Best-Rated Real Estate Agents for Buyers & Sellers

See Our Ratings Methodology.

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Most Satisfied Customers | McGrath

Aussies have rated McGrath as the top brand in Canstar Blue’s latest ratings for real estate agents for buyers & sellers, with five stars for communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, problem resolution, contract handling and overall satisfaction.

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How we rate real estate agents

Our review compares real estate agent chains on customer satisfaction, so you can find out what other Aussies think about the compared brands before you go ahead with a purchase. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your closest mates which real estate agent chain they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 1,179 Australians for their feedback on the services of a real estate agent(s) they’ve used in the last three years.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.


Respondents rate their satisfaction with their real estate agent chain(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a real estate agent chain as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Communication from agent: the real estate agent was prompt with replies, and was readily available to get in touch with.
  • Knowledge & advice from agent: the real estate agent could be counted on to understand the property market in general, as well as specific areas related to the property in question, and provide sound advice relevant to the situation.
  • Problem resolution: the real estate agent was able to outline and identify issues to both parties, communicate options and follow through with a solution.
  • Contract handling: the real estate agent could be counted on to communicate and pass on any updates or new contracts to both parties.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • McGrath
  • First National
  • Belle Property
  • Professionals
  • Elders
  • Barry Plant
  • Harcourts
  • LJ Hooker
  • Ray White
  • Raine & Horne

Find more detailed information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.


1. McGrath


McGrath Logo

Ratings result

McGrath was rated five stars across all categories, including communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, problem resolution, contract handling and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Founded in 1988, McGrath has over 100 office locations along the east coast of Australia, with the brand centered primarily around residential real estate properties, with dealings also available for rural and commercial properties depending on your needs. McGrath can also put you in touch with a home loan broker and home loan if you need help navigating those areas, with a number of articles also available online to help you get up to speed with the market and what to consider.

2. First National


First National Logo

Ratings result

First National was rated four stars for communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, contract handling, problem resolution and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Starting out in 1981 as a group in independent real estate agents coming together, First National has over 300 locations around Australian and New Zealand, with services catering to those looking to sell, buy, rent or get a property manager to help. It also offers services centred around rural properties along with commercial estates, with additional resources available online, including calculators and guides.

3. Belle Property


Belle Property Logo

Ratings result

Belle Property was rated four stars across all categories, including contract handling, problem resolution, knowledge & advice from agent, communication from agent and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

With over 160 offices in multiple states around Australia, Belle Property has been operating for over 20 years, with a full suite of services catering for buying and selling multiple property types, including residential, new developments, commercial areas as well as international liaisons. Allowing those in the market to search for local agents, along with guides and news available online, Belle Property looks to take care of multiple areas to help with your property needs.

4. Professionals


Professionals logo

Ratings result

Professionals was rated four stars for contract handling, problem resolution, communication from agent and overall satisfaction, with three stars for knowledge & advice from agent.

Editor’s notes

With a history that dates back to 1976, Professionals has offices around New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, with each Australian state and territory covered. Offering buying, selling, rental and investing needs, Professionals also offers a number of online guides to help you get a handle on the property market and what to expect, along with sales appraisals for when you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, in addition to finance calculators for when you’re looking to purchase.

Compare Cheap Electricity Plans

Looking to move house? Be sure to check out what electricity plans and providers are available in your area, including the ones below.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.

5. Elders


Elders Logo

Ratings result

Elders was rated four stars for communication from agent, problem resolution, contact handling and overall satisfaction, with three stars for knowledge & advice from agent.

Editor’s notes

A business that originally started out in the agribusiness sector, Elders is a staple in many industries in Australia, with its property arm primarily known within rural locations, although offers plenty of services for residential and commercial properties as well. With over 300 offices around Australia, Elders additionally offers a number of online materials to help you navigate the multiple processes of buying and selling your property, as well as the ability to search for a local agent.

6. Barry Plant


Barry Plant Logo

Ratings result

Barry Plant was rated four stars for problem resolution, with three stars for communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, contract handling and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Operating since 1979, Barry Plant currently has over 70 offices around Australia, with its network primarily based in Victoria. Offering services to help those looking to buy, sell, rent or have a property that needs to be managed, with residential, rural and commercial properties covered. Barry Plant additionally offers a number of online services, including rental application forms, appraisals, calculators, suburb profiles and conveyancing services to help you get a broader handle of the property market.

7. Harcourts


harcourts logo

Ratings result

Harcourts was rated three stars for all categories, including communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, problem resolution, contract handling and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Established in 1888 across the ditch in New Zealand, Harcourts currently operates within multiple countries, with reportedly over 900 offices worldwide. Harcourts offers a range of services, including those looking to buy, sell or rent property, along with specialised services for property management and commercial properties, in addition to a range of tools and resources to help you better understand the property market.

8. LJ Hooker


LJ Hooker Logo

Ratings result

LJ Hooker was rated three stars for contract handling, problem resolution, knowledge & advice from agent, communication from agent and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

One of the staples in the Australian property scene, LJ Hooker was established almost 100 years ago, and currently operates out of 400 offices around Australia, dealing with buying, selling, renting and investing multiple property types, from residential addresses through to rural properties. In addition to the traditional property services, LJ Hooker also has a subsidiary service that deals with conveyancing, helping you further on your purchasing journey.

9. Ray White


Ray White logo

Ratings result

Ray White was rated three stars for communication from agent, knowledge & advice from agent, problem resolution, contract handling and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

Established over 100 years ago in Queensland, Ray White has grown to be one of the largest real estate groups in Australia, with hundreds of offices located around the country. Dealing with residential, commercial and rural properties, along with breaking into areas such as hotels and insurance through partnerships and subsidiaries. You can also find local agents online, in addition to guides and other services to help with your property questions.

10. Raine & Horne


raine & horne logo

Ratings result

Raine & Horne was rated three stars for all categories, including contract handling, problem resolution, knowledge & advice from agent, communication from agent and overall satisfaction.

Editor’s notes

With humble beginnings in Sydney over 140 years ago, Raine & Horne offers plenty of traditional real estate services, from buying and selling through to rental and property management for residential, commercial and rural properties, in addition to holiday homes for those looking for that weekend getaway location. With offices in every state and territory in Australia, Raine & Horne also has some international locations, with its online services covering guides, news and the ability to find local agents to help you with your needs.

Other real estate agent chains

Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are several more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.

  • Buxton Real Estate
  • Century 21
  • Jellis Craig

  • PRD Nationwide
  • RE/MAX
  • Stockdale & Leggo

About our consumer experts


Dean Heckscher: Site Editor

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Site Editor, Dean Heckscher. He’s our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blue’s customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. He’s passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.

 

Meet the Editorial Team

 

Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist

Sam Howse Research Specialist

Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

 

Meet the Research Team

Past ratings

Here are the past winners from Canstar Blue’s real estate agents for buyers & sellers ratings:

  • 2022: Harcourts

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