Published
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Written by
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Edited by Jamie Ayers
Written by Ashley Sweren
Edited by Jamie Ayers
Read TopAgentsRanked reviews | How does TopAgentsRanked work? | What is Agent Machine? | TopAgentsRanked pros and cons | TopAgentsRanked alternatives
What is TopAgentsRanked?
TopAgentsRanked and its sister sites, Agent Machine and RealEstateAgents.com, are free online services that connect home buyers and sellers with real estate agents. This review focuses on TopAgentsRanked. You can read more about Agent Machine here.
Beyond providing a list of agents in your general area, TopAgentsRanked doesn’t offer much value.
- Its agent quality is lackluster and doesn’t actually include “top agents.”
- Its network coverage is deficient, with agent matches often located outside of specified areas.
- It doesn’t offer discounts or rebates for home buyers and sellers.
Alternative companies offer the same free agent matching service — but with better quality agents, customer support, and built-in savings.
Our friends at Clever, for example, pre-negotiate discounted commission rates with Clever’s network of top-rated realtors. Sellers can list their home for 1.5%. Eligible buyers can get cash back after closing.
💰 Save thousands with Clever today! 💰
Key Takeaways
- TopAgentsRanked will connect you with a handful of local real estate agents for free.
- Since agents can pay for TopAgentsRanked referrals, customers may be matched with the realtor willing to shell out the most money instead of the agent who best meets their needs.
- TopAgentsRanked uses confusing marketing speak to mislead customers.
- With no commission savings, TopAgentsRanked offers minimal value to customers. We recommend checking out alternative agent matching services instead.
Is TopAgentsRanked legitimate?
Yes, TopAgentsRanked is a licensed brokerage in California. All agent matching companies must be licensed to collect fees from agents, which is how they make money.
TopAgentsRanked reviews are generally positive, rating an average 4.6 stars out of 5 in 3,655 total reviews. TopAgentsRanked’s parent company is Referral Exchange, which is Better Business Bureau accredited, with an A+ rating.
The company claims to have facilitated more than 500,000 connections between home buyers and sellers and the 25,000 real estate agents in its network.
Though TopAgentsRanked is a legitimate and licensed business, some of its operating practices are alarming.
🚨 Agents can pay for more visibility
TopAgentsRanked offers a “PRIME” service that lets agents pay a fee to rank higher in customers’ match results.
We don’t like pay-to-play options like this because they deceive customers. Buyers and sellers assume they’re paired with agents who are uniquely suited to meet their needs — not the ones who paid the most for the lead.
Most alternative agent matching services don’t allow this practice.
🚨 Misleading marketing claims
TopAgentsRanked uses deceptive language to make its agents seem better than they are.
For example, the TopAgentsRanked website gives agents a “REALTOR®” badge and says this is the “highest distinction in the community.” Frankly, this is B.S.
Any licensed real estate agent can become a REALTOR® if they pay a membership fee to the National Association of Realtors. More than half the real estate agents in the U.S. are REALTORS®.
TopAgentsRanked also gives some agents a “Top Ranked” badge. There’s no explanation of how agents earn this badge or what it signifies.
Our mystery shoppers didn’t find their matches with the Top Ranked distinction to be any better qualified than those who didn’t have it.
How does TopAgentsRanked work?
Signing up for TopAgentsRanked is simple — just answer a handful of straightforward questions on its website.
A TopAgentsRanked representative will call you within an hour to introduce themself and learn more about your transaction. Within a few minutes of the call, you’ll receive a list of agent matches (usually three) and a link to a dashboard where you can view and compare your matches.
Your agent matches may begin reaching out to you via phone, text, and email immediately upon receipt of your list. You can communicate directly with your matches to schedule interviews or ask more questions.
If you don’t think any of your initial matches are a fit, you can ask TopAgentsRanked for more matches or decide to walk away. There’s no obligation to work with any of the company’s agents once you’re matched.
If you decide to use an agent referred by TopAgentsRanked to buy or sell your home, a representative from the company will check in along the way to ensure your transaction is progressing smoothly.
What are Agent Machine and RealEstateAgents.com?
TopAgentsRanked has two sister sites called Agent Machine and RealEstateAgents.com. They essentially offer the same service as TopAgentsRanked.
While RealEstateAgents.com is growing, the Agent Machine website seems to be a secondary priority for the company.
We don’t recommend using Agent Machine if you’re looking for a realtor. TopAgentsRanked and RealEstateAgents.com aren’t much better, so check out these alternatives when shopping for a real estate agent.
How much does TopAgentsRanked cost?
TopAgentsRanked is free for home buyers and sellers — all agent matching services are. But if you’re selling, you’ll still have to pay the agents’ commissions.
Commission is typically 5-6% of the home sale price. Half usually goes to your listing agent, and half goes to the buyer’s agent.
Alternative agent matching companies offer better service and discounted commission rates. For example, our friends at Clever pre-negotiate a 1.5% listing fee with Clever’s agents. Clever also offers eligible buyers Clever Cash Back after closing.
