@Michael – Yes, if two buyers are simultaneously searching for the exact same type of home, price range and location, they are going to receive the same results. Of course, the agent rankings are updated daily, taking new transaction info into account. Since we use objective, empirical data, we return the most experienced real estate agent for each request. We do not rely on subjective user reviews and ratings to match agents and customers on other criteria other than deal flow and results on a hyperlocal basis.

If I understand correctly, this site takes a buyer’s property search inputs, plugs them into an algorithm (all of which are inherently biased – this one apparently favors top producers, among other things), then ranks and recommends the “best” or “most qualified” agents for the buyer. As you observed, it’s presently unclear what weight the algorithm gives to what variables.

Doesn’t this mean that EVERY buyer who runs a search for a $600K 3bed/2bath home in San Jose is going to receive the exact same agent rankings/recommendations? How can an agent be the best/most qualified for ALL buyers? Don’t buyers have different needs/preferences?

As a (savvy?) consumer, I’d prefer to have direct access to relevant and meaningful information about local agents that I can evaluate and weigh for myself, based upon my own particular circumstances. In this information age, why should I be satisfied with a cookie-cutter approach to finding the best agent for me?

Michael Erdman
President & Founder
AgentsCompared.com

I would get in trouble if I posted past performance and empirical data on other agents.

Perhaps you would like to share with us, what kind of data you are using?

I don’t want to make a big deal of this, but the lack of data that you, Zillow, Trulia have for small markets is embarassing.

Sometimes as a professional I just have to tell my clients “I don’t know.” I wish you would too.

We are actively working to show customers how we derive our results by providing a more robust review of each agent, how we score transaction, and ultimately why they will get a better result by working with this agent over the average agent in the market. We are on track for a new release by next quarter with these features.

@Geordie – I appreciate your comments but want to clarify them. NeighorCity does have access to the NWMLS but not NCWAR, which would potentially improve results when seeking Leavenworth, WA real estate agents. With that said, the agents returned on that page are local Leavenworth real estate pros, such as William Lindstrom who is ranked #1 and handles Leavenworth properties almost exclusively, or Kelsey Arness, both of Lake Wenatchee Realty in Leavenworth, WA.
I couldn’t agree more that buyers and sellers must use local pros if they want to see results, that’s why we invented Agent Match®. Agent Match® scores agents based on their expertise relative to the subject property using location and property criteria. This gives the customer an edge in their transaction and typically much better results.

Jonathan Cardella
CEO/Founder, NeighborCity

This is why I mostly amused by the RPR discussion. It may have a big impact in the big cities, but no one seems to have our data and listings figured out in small town America. Zillow, Trulia, Cyberhomes, Altos …. their data is always wrong, incomplete, and misleading for my neck of the woods.

I think the future is less about these global supersites, but more about the niche hyperlocal sites that can provide excellent info that is very specific and detailed.