With thousands of agents all claiming to be #1, how do you separate hype from real expertise?
There are over 4,200 realtors registered in the South Bay alone. So how do you pick the one that’s right for you—especially when so many of them are “#1″?
It’s that time of year again—real estate “award season” is in full swing. Social media feeds are filling up with glossy graphics, big numbers, and plenty of agents announcing they’re #1 in something. “Top Producer,” “Rising Star,” “Platinum Elite Circle,” and the ever-popular “Best of [Insert City Here]” awards are all making their rounds.
But what do these awards really mean for you—the buyer or seller looking for an agent who has your best interests at heart? Let’s take a step back, have some fun with this, and break it down.
Who Are These Awards Really For?
Many of the awards and rankings you see online aren’t necessarily meant for you, the consumer. A lot of agents post their awards to impress or attract other agents, whether for recruiting, building their brand within the industry, or gaining referral business.
Before you get too dazzled by an agent’s latest accolade, consider:
Sales Volume Can Be Inflated
One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is how sales volume is calculated.
✅ Did you know that if an agent represents both the buyer and the seller on a $1M home, they get to count the sale twice?
- In their reported numbers, that single $1M sale magically becomes $2M in sales volume—even though it was just one property.
- At the end of the year, when total sales volume is verified, these double-counted transactions are included in an agent’s total.
🚩 What this means for you:
- An agent with impressive volume might have a lot of dual agency deals, which isn’t necessarily a sign of better service—it’s just a different business model.
Dual Agency: Pros & Cons
Dual agency occurs when one agent represents both the buyer and seller in the same transaction. While some agents tout it as an advantage, it comes with significant trade-offs and is limited or illegal in over 10 states due to conflicts of interest. There’s plenty of opinions for and against dual agency.
✅ Potential Benefits:
- Faster communication since one agent is handling both sides.
- Smoother transaction with fewer delays between parties.
- Possible cost savings for sellers if they negotiate a reduced commission.
- Agent insight into both parties’ needs, potentially leading to a more cooperative deal.
🚩 Major Pitfalls:
- Conflict of interest—the agent can’t fully advocate for both sides at the same time.
- Weaker negotiation power—buyers may not get strategic advice, and sellers may miss opportunities.
- Limited market exposure—agents might prioritize their own buyers instead of seeking the best overall offer.
- Inflated sales numbers—agents count both sides of the deal toward their total volume, boosting their rankings.
Should You Agree to Dual Agency?
Before moving forward, ask: Do I trust this agent to be neutral? Am I comfortable not having someone fully fighting for my interests? If there’s any hesitation, separate representation is usually the better choice.
2. Team Leaders Count Their Team’s Sales as Their Own
When you see an agent ranking as the “#1 Agent in XYZ Brokerage,” it’s important to ask:
✅ Is this an individual agent’s production, or is it the combined total of an entire team?
Many high-ranking agents are actually team leaders, meaning they count every sale made by agents on their team under one name—even if the lead agent never met, spoke to, or worked with the client.
🚩 What this means for you:
- If you hire a “top-ranked” agent, will you be working with them directly?
- If they run a large team, will your transaction be handled by a junior agent rather than the award-winning leader?
3. Who Gives These Awards, and What Do They Really Measure?
National Industry Rankings (Like Wall Street Journal / RealTrends)
✅ How they’re determined: Based purely on sales volume or transaction count at a national level. 🚩 What it doesn’t tell you:
- A high-ranking agent might specialize in high-end homes with fewer transactions or be a high-volume agent closing lots of lower-priced homes. Neither necessarily means they’re the best fit for you.
- It doesn’t measure client experience, local knowledge, or negotiation skills—just raw numbers.
Brokerage-Specific Awards (Top Agent at XYZ Realty)
✅ How they’re determined: These are internal awards based on that brokerage’s own agents. 🚩 What it doesn’t tell you:
- A “#1 Agent” at one brokerage may have sold $50M in real estate, while the “#1 Agent” at a competing brokerage sold $200M.
- Many times there’s a #1 small team, #1 medium team, #1 large team, #1 mega team, #1 two-person teams, #1 solo agents – That’s seven “#1″s all at the same brokerage!
Local Business Journal Rankings (Like Los Angeles Business Journal)
✅ How they’re determined: Business journals like the Los Angeles Business Journal publish rankings based on self-reported sales volume from agents and brokerages.
🚩 What it doesn’t tell you:
- These rankings rely on agents submitting their own numbers, which means the accuracy depends on self-reporting.
- There is no third-party audit to verify the authenticity of sales claims.
