How to Ask for a Testimonial in Real Estate
meredithmc
December 10, 2024
18 Minute Read
In this article:
- What is the value of a real estate testimonial?
- When to ask for real estate testimonials
- How to ask for real estate reviews
- How to ask for video testimonials
- When to follow up on a real estate testimonial request
- How to ask for real estate reviews later in the life cycle
- Where to find complete Zillow reviews
- Where to share real estate testimonials
- How to respond to real estate agent reviews
- Real estate testimonial examples
Please consult with a licensed attorney before obtaining testimonials as each state has different applicable laws and rules. Nothing herein is intended as legal guidance.
Real estate agent testimonials are reviews from buyers, sellers or shoppers who share feedback about working with a real estate agent. Whether positive or negative, reviews allow potential clients to get to know an agent’s personality and set expectations for a transaction. Our research shows that top agents make asking for reviews a regular part of their marketing strategy.
Testimonials build your brand and strengthen your online presence, which is important because according to Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019 survey data, 52% of sellers said online reviews and ratings of an agent or broker were very or extremely important when deciding on an agent to help them sell their home.
What is the value of a real estate testimonial?
Featured placement in Zillow’s agent directory. Agents with the most reviews have featured placement in Agent Finder, Zillow’s searchable directory, which matches consumers with agents by location. Having more reviews improves your chances of being seen and gaining new contacts.
Shoppers are more likely to connect. The younger the seller, the more likely they are to value online reviews and agent ratings when determining which agent to work with: 24% of Gen Z and millennial sellers and 21% of Gen X sellers who use an agent find online reviews and ratings to be very or extremely important. Get the most connections you can by becoming a Zillow Premier Agent partner.
Advertise to your target audience. Online reviews are especially important for younger shoppers, who make up the majority of home buyers. Millennials, those between the ages of 25 and 39, comprise 39% of first-time home buyers.
A continued source of constructive feedback. Reviews provide you with ongoing feedback to improve your services and stand apart from the competition.
When to ask for real estate testimonials
Identifying the best time to request a review can be difficult. It helps for the conversation to be natural and authentic, but you also may want your interaction to be fresh in the client’s mind, which is why it’s often best to ask for a real estate agent review immediately after an event.
There are three natural events where agents should try to ask for reviews.
1. After providing real estate advice
Giving advice isn’t a huge lift, so a simple email review request from your agent profile is a good way to ask for a real estate testimonial.
2. After showing your client their first home
Taking a client on a tour allows plenty of time to discuss the home-buying process and next steps. Mention in person your desire for a review and why you’re asking. Follow up with an email review request to make it easy for buyers.
3. After closing on a property
Set the stage for requesting a review by reminding clients throughout the process that you’d like one after closing. After investing so much time with them, the review request should be natural. It's a good idea to send a personalized email that reminds them of your successes and guides them through review requirements.
How to ask for real estate reviews
Requesting a real estate testimonial can be nerve-wracking, but finding the right script for your ask can make all the difference in receiving more reviews. Agents can ask for client reviews using a highly personal approach or a more casual tone but should tailor the ask to the preferred communication style of each client.
Personalized email best practices
Tell each client in a brief email that you appreciate them working with you. Professional gratitude is a great way to remind them why they chose you in the first place and get them thinking of you in a positive light. In the email, add a video on how to create great reviews or share a direct link to submit. Pay special attention to the subject line: It should be 41 characters and fewer for clients who read their email on mobile.
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I enjoyed working with you and hope you are beyond happy with the transaction. I’d like to ask you a favor: Will you take a few minutes and write a review of your experience with me? If you remember, when we first started this process I promised I would earn your five-star review. I hope I’ve fulfilled that but, most importantly, I want your open and honest feedback so that other consumers who read your review will know what it’s like to work with me.
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! When we first started working together, you mentioned that you had read my past clients’ reviews. I think others who are looking for a real estate agent would also appreciate knowing what it’s like to work with me, so may I ask you to ‘pay it forward’ and write a review about your experience?
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I hope you are delighted with how your transaction went, and I would love your feedback about it. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? Whether you’re wholly satisfied or just happy it’s over, I would like to know so that I can keep on doing the things you appreciated and work on the things that need improvement.
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
Call
Make a friendly follow-up call, check how much they love their new home, or confirm where they are in buying and selling. It's a good idea to ask if they’re interested in doing a written or video review for you.
Text
Send a direct link to the Zillow review request form in your agent profile. A suggested automated email is provided by simply uploading your contact or email list. The automated email is editable.
