How the Stars Shine

The star-review system offered by so many review sites provides an eye-catching hook for an agent looking to attract more online attention. Comments may provide the nuanced details for how a transaction played out, but the stars serve as a visual shorthand for clients who are looking for the best agent in their market.

Agents use their star reviews in their print materials, on their business websites and in their e-mail signatures. The fact that an agent has a solid five-star rating on Zillow or Yelp gives potential clients a compelling reason to check him or her out.

“I worked with one client recently that was working with a new agent and didn’t get a good vibe,” Compean said. “He did some research and found me. He saw my sales and my (five-star) reviews. He called me on a Wednesday, we had a very detailed conversation about his needs and wants, and we met Friday to look at homes. The first home we saw he wanted to make an offer on. The offer was accepted, and he was extremely happy with my service. The transaction wasn’t simple, and we were competing with multiple offers. But he was extremely happy with the process and final outcome.

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