Posted: May 13, 2009

Southwest Florida (May 13, 2009) - In the May 2009 issue of Gulfshore Life, the 2009 FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction Real Estate Agents (SM) are announced.

Gulfshore Life formed a partnership with Crescendo Business Services, an independent research firm, to identify the "best in client satisfaction" real estate agents serving the Southwest Florida area. In September of 2008, Crescendo surveyed by mail and phone 18,000 Southwest Florida area residents who had recently purchased homes. An additional 250 surveys were sent to mortgage and title companies, who are often best able to judge a real estate agent’s technical skills and knowledge.

On the surveys, recipients were asked to evaluate only real estate agents whom they knew through personal experience. They were asked to evaluate them based upon nine criteria, including, customer service, integrity, market knowledge, communication, negotiation, closing preparation, finding the right home, marketing of the home and overall satisfaction.

By October, stacks of surveys had arrived and Crescendo began carefully scoring and screening each nominee with the Florida State Real Estate Commission’s database to make certain that licenses were up to date and that no disciplinary actions were pending. Before finalizing the list, nominated agents were reviewed by a blue ribbon panel of local industry experts.

The panel consisted of realty company executives, professional and trade association officers and others directly involved in housing-related businesses. Although panelists’ comments were incorporated into the final score, safeguards were built into the review process to reduce the ability of panel members to influence the composition of the final list on the basis of company affiliation.

This year’s list of "FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction" real estate agents represents less than 4 percent of actively licensed real estate agents in the Southwest Florida area. We hope this list serves as a referral network for the 82,500 readers of Gulfshore Life. Is this list exhaustive? Of course not. There are undoubtedly many other excellent real estate agents that are not on the list this year, but don’t be surprised to see them next year.