“Hello, please take a moment to review me on Zillow. Please note: If you don’t already have a Zillow account, you will be asked to provide your email to help prevent fraudulent reviews. Thank you!”
In person
When face-to-face with a prospective reviewer, it’s important to be natural and subtly drop hints from day one. A nice segue to the heads-up is to ask if they’ve read reviews before finding you. Review the scripts below for asking for real estate agent reviews.
“Most consumers read reviews to help them choose a real estate agent, so at the end of the process, I’m going to ask you the favor of writing a review. I value your input, and I think sharing your experience would give others a great idea of what it’s like to work with me.”
“Like you, most consumers read reviews to help them choose a real estate agent. At the end of our process, I’d like to ask you the favor of writing a review so you can ‘pay it forward’ and help someone else who is considering using me as their agent.”
“If you read any of my past client reviews, thank you! I value all the feedback I can get, and I’m going to do everything I can to earn your five-star review as well.”
Indirect
Link to your review submit page in your email signature line, website and marketing materials so clients have a quick and accessible entry point during casual exchanges.
How to ask for video testimonials
Video testimonials are a more personal way of connecting with prospective clients. Since being on camera can be intimidating, the best way to make the process seem approachable is to ask clients in person or over the phone to participate in a video testimonial.
“I’ve long told agents it’s one thing to tell everyone how great you are, but it’s quite another to inspire others to tell everyone how great you are,” says Bret Calltharp, a noted real estate agent trainer. “Nothing is a better testimonial than seeing the smiles on your clients’ faces as they speak about their experiences with you.”
When creating your video testimonial, it’s important to remember the following:
Select enthusiastic clients. Choose buyers and sellers with whom you’ve shared a great connection.
Make your video tell a story. Ask clients to share their story and how you helped make it come true.
Connect with your audience. Display the client’s name to make the experience seem more natural and unscripted.
Build your brand. Feature your name, real estate logo and contact information in both the introduction and at the end of the video, so prospective clients can reach out.
Video testimonials and reviews consistently see good engagement on social media. If your clients don’t wish to do a video, a nice graphic featuring a photo of your happy clients along with quotes from their review of you is also a great share. Remember to consult with a local attorney as the laws and rules related to testimonials vary by state.
When to follow up on a real estate testimonial request
Ask for reviews no more than three times from each client: It’s professional to ask once and follow up two times at most when requesting a real estate testimonial.
“Following up after not receiving a review for any of the stages in the process is appropriate; begging is not,” Calltharp says. “If you’ve invested a lot of work with them, it’s professional to follow up twice: Once 30 days in — ideally while you’re calling to check in on your client — then again after 90 days.”
How to ask for real estate reviews later in the life cycle
In case you missed an opportunity to ask for a review in the moment or didn’t get a client to write a review with your first ask, here are some scripts for asking for a review later in the life cycle.
Asking for a real estate review weeks after closing
“[Name], thank you again for choosing me as your real estate agent! It’s been a couple of weeks since the closing; I hope things have settled down a bit and that you’re as delighted with the end results as I am. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? Whether you’re wholly satisfied or just happy it’s over, I would like your review so I can keep doing the things you appreciated and work on the things that need improvement.
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
Asking for a real estate review months after closing
Script for Buyers: “[Name], thank you again for choosing me as your real estate agent! I wanted to wish you a happy [six-month] anniversary in your new home! I hope it was an easy move and that things have settled down a bit. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? Whether you’re wholly satisfied or just happy it’s over, I would still like a review so that I can keep doing the things you appreciated and work on the things that need improvement.
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
Script for Sellers: “[Name], thank you again for choosing me as your real estate agent! I wanted to wish you a happy [six-month] anniversary on the sale of your home! I hope things have settled down a bit and that you’re as delighted with the end results as I am. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? Whether you’re wholly satisfied or just happy it’s over, I would like a review so that I can keep on doing the things you appreciated and work on the things that need improvement.
Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
Where to find completed Zillow reviews
Find completed Zillow reviews in your agent profile less than a week after your client submits their review. Reviews take on average 2-4 days for moderation (up to 10 days when experiencing high volumes).
If reviews are accepted, you’ll receive a notification via email that a review has been published.
If you’ve requested reviews from your agent profile tool but haven’t seen any published to your profile, check the review status. Sign into your profile to view the status of the review: whether it was submitted, whether it was declined during moderation or whether it’s awaiting submission. Review status is only available for reviews requested through the profile platform; you won’t be able to track status updates if you use the direct link to ask for a real estate agent review.
