Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, an HSF Affiliates LLC company, announced that the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate brokerage network ranked “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Repeat Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms” in a tie in the J.D. Power 2018 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction Study^SM.

The study, now in its 11th year, measured satisfaction with the nation’s largest real estate companies among customers in four segments: first-time buyers; repeat buyers; first-time sellers; and repeat sellers. Overall satisfaction was tracked on a 1,000-point scale across four factors of the home-buying experience: agent/salesperson; real estate company office; closing process; and variety of additional services.

Among repeat home buyers, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices scored 874 out of a possible 1,000 points, performing particularly well in the agent/sales person category among others. “Our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network represents top-quality service and representation across the U.S. and in Berlin, London and other parts of the world,” said Gino Blefari, CEO and president of the network.

“The ranking ‘highest for repeat home buyer satisfaction’ says a lot about our network agents and brokerages,” Blefari added. “In simple terms, clients experienced our network’s service and expertise, successfully navigated the real estate process, and returned for another transaction. Our network agents earn repeat business and that is the true mark of quality service.”

J.D. Power’s study yielded several key findings about the real estate process in general. Among them:

• Real estate agents play critical role of guiding customers through process: Among both buyers and sellers, overall satisfaction scores are roughly 100 points higher when agents provide timely responses to questions; keep customers informed of key points in the transaction; and share comparable properties.
• Strong customer satisfaction builds loyalty and advocacy: Across all customer segments, high levels of overall satisfaction with the firm is directly correlated with likelihood to use the firm again for a future transaction and recommend the firm to others.
• Reputation matters: A real estate firm’s reputation is the No. 1 or No. 2 reason for selecting a company, across all survey respondents.
• Social media plays major role: Nearly half (47%) of buyers and 55% of sellers indicate using social media to find agents, with the majority in each case saying they were “delighted” (overall satisfaction of 900 and higher) after doing so.

“The team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida is focused on exceeding client expectations – buyers and sellers alike,” explained Hunter Harman, broker/co-owner. “Exceptional service contributes to the high scores our network achieved in the important agent/sales person category, and the loyalty and advocacy typically shown toward our brokerage and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices received the highest score among repeat home buyers in a tie in the J.D. Power 2018 Home Buyer/Seller Study of customers’ satisfaction with their real estate firm. Visit jdpower.com/awards.