My realtor was terrible and I want to rake him/her over the coals. Why can't I give him/her a bad review at Hometown Expert?
Hometown Expert is about finding out what is BEST in a hometown, new or old. There are legal and disciplinary channels for addressing a bad experience with a real estate agent. You can contact their broker and let them know what transpired, contact the state's real estate commission (you can find the dispute information online, often through the state's business licensing website), or consult an attorney. Of course, if possible, try talking directly to the agent first. The most valuable education agents get is from their clients.

How do you keep realtors from nominating themselves?
We believe it is an honor to be nominated to be a Hometown Expert, especially as a Realtor, and we take the responsibility of passing along recommendations very seriously. We monitor every nomination that comes in manually (no automated computer system), and only allow one nomination per email per six months. Anyone who recommends a realtor must be a registered user on this site, and have had their email verified. We also keep an eye emails from 'anonymous' (i.e. Hotmail) email providers.

I'm moving to a city that isn't listed! How do I find a great realtor?
Let us know, and we'll help. We have a system in place for talking to people to get their opinions. Then, you not only get the best info on realtors, you help us share that info with other people who will need the same sort of help. We've seen other referral sites that try to tell you who's great by who sells the most, or who pays a fee to them, and that is not necessarily what makes for the best agent.

I've seen sites that say they'll refer an agent for me. What's different about Hometown Expert?

• We don't refer agents because of their volume
• We don't refer agents because they pay a fee to us, or they get assigned a territory/area
• We don't refer agents because of their years of experience
• We don't refer agents because they're in the same company that I'm in.
• We don't refer agents because they spend a ton of money on advertising.

Actually, WE don't refer the agents at all! They're rated by the people who know best--their clients. The agents listed on this website are reviewed by their knowledge, professionalism, communication, and expertise. Clients tell us about their personal experiences, not statistics. That's what matters-results.

Hey, I'm a great hometown realtor! How do I get on the recommended list?
Have your happy clients write us a recommendation! If you're great, we'd love to know about you.  There is no buy-in fee to you at all, no advertising fee or website cost.  Standard referral commission rates apply--that's it.

Why did you make this site in the first place?
Necessity IS the mother of invention, and the mother of this website, too.
I moved three times in five years-that's four different addresses! When I moved out of state, young children in tow, I didn't know who to trust to help me find a great home for my family. Where were the good neighborhoods? What school district had a great elementary school? What areas were going to see more development, or have their urban growth boundary move? It was just sheer luck that I found a great realtor (who I'll be happy to recommend!). I realized that other people must have the same problem I'd had-if you don't know anyone in your new town, how do you know who's going to be the best one to help you? To find out more about me, click (link)

I want to ask a realtor some questions, without being spammed to death. What's your privacy policy?
Relax, we hate spam, too! We promise not to sell your information, call you and bug you, or even send you update emails without your permission. We do follow up with any realtors you've contacted through here, just to verify that they've received your information, contacted you, and to see if they were able to assist you. We have an email newsletter that goes out no more than four times a year, but you can opt-out of that, too.

I had a bad experience with a realtor who is on the recommended list. What do I do?
LET US KNOW. All information you share is confidential. Let the realtor, know, too.

I need a realtor who speaks another language. Aidez-moi!
Realtors who speak languages besides English will be noted on the realtor page. (TANYA: OR BOB: Insert online form link here!)

I own a great business and I want promote it-can I do that here?
If your business raises the bar for others and is a great business, yep, we want to know about it! Feel free to post on the forums, but expect a flurry of rebuttals if your opinion of your business isn't the same as your customers.

Hey, you're a realtor-how can this site be unbiased?
Simple. I don't accept any form of paid advertising for this site. I don't take bribes (and neither does Bob, Webmaster Extraordinaire), be it flattery or chocolate or free press. The whole goal of this site was to seek out the BEST--regardless of what company name is over the door. And also--I'm a realtor ®, too, so I have taken the oath to adhere to a strict code of ethics (see the following….)

Why do all the real estate agents listed need to be realtors®?
All realtors® are real estate agents, but not all agents are realtors®. Realtors® take an oath to follow a 17 article Code of Ethics, that is strictly enforced by their local Realtor® board. This establishes levels of conduct that are higher than ordinary business practices or those required by law. Less than half of all licensees are Realtors®. When you're buying a home, you're making a huge investment of time, emotion and money, and you want the best help you can get. The Realtor® code of ethics states that a Realtor® :

#1) Pledge to put the interests of buyers and sellers ahead of their own and to treat all parties honestly and fairly.

#2) Shall refrain from exaggerating, misrepresenting or concealing material facts; and is obligated to investigate and disclose when situations reasonably warrant.

#3) Shall cooperate with other brokers / agents when it is in the best interests of the client to do so.

#4) Have a duty to disclose if they represent family members who own or are about to buy real estate, or if they themselves are a principal in a real estate transaction, that they are licensed to sell real estate.

#5) Shall not provide professional services in a transction where the agent has a present or contemplated interest without disclosing that interest.

#6) Shall not collect any commissions without the seller's knowledge nor accept fees from a third-party without the seller's express consent.

#7) Shall refuse fees from more than one party without all parties' informed consent.

#8) Shall not co-mingle client funds with their own.

#9) Shall attempt to ensure that all written documents are easy to understand and will give everybody a copy of what they sign.

#10) Shall not discriminate in any fashion for any reason on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

#11) Expects agents to be competent, to conform to standards of practice and to refuse to provide services for which they are unqualified.

#12) Must engage in truth in advertising.

#13) Shall not practice law unless they are a lawyer.

#14) Shall cooperate if charges are brought against them and present all evidence requested.

#15) Agree not to bad mouth competition and agree not to file unfounded ethics complaints.

#16) Shall not solicit another REALTOR'S client nor interfere in a contractual relationship.

#17) Shall submit to arbitration to settle matters and not seek legal remedies in the judicial system.



The National Association of Realtors thinks this code of ethics is important, and so do I.