Zillow Review Moderator standards
Each client review must be specific to be published on Zillow and include the following details:
- The property address discussed with the agent.
- Specifics about a real estate event and details of actions the agent took during that event.
Reviews are rejected for a few primary reasons: They don’t comply with our guidelines and policies; they are generally inappropriate, off-topic, or lacking an appropriate level of detail (for example, no property address is mentioned or there are no real details about an agent’s involvement); or they are in violation of our terms of use.
Agents aren’t notified if a review is rejected.
How to respond to real estate agent reviews
Whether a client leaves you a five-star review or a scathing denunciation, it's a good idea to respond to every review. No matter what the write-up says, nothing is classier than thanking a reviewer for taking the time to share their opinion. Acknowledging a positive review shows you respect the client’s time and effort in writing it and makes you human; it’s an attractive trait that people respond to. And if you graciously and humbly respond to an irate reviewer, you help build your reputation as a likable and responsive agent who’s focused on customer service.
Real estate testimonial examples
A great place to offer real estate testimonial templates for your clients is to send them to your reviews page where they can read other reviews and get ideas for crafting their own. Client reviews should tell a story by being clear and honest about your work together. By providing clients with a template for drafting their reviews, you can ensure all the important details are present and all the reviews get published. Here are a few real estate testimonial examples to help you get started:
Prompt the client by asking questions
Just getting started on your testimonial can be overwhelming for your clients. Sending a few leading questions, like in the examples provided below, can help them begin.
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I value your opinion about what it was like to work with me, and I think other [buyers/sellers] would appreciate knowing what they can expect from me. I’d like to ask you for the favor of writing a review about your experience with me. Here are some questions that you can answer as part of your write-up:
- What made you decide to [buy/sell] your home?
- Why did you choose me as your real estate agent?
- What did you like best about your experience with me?
- What do you think I could have done better?
- Would you recommend me to your friends and family?“
Remind clients of the hero moments
It's never a bad idea to jot down hero moments — when you pointed out a pitfall, negotiated like a boss, moved lightning-quick to secure the best offer — because they’re a great prompt when asking clients to reflect on successful moments throughout their home-buying or selling process. These defining wins remind clients what made you the best agent for them.
Spotlighting hero moments in an email
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I hope you are delighted with how your transaction went, and I would love your feedback about it. May I ask you the favor of writing a review about your experience with me? I’ve included a few of the issues I solved along the way; I hope you considered them particularly helpful too:
- Bringing the ceiling stain to the seller’s attention
- Clarifying the correct square footage
- Discovering a lien on the property
Spotlighting hero moments in person
“I’m glad I was able to solve this before we proceeded with closing. May I remind you of when I ask you for your review?”
“If you’re happy with how I resolved this issue, would you mind jotting down a few details about it? I would love to have you comment on it when you review me.”
“I’m going to jot this down as something you might use in your review; I hope you think it’s worth mentioning too.”
Highlight your real estate agent expertise
As a real estate agent, you understand the market and the requirements for buying and selling a home in your area. Try reminding clients of your specialized skills — such as your knowledge of local HOAs, leveraging your vast network of local listing agents or supporting client preferences — and why they’re important so the client can address those qualities in their review.
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! Your opinion matters a great deal to me, and I think other consumers would also like to know about your experience. I’d like to ask you the favor of writing a review about what it was like working with me on purchasing your condominium. As you know, there are some special considerations when purchasing a condo, including working with the homeowners association, finding out about the dues history and reviewing the covenants. I think other prospective condo buyers would appreciate knowing about your specific experience working with me.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
“[Name], thank you so much for choosing me as your real estate agent! I value your feedback about working with me to [find/sell] your home in [Pine Crest Hills.] I’d like to ask you the favor of writing a review about what it was like working with me so others who are considering [buying/selling] a home in [Pine Crest Hills] will know what they can expect from me as their real estate agent. I remember you were originally attracted to this neighborhood’s child-friendly parks, plentiful cultural amenities and highly rated schools. Please comment on my familiarity with [Pine Crest Hills] and my ability to provide the information you needed to make informed decisions about your transaction.
“Here is a link to my Zillow request form [insert URL]. You’ll be prompted to register your email on Zillow as part of submitting a review (Zillow will never share your email with a third party). It only takes a moment, and it helps ensure that reviews are from actual clients.
“Thank you, [Name]. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, and I look forward to reading your remarks.”
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