💰 Find out how much you can save with Clever 💰
How does TopAgentsRanked make money?
TopAgentsRanked makes money by charging the agents in its network a referral fee, which is a percentage of the commission they make on deals they close for buyers and sellers referred to them through the service.
TopAgentsRanked also charges agents for its premium membership option that promises greater visibility and more customer leads.
Why do agents work with companies like TopAgentsRanked?
Services like TopAgentsRanked are a low-cost, low-risk way for realtors to grow their businesses.
Real estate is a competitive field. Most agents devote substantial time, energy, and resources into attracting new customers.
TopAgentsRanked and similar services deliver a stream of new customers to agents so they can spend less time and money on marketing their services. Since agents don’t pay TopAgentsRanked upfront (but only on deals that close) it’s less risky than conventional marketing methods, which may cost a lot and net zero new clients.
Agent matching services provide an effective way for realtors to build their business. And the referral fees are affordable enough that agents still turn a profit on referred clients.
TopAgentsRanked reviews: Major benefits and drawbacks
TopAgentsRanked reviews are mostly positive, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Though some past customers were happy with the service, we don’t think TopAgentsRanked is worth your time. Our mystery shoppers’ agent matches were off-base in terms of quality and proximity. Plus, TopAgentsRanked doesn’t offer commission savings for buyers and sellers.
Plenty of alternative agent matching services provide better value. Give one of them a try instead of TopAgentsRanked.
TopAgentsRanked pros and cons
✅ Easy sign-up; agent matches arrive quickly
It’s simple to sign up for TopAgentsRanked — just answer a few straightforward questions on its website, like what area you’re targeting and when you plan to buy or sell.
A rep calls you within the hour to connect and learn more about your transaction. Your agent matches arrive shortly after that, and those agents begin to reach out immediately.
While we appreciate the speed and convenience TopAgentsRanked offers, it isn’t a benefit unique to the company. Most agent matching services deliver the same.
TopAgentsRanked reviewers agree about the company’s speed and ease:
✅ Knowledgeable customer service reps
TopAgentsRanked’s customer service team is smart and responsive. Reps were able to answer our shoppers’ questions about the process and provide informed guidance.
Like Clever‘s Concierges, TopAgentsRanked’s team consists of licensed realtors, so they’re knowledgeable about real estate and qualified to provide customers with advice.
Online reviewers also appreciated TopAgentsRanked’s customer service:
⚠️ Somewhat helpful customer dashboard
TopAgentsRanked gives buyers and sellers a dashboard where they can view and compare their agent matches. The dashboard includes some details to help customers make an informed decision, like each agent’s average selling price, number of clients served, and a list of specialties.
But the TopAgentsRanked dashboard leaves out important information like a link to the agent’s Zillow profile, a list of recent deals, and other sales stats like average days on market. Some agents’ profiles seemed outdated and inaccurate when checked against other information online.
In terms of thoroughness, TopAgentsRanked’s dashboard falls somewhere in the middle compared to other agent matching services. Some, like UpNest, provide detailed and thorough information to help customers comparison shop for an agent. Others, like MyAgentFinder, don’t even have one. Instead, it provides matches via text.
As this reviewer suggests, do your due diligence and double-check your agent matches’ qualifications with a DIY search if you choose to work with TopAgentsRanked:
Another reviewer wished they could access agent sales statistics on TopAgentsRanked:
⛔️ No commission savings for sellers or refunds for buyers
TopAgentsRanked doesn’t deliver any cost-savings benefits for home sellers or buyers. Alternative agent matching services (like our friends at Clever) do!
Clever pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing commission with the agents in its network (or a flat $3,000 on home sales under $350,000). On a home sale, you’ll save thousands with Clever.
Clever offers eligible buyers Clever Cash Back — a check after closing. On a home purchase, that’d put money back in your pocket.
⛔️ Off-base agent matches
Our shoppers weren’t impressed with their agent matches. TopAgentsRanked says its matches are customized by a rep, but they came too fast to be hand-selected by a human.
Some agent matching services, like Clever, don’t rely on automation so heavily. While Clever uses an algorithm to initially pull potential matches, Clever’s Concierges are familiar with its partner network and custom-select agents based on the nuanced needs of its customers.
In many cases, our shoppers’ TopAgentsRanked matches had little experience in their target area. This was surprising, since TopAgentsRanked claims to have one of the larger agent networks compared to alternative agent matching services.
Additionally, the order in which TopAgentsRanked ranked our shoppers’ matches was confusing. Often, the agents who appeared lower on the list seemed better qualified, with more local area expertise.
We believe this is because the company prioritizes PRIME members and agents who frequently update their TopAgentsRanked profile. This provides no benefit to the customer.
If TopAgentsRanked isn’t accurately ranking top agents for customers, we’re not sure what the point is.
These reviewers were also disappointed with the quality of their agent matches:
Best TopAgentsRanked alternatives in 2022
Clever Real Estate
Biggest savings
- List for just 1.5%
- Cash back for buyers
- Helpful, licensed Concierge
Clever is a free, no-obligation service that matches home sellers and buyers with top-rated, local real estate agents nationwide. Unlike most of its competitors, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts with its agent network, so customers land major savings! Sellers can save up to 50% on realtor commission fees. Buyers can qualify for cash back after closing.
