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Top Ways Buyers Find Their Agents

Nineteen percent of home shoppers find their agents through real estate websites or apps. What other sources do buyers use? Find out.

A real estate agent and a client shake hands

Written by Sonia Krishnan on May 24, 2018

This post was updated on April 7, 2020.

We all know how integral agents are to the buying process. Purchasing a home is complex, and buyers who use agents view them as trusted advisers. They value the guidance and insight agents provide, as well as agents’ ability to literally open doors for them.

How do buyers find their agents? Below are the top ways buyers search for that partnership, according to findings from the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2018.

Referral from friend, relative, neighbor or colleague	27%
Real estate website/app (e.g. Zillow, RE/MAX, Realtor.com)	16%
Past experience with this agent or broker	10%
Other	9%
Know them from my community	7%
Saw contact information on for sale/open house sign	7%
Referral from another agent or broker	6%
Attended an open house and met agent	5%
Search engine (e.g., Google, Bing)	5%
Social networking website / app (e.g., Facebook, NextDoor)	2%
Referral from home builder	2%
Newspaper ad	2%
Direct mail (e.g., newsletter, flier, postcard)	2%