How to Collect Powerful Real Estate Customer Testimonials

Customer testimonials are one of the most effective ways to build trust with potential clients and showcase your expertise as a real estate professional. A well-crafted testimonial can serve as social proof, demonstrating your ability to successfully help buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. However, collecting powerful testimonials requires more than just asking for feedback—you need a strategy to ensure that your testimonials are impactful, authentic, and compelling. In this article, we’ll explore the steps to collecting powerful real estate customer testimonials and how to use them to grow your business.

1. Provide an Exceptional Client Experience

The foundation of any great testimonial is an exceptional client experience. Clients are more likely to leave positive reviews if they feel supported, informed, and satisfied throughout the buying or selling process. Focus on delivering outstanding service at every stage of the transaction to ensure that clients have a memorable and positive experience.

  • Why It Matters: A glowing testimonial is a direct result of a client’s positive experience with your services. By going above and beyond for your clients, you increase the likelihood that they’ll be willing to share their story and recommend your services to others.
  • How to Do It: Make communication a priority by keeping clients informed and responding promptly to their questions or concerns. Be proactive in addressing challenges and offer personalized support tailored to each client’s needs. Your efforts will translate into happy clients who are eager to share their experiences.

2. Ask at the Right Time

Timing is everything when it comes to requesting testimonials. Asking clients at the peak of their satisfaction—such as right after closing on a property or successfully selling a home—will increase the likelihood of receiving a detailed, positive review. Clients are more likely to provide meaningful feedback when the experience is fresh in their minds.

  • Why It Matters: Catching clients at the right moment ensures that they are still feeling the emotional high of a successful transaction, making them more enthusiastic about sharing their experience.
  • How to Do It: Reach out to clients shortly after closing or after a successful sale with a personalized request for a testimonial. Make sure your request feels genuine and specific to their experience, whether by email, text, or a phone call. CRMs like Follow Up Boss or Realvolve allow you to automate follow-up reminders, ensuring you don’t miss the ideal moment to request a testimonial.

3. Make It Easy for Clients

Clients are more likely to leave testimonials if the process is quick and easy. Providing clear instructions and making the process as simple as possible removes any barriers that might prevent them from writing a review.

  • Why It Matters: The easier it is for clients to provide feedback, the more likely they are to follow through with your request. If the process is confusing or time-consuming, clients may hesitate or forget to submit a testimonial.
  • How to Do It: Send clients a direct link to your preferred review platform, such as Zillow, Google Reviews, or Realtor.com. Include a brief guide or sample questions to help them get started, such as:
    • What did you appreciate most about the service?
    • How did the agent help you achieve your real estate goals?
    • Would you recommend the agent to others? Why?

Using tools like RateMyAgent or Testimonial Tree can streamline the process, allowing clients to easily submit testimonials and giving you the ability to manage and display reviews in one place.

4. Ask Specific, Open-Ended Questions

To get a detailed and powerful testimonial, avoid asking for generic feedback. Instead, ask clients specific, open-ended questions that encourage them to share their unique story. The more personalized and detailed the testimonial, the more compelling it will be for potential clients.

  • Why It Matters: Generic reviews like “Great agent!” don’t offer much value. Detailed testimonials, on the other hand, provide insight into your specific strengths and help build trust with prospective clients who are looking for someone with your expertise.
  • How to Do It: When requesting a testimonial, ask questions like:
    • What was the most memorable part of working with me during your home buying/selling journey?
    • How did I help you overcome any challenges or obstacles in the process?
    • How did my services differ from other real estate agents you’ve worked with?

These questions encourage clients to provide detailed, thoughtful responses that highlight your skills and the value you bring to the table.

5. Offer Multiple Testimonial Formats

Not all clients will feel comfortable writing a review, so it’s important to offer alternative ways for them to share their feedback. Video testimonials, social media shout-outs, and star ratings provide different options for clients who may prefer a different format.

  • Why It Matters: Offering various testimonial formats allows you to accommodate different preferences and comfort levels, making it easier for all clients to participate. Video testimonials, in particular, add a personal touch and can be highly effective in building trust.
  • How to Do It: Provide clients with multiple ways to submit testimonials, including written reviews, video testimonials, or star ratings on platforms like Google or Facebook. For video testimonials, you can offer to conduct a short interview or ask clients to submit a brief video clip sharing their experience. Tools like VideoAsk or Boast can help facilitate video testimonial collection.

6. Follow Up and Express Gratitude

If a client agrees to provide a testimonial but hasn’t submitted one after a few weeks, follow up with a gentle reminder. Once the testimonial is submitted, be sure to express your gratitude. Showing appreciation for their time reinforces a positive relationship and increases the likelihood of future referrals.

  • Why It Matters: Following up shows that you value their feedback and that their testimonial is important to you. Expressing gratitude also leaves a lasting impression and helps maintain a strong client relationship, even after the transaction is complete.
  • How to Do It: Send a polite follow-up message if you haven’t received the testimonial after a few weeks, offering to assist if they need help submitting it. After the testimonial is received, send a thank-you email or small gift as a token of appreciation. CRMs like Top Producer and LionDesk can automate follow-up reminders, ensuring that you maintain contact without missing opportunities to collect testimonials.

7. Showcase Testimonials Effectively

Once you’ve collected powerful testimonials, it’s important to showcase them in the right places. Displaying client reviews on your website, social media, and marketing materials helps build credibility and encourages prospective clients to reach out.

  • Why It Matters: Testimonials are a key factor in establishing trust and credibility with potential clients. Highlighting positive feedback on your website or social platforms reassures new prospects that you have a track record of success.
  • How to Do It: Add a dedicated testimonials section to your website, and feature client reviews on your homepage, landing pages, or property listings. Share testimonials on social media with client permission, using graphics or video clips to highlight their feedback. Tools like Testimonial Tree or RateMyAgent make it easy to display and manage testimonials across multiple platforms.

Tools and Services to Help Collect Real Estate Testimonials

Here’s a quick roundup of tools mentioned in this article to help you collect and showcase powerful real estate customer testimonials:

  • Follow Up Boss, Realvolve: CRMs with automated follow-up reminders to ensure you request testimonials at the right time.
  • RateMyAgent, Testimonial Tree: Platforms that make it easy for clients to submit testimonials and for agents to manage and display reviews.
  • VideoAsk, Boast: Tools for collecting video testimonials that add a personal touch to your marketing.
  • Top Producer, LionDesk: CRMs that help you automate follow-ups and manage client communication for testimonial collection.

Summary

Collecting powerful real estate customer testimonials starts with delivering exceptional service and asking for feedback at the right time. By making the process easy for clients, asking specific questions, and offering various testimonial formats, you can gather detailed and impactful reviews that showcase your strengths. Tools like Follow Up Boss, RateMyAgent, and VideoAsk can help streamline the process, while displaying testimonials on your website and social media builds trust with potential clients. With a solid testimonial strategy, you can strengthen your reputation, attract new business, and grow your real estate brand.