- Partners with full-service agents from top brokerages like Century 21 and RE/MAX
- Provides multiple agent matches so you can compare and choose the best fit
- Pre-negotiates low rates with agent network
- As with most agent matching services, customers may have fewer agent options in certain rural areas
- Sellers who are looking for top local real estate agents at the best rates.
- Buyers who want a great agent while also potentially saving money.
6358 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63101
Clever is a free service that connects you with top local agents.
Clever provides 2-3 matches per customer like TopAgentsRanked. But Clever’s agent matches are tailored by its Concierge team to meet the unique needs of each buyer and seller. Additionally, Clever vets all the agents in its network to ensure they’re top performers in their local area.
Clever pre-negotiates commission savings with its partner agents. Sellers can list for 1.5%. Eligible buyers can get Clever Cash Back after closing.
🤑 Don’t overpay on agent commissions. Try Clever today! 🤑
UpNest
Real estate agent marketplace
- Agents compete for your business
- Potential commission discount
- May offer buyer rebate
UpNest calls itself a “real estate agent marketplace” because agents compete for your business through its platform. After you sign up on UpNest’s website, local agents will submit proposals for you to review. Because they’re competing with one another, they’re incentivized to lower their rates to make their proposals more attractive. While this may drive savings, they may not be significant — particularly in less competitive markets. And unlike some other brands, the savings aren’t actually guaranteed.
- Agents compete for your business, which can drive savings
- Platform allows customers to easily shop around for the best agent match
- Discounts are not guaranteed and may be minimal
- Sellers who are looking for a good agent and aren’t concerned about savings or customer service.
- Eligible buyers who are looking to potentially lower their closing costs
3 E. Third Ave., Ste. 200
San Mateo, CA 94401
UpNest’s model is a “real estate marketplace.” Agents use UpNest’s platform to submit proposals and compete for your business.
To make their proposals more attractive, agents may offer a reduced commission rate or a buyer rebate. However, savings aren’t guaranteed with UpNest, and they’re usually pretty minimal.
UpNest’s customer dashboard also provides helpful information so customers can easily compare matches to make an informed agent choice.
Ideal Agent
As seen on TV
- List for 2%
- Limited agent network
- Licensed, helpful Concierge
Ideal Agent can match you with a top-rated local realtor who has agreed to offer full service for a discounted 2% listing fee. Ideal Agent has strict standards for its agent network, claiming it only works with agents whose sales numbers are in the top 1% of their local markets. Notably, Ideal Agent only provides customers with one agent match, so if comparing options is important to you, it might not be a good choice. And while it does offer built-in savings for sellers, they’re not as significant as those offered by some top competitors, like Clever.
- Offers some built-in savings for home sellers
- Sets high performance standards for its agent network
- Offers a discounted 2.5% buyer’s agent commission, which might disincentivize realtors from showing your home to clients
- Only matches you with one agent
- Its limited network size may mean spotty coverage in smaller towns and rural areas
Sellers who live in a major metropolitan area, don’t want to spend time comparing agents, and would like some savings.
802 E. Whiting St.
Tampa, FL 33602
Unlike TopAgentsRanked, Ideal Agent has stringent requirements for agents to join its network. They must be top 1% sales performers in their local area and close a high number of deals annually.
Ideal Agent offers some cost savings for sellers. You can list your home with one of its agents for a total 4.5% commission, opposed to the typical 5-6%.
Ideal Agent only provides a single match compared to the three each of our shoppers received from TopAgentsRanked. If you give Ideal Agent a try, we recommend doing so alongside another agent matching service so you can weigh your options and pick the one that’s right for you.
The bottom line: Should I work with TopAgentsRanked?
TopAgentsRanked isn’t worth your time.
Unqualified agents can pay for featured placements and matches, which is misleading and means you’re not necessarily getting the best candidates for the job. Our mystery shoppers weren’t impressed with the quality or fit of the agents TopAgentsRanked recommended.
Plenty of other agent matching services out there offer better value and quality control. We recommend trying Clever, which offers the best combination of agent quality and built-in savings.
Because every agent matching service is free with no obligation, it could be worth trying a few to see how they stack up.
FAQs
What is TopAgentsRanked?
TopAgentsRanked is an online service that matches home buyers and sellers with local real estate agents looking for business. Reviews suggest other agent matching companies provide better customer service and lower commission rates.
Is TopAgentsRanked legitimate?
Yes, TopAgentsRanked is a legitimate and licensed agent matching service. However, our reviewers found some of its business practices to be misleading, and it doesn't offer commission discounts for customers.
Related links
How to Choose a Realtor: Not sure where to start when picking a realtor? This piece will point you in the right direction.
The Role of the Real Estate Agent: Learn what to expect when buying or selling your home with the help of a realtor.
Top 10 Low Commission Real Estate Agents + Companies: Check out this list of businesses that will save you money when selling your home.
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