don't need the validation here.
Consumers perusing the site can decide for themselves if they are interested in reaching out to me based on my contributions.
I don't think some green stars will make any difference.
So far, it's been working out just fine for me.
- Melissa Parker, "Parkermo"
- Contributions:33
Realtors can only request the review on Zillow. There is a request a review tab we can use were we fill out their basic info such as what service we assisted them with such as renting or purchasing a home, etc... and it sends an email link for them to fill the review out. It is up to them to actually fill it out. We can only follow up asking them via phone/email/in person. It could also be that clients think it spam or solicitation and not even open the email.
- Joseph Runfola, "Clove Lake Realty"
- Contributions:637
Another reason may be that folks don't want to spend the time setting up a profile just to submit a review. The instructions indicate "Note: If you don't have one already, you will be prompted to create a profile on Zillow as a part of submitting a review. It helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients."
- Erik & Renee Parks, "Erik Parks"
- Contributions:5
Maybe, the agent is new and doesn't have any riviews yet? They told me it ccan be up to 3 days before seeing a review. Feel free to read my first two reviews as im only on Zillow a week now.
Erik Parks
Island Real Estate & Property Management, Inc.
Erik Parks
Island Real Estate & Property Management, Inc.
- Joseph Runfola, "Clove Lake Realty"
- Contributions:637
I'm guessing most people intent to do it and just put it off, then forget. Those requesting the review are limited in asking. You can only gently ask once or twice after that you will be considered a nag, and that would not result in a positive review.
Why are there so many realtors with no reviews at all?
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- 5.0/5.0
- (4 reviews)
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