About 98% of homebuyers and sellers reported that their experience working with a Texas REALTOR® was either “good” or “excellent,” according to the inaugural Texas REALTOR® Satisfaction Index. The report released today by the Texas REALTORS® gauges homebuyer and seller satisfaction with Texas REALTORS® based on 17,000 survey responses from 2016.
The overall satisfaction rating for surveyed Texas homebuyers was 4.91 out of 5, while sellers rated their experiences as 4.87 out of 5. Less than 1% of buyers and sellers rated their experiences with Texas real estate agents as “poor” or “below expectations.”
The factor that most impacted the satisfaction rating of an agent was clear and timely communication, according to the report.
“The Texas housing market moves fast, and it’s increasingly important for REALTORS® to be able to operate at the speed of the market,” said Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas REALTORS. “This means allowing for greater accessibility, setting communication expectations up front with clients and ensuring clear, timely communications so that homebuyers and sellers can feel confident at every step of the process.”
Of Texas homebuyers and sellers surveyed, more than a third found their Texas REALTOR® through a referral, and more than 80% didn’t consider another broker if they had previous experience with their REALTOR®. The factors rated as most important when choosing a REALTOR® were understanding needs and requirements and local knowledge.
Given that each of the 50 states have their own licensing education requirements, one good study would be to compare Realtor ratings across the 50 states. This could show legislators if higher licensing education requirements pay off, or not, at least in the minds of consumers.
Texas, BTW, has the nation’s toughest licensing requirements at (6) 30-hour courses to take the test and (2) 30-hour courses in the first year of practice, then on to 18-hours MCE every two years. Compare to some states with as little as (1) 30-hour course to take the test.