Responsive real estate agents earn the most kudos from consumers, according to a survey conducted by RealEstate.com, an operating business of LendingTree Inc. The survey, which collected 702 responses from consumers who visited the Web site to find a real estate agent, found that 43 percent of consumers most appreciated that their real estate agent was “very responsive.”
Twenty-three percent of those who participated in the survey said they most appreciated that their real estate agent “really listened,” 15 percent most appreciated their Realtor’s market expertise, 13 percent most appreciated their agent’s advantageous use of technology, and 6 percent most appreciated their agent’s negotiating expertise.
About 34 percent of consumers said they least appreciated their agent’s lack of a pro-active attitude, while about 25 percent said they least appreciated their agent’s discomfort using modern technologies, such as Web sites, e-mail and digital photos. Eighteen percent of respondents said they least appreciated the pressure from their agent to buy or sell, 12 percent said they least appreciated their agent’s lack of understanding about their needs, and 11 percent said they least appreciated their agent’s lack of responsiveness.
Forty-two percent of respondents said less than 25 percent of communication with their agent was via e-mail, while 38 percent said that 25 percent to 75 percent of their communication was via e-mail, 12 percent said they did not communicate at all by e-mail and 8 percent said that more than 75 percent of communication was via e-mail. And 88 percent of participants said that the amount of e-mail communication with their agent was just right, while 10 percent said it was “not enough,” and 2 percent said it was “too much.”
About 86 percent said they would use their agent again, and 85 percent said they would recommend their agent to family or friends.
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