Analysis finds agents with highest pricing errors hold near-perfect ratings on major platforms

Agents whose listed prices showed the largest gaps from eventual sale prices received the highest star ratings on Australia’s two largest property platforms, according to data compiled by property transparency tool Homer. Homer calculated each agent’s average pricing error by comparing the initial advertised price guide with the final sale price across all transactions in the 18 months ending in May.

au and Domain. au the median rating for these agents was five stars in every state. In Victoria the same group guided prices an average of 7.1 per cent above sale prices, and only one agent received less than 4.9 stars.

Review eligibility rules Only vendors and buyers who completed a purchase may leave reviews on either platform. Prospective buyers who inspected properties but did not purchase are barred from posting feedback. Reviews are most often submitted through links sent by agents themselves; buyers who initiate a review must supply proof of purchase that is not required for agent-invited submissions.

au. Comments about an agent’s conduct after settlement can be removed during moderation, and agents may flag any review as defamatory, triggering its removal.

Legal letters and listing changes One buyer, identified as Therese, initially posted a positive review for an LJ Hooker agent after purchasing a home at auction. After settlement she revised the review to note what she described as incomplete remedy works and an inadequate building and pest report.

The updated review was removed within days, and she received a letter from the agent’s lawyer demanding $50,000, continued removal of the review, and an end to all commentary, with a threat of defamation proceedings within seven days. Therese attempted to post a third review describing the legal demand but could not do so because the agent had changed the listing address to “Address available on request,” blocking further updates.

au and Domain stated that the displayed ratings primarily reflect vendor satisfaction. A NSW Fair Trading spokesman advised buyers to consult the state government’s “Name and Shame” register for additional performance information. A Consumer Affairs Victoria spokesman said buyers should treat uniformly positive testimonials with caution.

Henry Pedersen, chief executive of Homer, said the current system provides buyers with “no useful signal whatsoever” about pricing accuracy.