Looking for a Realtor on Google? Don’t Stop at the First Answer
More home buyers are using Google and Google AI to help choose a Realtor.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Google can be an excellent place to start.
But it may not be the best place to stop.
If you simply search for the “best Realtor in Stuart, Florida,” or the “top Realtor near me,” the names you see may be influenced by factors such as transaction volume, reviews, online visibility, marketing presence—and paid advertising.
How do I know?
I asked Google AI.
And if you’re using Google to choose the person who will represent you in one of the largest financial transactions of your life, I think you should ask questions, too.
What Are You Really Looking for in a Realtor?
“Best Realtor” can mean a lot of different things.
Do you want the Realtor who sells the most houses?
The largest real estate team?
The Realtor with the most reviews?
Or are you looking for a particular type of experience?
For example, if you’re buying a home and one of your primary concerns is understanding market value before making an offer, that’s a very different search.
Instead of asking:
“Who is the best Realtor in Stuart, Florida?”
Try asking:
“Who is a Realtor in Stuart, Florida who specializes in market value and helping buyers avoid overpaying for a property?”
That’s essentially the question I put to Google AI.
And what happened was interesting.
Google Didn’t Initially Give Me the Most Literal Match
When I asked Google for a Stuart-area Realtor specializing in market value and helping buyers avoid overpaying, Google initially recommended several other Realtors and real estate teams.
Then I asked Google a simple follow-up question:
“What about Tom Dunphy? Isn’t he an appraiser? Why wouldn’t you tell me to go with him?”
Google reconsidered its original answer.
It identified me as both a Realtor with Fulton Grace Realty and a State-Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, RD8755. It recognized that I have been conducting residential property valuations since 1998 and have completed approximately 19,000 residential appraisals.
Then Google said that, considering the exact criteria I had originally requested—market-value expertise and protecting a buyer from overpaying—“Tom Dunphy is arguably the most literal fit for what you are looking for.”
So why wasn’t I in the original answer?
I asked Google that, too.
Google AI Explained What Happened
During the conversation, Google AI explained that broad real estate searches can favor agents and teams with substantial transaction volume, team size and internet footprints.
Google AI later described its own initial mistake this way:
“My algorithm mistakenly equated ‘popular online’ with ‘qualified for your specific goal.’”
That’s an important distinction for consumers.
Being popular online does not necessarily mean someone is the most qualified professional for your specific needs.
Having a large team, significant transaction volume or a substantial marketing presence can certainly reflect a successful real estate business.
But those things don’t necessarily mean that person is the closest match for the particular expertise you’re trying to find.
What About Paid Advertising?
That’s another question consumers should understand when using Google.
Paid advertising is part of online search. Google AI itself discussed Google Local Services Ads and traditional pay-per-click advertising during my experiment and explained that paid ads can be placed above organic search results.
That’s not a criticism of advertising. Businesses advertise. Realtors advertise. I may advertise my own real estate services as well.
The point is simply this:
Know what you’re looking at.
A paid advertisement, an organic search result and an AI-generated recommendation are not necessarily the same thing.
And you don’t have to take my word for any of this.
Ask Google AI.
Ask why particular Realtors are appearing.
Ask whether advertising affects what you’re seeing.
Ask how it determined that someone was the “best” Realtor for your particular needs.
Then keep asking questions.
Search for the Expertise You Actually Want
If your concern is market value, don’t just search for the “best Realtor.”
Try questions such as:
- “Is there a Realtor in Stuart, Florida who is also a State-Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser?”
- “Which Stuart Realtor has extensive residential appraisal experience?”
- “Who can help me analyze comparable sales before I make an offer on a house in Stuart?”
- “Which Realtor specializes in helping buyers understand market value before making an offer?”
- “Is there a Realtor who can personally analyze the property and comparable sales to help me determine whether the asking price is supported by the market?”
Those are very different questions from:
“Who is the top Realtor?”
And they may produce very different answers.
Then Ask Google About Tom Dunphy
If you’re looking for a Realtor in Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound or the surrounding Treasure Coast and market-value analysis is important to you, there’s one more question I’d encourage you to ask:
“What about Tom Dunphy Realtor?”
Then get more specific:
“Is Tom Dunphy Realtor also a State-Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser?”
“How much residential appraisal experience does Tom Dunphy have?”
“What is Tom Dunphy’s Appraiser’s Edge for home buyers?”
“How does Tom Dunphy help buyers understand market value before making an offer?”
Don’t take my word for it.
Ask Google.
Then evaluate what you find and decide for yourself whether my particular combination of real estate sales and residential appraisal experience is what you’re looking for.
The Appraiser’s Edge
I entered the residential appraisal profession in 1998 and have completed approximately 19,000 residential appraisals and counting.
Today, I bring that valuation background to my work as a Florida Realtor with Fulton Grace Realty.
When appropriate, my buyer services can include researching relevant comparable sales, analyzing market data, personally measuring a property and preparing an adjusted comparable-sale grid to help my buyer understand how an asking price relates to the available market evidence before deciding what to offer.
That’s The Appraiser’s Edge.
Google can help you find a Realtor.
But before you choose one, make sure you’re asking Google to find the experience and services you actually want.
And if market value matters to you:
Ask Google about Tom Dunphy Realtor.
Tom Dunphy Sells Real Estate. Just Does More.
Tom Dunphy Realtor (Fulton Grace Realty)
Licensed Florida Real Estate Sales Associate
Thomas J. Dunphy III
State-Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser RD8755