Agent Recognition USA is a private, independent program run by Bold Latitude LLC, a Wyoming company. It recognizes US real estate agents based on the public reviews their clients leave on Google, Zillow and Realtor.com, and it sums each agent's record up in one number out of 100, the Agent Score.
This article explains exactly how that number is calculated, why it draws on three review sites instead of one, where the numbers come from, and what the score does not do. Every step uses the same published formula that appears on our methodology page, and the worked example uses our sample profile so you can check the arithmetic yourself.
Why one review site is not enough
Clients write reviews wherever they already have an account or wherever their agent sent them a link. As a result, many agents have most of their reviews on one site and only a few on the others, and which site that is differs from agent to agent.
The sites also work differently. According to Zillow's reviews FAQ, Zillow accepts reviews from buyers and sellers who communicated with or worked with an agent, and an agent's overall Zillow rating is the average of how likely reviewers are to recommend them. Google reviews require a Google account and are governed by Google's own content policy. On Realtor.com, some agents' reviews arrive through a partner review service that is matched to the agent's NAR member ID, with timing that depends on the agent's plan with that service.
Looking at any single site can mislead in both directions. An agent with a 5.0 from four Google reviews and a 4.8 from 112 Zillow reviews looks perfect on Google and merely very good on Zillow. Neither view is the whole story. Combining the sites, with each review counting equally, gives the fairest single picture of what clients said.
The three parts of the score
The Agent Score is the sum of three parts. Each part is calculated the same way for every agent.
| Part | Maximum points | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Client rating | 70 | Combined rating divided by 5, times 70 |
| Review volume | 20 | Base 10 logarithm of 1 plus total reviews, divided by the base 10 logarithm of 101, times 20, capped at 20 |
| Profile | 10 | Five profile items, 2 points each |
Each part is rounded to one decimal place, and the total is their sum.
Client rating
The client rating carries 70 of the 100 points, because client satisfaction is the clearest signal of how an agent works. The rating is a review-weighted average across the three sites. Each site's rating is multiplied by its number of reviews, those products are added up, and the sum is divided by the total number of reviews. The result is rounded to one decimal place.
Because each site counts in proportion to its reviews, an agent with 120 reviews on Zillow and 6 on Google is judged mostly by Zillow. That is deliberate. It means every client's review has the same weight, wherever it was written.
A combined 5.0 earns all 70 points. A 4.5 earns 63, and a 4.0 earns 56.
Review volume
Review volume carries 20 points and follows a logarithmic curve, with full points at 100 reviews in total across all sites. The curve rewards the first reviews most, since the difference between 5 and 25 reviews says much more about an agent than the difference between 300 and 320. It also keeps large teams from winning on size alone.
| Total reviews | Review points |
|---|---|
| 5 | 7.8 |
| 10 | 10.4 |
| 25 | 14.1 |
| 50 | 17.0 |
| 75 | 18.8 |
| 100 or more | 20.0 |
Profile
The profile carries 10 points, split evenly across five items worth 2 points each:
- a phone number
- a website
- a named brokerage
- a license number
- a confirmed Google profile, or reviews on two or more sites
Each one is something a client can use to identify or contact the agent. A profile with four of the five items is at 80% and earns 8 points.
The minimums for recognition
A high score alone is not enough. To be recognized, an agent must meet all three minimums:
- a combined rating of at least 4.0
- at least 5 reviews across all sites
- an Agent Score of at least 70
The minimums work together. An agent with a perfect 5.0 from four reviews and a complete profile would score 87.0, which is well above 70, but would not qualify, because four reviews is below the minimum of five. An agent with a 4.6 from 12 reviews and a 60% profile would score 81.5 and would qualify.
A worked example with the sample profile
Our sample profile shows a fictional agent, Avery Collins, in Austin, Texas. It exists so that anyone can see how a profile and a score look without naming a real agent. Here are the sample's review numbers.
| Site | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Zillow | 4.9 | 112 |
| Realtor.com | 4.8 | 37 |
| 4.8 | 64 | |
| Combined | 4.9 | 213 |
Here is the calculation, step by step.
