What is RateMyAgent and how do I use it to choose an agent in NZ?

​What Is RateMyAgent and Should I Use It to Choose an Agent?
RateMyAgent is one of the most useful research tools available to New Zealand property vendors. Here is how to use it effectively.

What RateMyAgent is
RateMyAgent (ratemyagent.co.nz) is a platform that aggregates verified client reviews for real estate agents across Australia and New Zealand. Reviews are verified as they are linked to actual property transactions, not anonymous open submissions, which makes RateMyAgent reviews more reliable than unverified Google or Facebook reviews for this specific purpose.

What RateMyAgent shows you
For each agent on the platform, RateMyAgent shows: the number of properties sold (total career and recent 12 months), the average sale price of their recent transactions, the agent’s average star rating (out of 5) from verified client reviews, and the full text of individual client reviews. This combination of volume, price level, and client satisfaction gives a more complete picture of an agent’s performance than any single metric alone.

How to use it in your agent selection
Search for agents by suburb or postcode in your Northland location. Look for agents who: have a meaningful number of recent verified reviews (five or more in the last 12 months is a reasonable threshold), have sold properties in your price range and suburb, have consistently high ratings (4.5 or above is strong in the New Zealand context), and whose review language describes specific performance qualities such as communication, pricing accuracy, negotiation skill - rather than generic praise.

What to be cautious about
RateMyAgent profiles with very few reviews or reviews that are all from years ago should be treated with caution. The agent may not be active in your market currently.
Also be cautious about agents with uniformly perfect scores and very similar review language, which can indicate reviews have been solicited in a structured way rather than reflecting organic client satisfaction. Look for a mix of genuine, specific, varied reviews.

Using it alongside other research
RateMyAgent is one tool among several. Use it alongside: directly asking for a specific list of recent local sales, checking sold listings on realestate.co.nz and homes.co.nz, conducting in-person interviews with two or three agents, and seeking personal referrals from people who have recently sold in your area.
​The combination of data sources gives you the most complete picture of which agent is right for your property.

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Paul Sumich is a Whangarei-based real estate professional with local Northland expertise. Find more at paulsumich.co.nz/blog