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Many business journals require a fee, sponsorship, or advertising buy-in for consideration, making them partially pay-to-play awards rather than purely merit-based rankings.
Pay-to-Play Awards (Best Agent in [Your City])
✅ How they’re determined:
- Some are reader polls/popularity driven where agents campaign for votes.
- Some require agents to pay a fee to claim their spot. 🚩 What it doesn’t tell you:
- These awards often have nothing to do with actual sales performance or client satisfaction.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Realtor?
Instead of getting dazzled by digital trophies, here’s what you should really look for when choosing an agent:
✅ Are They a Recognized Local Expert?
- More important than a trophy: Are they cited in publications as a local market expert?
- Do they provide valuable insight in news articles, blogs, or interviews?
✅ Can They Show You a Long List of Past Sales in Your Neighborhood?
- How many homes have they sold specifically in your area?
✅ Do They Have the Deep Relationships That Count?
A great agent isn’t just good at selling homes—they have real relationships that make the transaction smoother:
- Do they have solid connections with city officials, permitting departments, or inspectors? This matters when you hit a zoning or compliance issue.
- Do they have strong title reps and lenders they can call when things get complicated? A good agent doesn’t just send you to a random loan officer; they connect you with someone they trust.
- Can they identify potential problems before they arise and plan accordingly?
✅ Authenticity & Trustworthiness
- Do they feel like someone you can trust with one of the biggest financial decisions of your life?
- If their energy, work ethic, and values align with yours, that’s more valuable than any “Rising Star” badge.
✅ Client Experience Over Self-Promotion
Take a look at their social media and online presence. Are they constantly posting about themselves—their awards, their sales, their successes? Or are they highlighting their clients’ wins, sharing helpful tips, and offering value?
✅ Do They Speak “Realtor” or Real Talk?
Real estate has its own language, and some agents lean into jargon that sounds impressive but leaves you confused. Ask yourself:
- Do they explain things thoroughly and in a way that makes sense to you?
- Or do they breeze past details, assuming you already understand everything?
- If you’re a first-time buyer or seller, will they sit with you and go over the entire process step by step?
✅ Work Ethic & Availability
Scroll through their Instagram. Are they always on vacation? If so, who’s handling things when they’re away? Some agents have strong teams that keep everything running smoothly—but others disappear for weeks at a time with no clear backup plan. Ask them who runs the show when they’re not available.
✅ Team vs. Solo Agent—Who’s Doing the Work?
When interviewing an agent, ask:
- Who will you talk to the most after you sign the listing agreement?
- Who handles the details when escrow opens?
- Do they have a team, and if so, who does what? (Some teams function seamlessly, while others might hand you off to assistants you never met in the initial consult.)
✅ Do They Have a Trusted Network of Experts?
Real estate transactions come with a lot of moving parts. A great agent has a long list of trusted third-party vendors to help with things as they arise—inspectors, contractors, stagers, movers, and more. The real question is:
- Do they coordinate these services for you, or do they hand you a list and leave you to figure it out yourself?
- Are their referrals solid, or are they just passing you to whoever pays for advertising space on their website?
✅ Negotiation & Problem-Solving
Awards don’t negotiate contracts. A great agent is one who fights for you in tough negotiations, spots potential issues before they become problems, and knows how to pivot when unexpected challenges arise.
✅ Reputation Beyond Rankings
Check Google and Zillow reviews—not just the ones the agent shares. Look for patterns:
- Do past clients mention feeling supported and informed?
- Are they praised for their responsiveness and follow-through?
- Or do you see complaints about lack of communication or rushed transactions?
✅ Process & Transparency
A top agent should be able to clearly explain their process. Ask them:
- “How do you keep clients informed throughout the transaction?”
- “What’s your approach to pricing and marketing?”
- “What’s the biggest challenge buyers/sellers are facing right now, and how do you help them navigate it?”
✅ Community Involvement
Do they give back to the community? Are they sponsoring local events, supporting schools, or involved in charitable work? Agents who are deeply rooted in the community often have better insight into the market and stronger local connections.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, an agent’s value isn’t in their trophy case—it’s in their ability to deliver results for you.
So, as you scroll through all the “I’m #1!” posts this season, ask yourself:
- Who gave them that award, and what does it actually mean?
- Are they showcasing their clients’ wins or just their own?
- Do they have a real strategy, a solid process, and a reputation for excellence?
- Do they have the relationships, knowledge, and resources to make your transaction smooth and successful?
Because the best agent for you isn’t always the flashiest one—it’s the one who’s committed to your success, not just their own stats.