- Combine the ratings. Zillow contributes 4.9 times 112, which is 548.8. Realtor.com contributes 4.8 times 37, which is 177.6. Google contributes 4.8 times 64, which is 307.2. The total is 1,033.6. Divided by 213 reviews, that is about 4.85, which rounds to 4.9.
- Rating points. 4.9 divided by 5, times 70, is 68.6 points.
- Review points. 213 reviews is more than 100, so review volume earns the full 20.0 points.
- Profile points. The sample profile lists a phone number, a named brokerage, a license number and reviews on three sites, but no website. That is four of five items, or 80%, which earns 8.0 points.
- Total. 68.6 plus 20.0 plus 8.0 equals an Agent Score of 96.6.
The sample clears all three minimums. Two small changes show how the formula responds. Adding a website would bring the profile to 100% and the score to 98.6. If the combined rating had rounded to 4.8 instead of 4.9, rating points would fall to 67.2 and the score to 95.2. You can try your own numbers in the calculator on the methodology page.
Where the numbers come from
Google ratings and review counts are read automatically. Zillow and Realtor.com numbers are read by a person from the agent's public profile link. Every number is saved with the date it was read and shown with that date, so anyone can compare it with the live profile. Reviews keep arriving, so a dated number is more honest than one presented as permanent.
Agent Recognition USA records ratings and review counts. It does not store the text of reviews.
What the score does not do
- It cannot be bought. Recognition is free. Optional paid kits, Agent Kit and Agent Pro, add the agent's photo and description to their profile, social posts with their photo, a certificate, badges and an open house sign. A kit never changes a score. Details are on the pricing page.
- It is not an official credential. Agent Recognition USA is not affiliated with any government agency, real estate association, board or MLS, and it is not affiliated with Google, Zillow or Realtor.com.
- It is not a license check. The score is built from public reviews and profile details. Buyers and sellers should still confirm an agent's license with the state regulator, as described in our guide on how to choose a real estate agent.
- It does not judge the words in reviews. The score uses ratings and counts, not the content of individual reviews.
Like any review-based measure, the score reflects the clients who chose to write a review. That is one reason the minimums require at least five reviews, and one reason the volume curve gives credit for a longer record.
How agents can check and improve their score
Agents can see where they stand with the free Agent Score check, and the how it works page explains the five steps from submission to a public profile. The legitimate ways to raise a score are the same things that make an agent easier to choose:
- Ask every client for an honest review after closing. Our guide on getting more Zillow reviews covers timing, wording and the rules.
- Complete the five profile items, especially a website and a license number if they are missing.
- Keep your Google profile accurate and verified, as described in our Google Business Profile checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an agent pay to raise their Agent Score?
No. Recognition is free and cannot be bought. The optional Agent Kit and Agent Pro add marketing materials such as a photo, description, certificate and badges, and they never change a score.
Why does Zillow count more than Google for some agents?
Because each site counts in proportion to its number of reviews. If an agent has 112 reviews on Zillow and 64 on Google, Zillow carries more weight in the combined rating. Every review counts equally, whichever site it was written on.
Why does the score use a logarithm for review volume?
The first reviews say the most about an agent, and each additional review says a little less. The logarithmic curve reflects that, gives full points at 100 reviews, and keeps very large teams from winning on volume alone.
Does Agent Recognition USA store or publish review text?
No. Agent Recognition USA records ratings and review counts with the date they were read. It does not store the text of reviews.
Is Agent Recognition USA connected to Zillow, Google, Realtor.com or a real estate association?
No. Agent Recognition USA is a private, independent program run by Bold Latitude LLC. It is not affiliated with any government agency, real estate association, board or MLS, or with Google, Zillow or Realtor.com.
This article is general information and is not legal advice.
