How to use Emails to Systematically Request Reviews After Settlement. (Both Vendor and Buyer)

Why post-settlement reviews matter

Happy clients are your best marketing. Reviews build trust, lift your profile in local search, and help you win the next listing. The best time to ask is just after settlement when emotions are high and memories are fresh. A simple email system can make this easy and repeatable every time.

In this guide you will get ready to send email sequences that collect reviews from both the seller and the buyer. You will also see templates that you can copy and paste today.

Goals and where reviews should live

Aim for simple and clear goals.

• Target at least one public review for every settled property

• Ask both the seller and the buyer

• Collect private feedback when the public review is not ready

• Turn long testimonials into short quotes for your listing kit and website

Place reviews where they help most in Australia.

• Google Business Profile to help you rank in Maps and local search

• RateMyAgent to support listing presentations and awards

• Facebook Recommendations to reach the local community

• Website testimonials page for social proof

• Email signature highlights for daily visibility

Build your review system first

Set up the building blocks once. Then use them for every sale.

• Create a Review Hub page on your site with three buttons

  1. Leave a Google review

  2. Leave a RateMyAgent review

  3. Share private feedback

• Make one simple online form for private feedback

  • Name

  • Property address

  • Star rating

  • Short comment

• Add your direct Google review link

  • In Google Business Profile go to Ask for reviews and copy the short link

• Prepare a Reviews folder in your CRM with email templates for seller and buyer

• Add UTM tags to your links so you can see what works

• Decide your default sequence timing that you will use for every file

The proven timeline

Use this timing for both seller and buyer with small changes in wording.

• Settlement Day

  • Send a short congratulations email with a soft prompt

• Plus 3 Days

  • Send the main review request with direct links

• Plus 7 Days

  • Send a gentle reminder with one click button

• Plus 30 Days

  • Send a check in email and ask again if they did not review

• Plus 90 Days

  • Send a keep in touch email and invite a review if not yet done

If they leave a review at any step, stop the sequence and send a thank you.

Automation tips using common CRMs

Most real estate CRMs in Australia can do this.

• Trigger the sequence when the status changes to Settled

• Personalise with merge fields for first name and property address

• Send the seller and buyer streams at the same time or as needed

• If they rate four or five stars in the private form then show the public review links

• If they rate three stars or less then send the issue to your team and do not ask for a public review yet

Tools that can help

• Rex or Agentbox for templates and automations

• PropertyMe or Property Tree for property management handovers

• Zapier or Make to connect your private form to your CRM and email

Writing style that gets more reviews

Keep it short, warm and direct.

• Use a clear subject line with one idea

• Keep the body under 120 words

• Make one primary button link

• Add a human closing line and a real signature

• Avoid heavy design so it loads fast on phones

Subject lines that work

Use these and test your own.

• Thank you for trusting us with 12 James Street

• A quick favour from [Agent First Name]

• Two minutes to help the next family at 12 James Street

• Your thoughts on your sale at 12 James Street

• Did we earn five stars

Seller email templates

Copy and paste. Replace the fields in brackets.

Settlement Day soft prompt

Subject
Thank you and congratulations on 12 [Street Name]

Body
Hi [First Name]

Congratulations on settlement. Thank you for trusting us with your sale. It has been a pleasure helping you move to the next chapter.

If anything was less than perfect please reply and I will fix it. When you have a moment in the next few days I will send a simple link to share a review. It really helps local owners choose well.

Warm regards
[Agent Name]
[Mobile]
[Email]

Plus 3 Days main ask

Subject
A quick favour about your sale at 12 [Street Name]

Body
Hi [First Name]

I hope your first week post settlement has gone smoothly. Could you spare two minutes to share a short review of your experience with me

Your words help local owners feel confident when choosing an agent. Here is the easiest way.

Button
Leave a review

Backup links
Google review link
RateMyAgent review link

If there is anything we could have done better please use this private link. I read every response.

Button
Share private feedback

Thank you again for the opportunity.
[Agent Name]

Plus 7 Days reminder

Subject
Checking in on your review for 12 [Street Name]

Body
Hi [First Name]

A friendly reminder. Your review makes a big difference to my local results. Here is the one click link.

Button
Leave a review

Thank you
[Agent Name]

After review thank you

Subject
Thank you for your review

Body
Hi [First Name]

Thank you for your kind review. I am grateful. If I can help family or friends, I am here to assist.

Warm regards
[Agent Name]

Buyer email templates

Settlement Day welcome

Subject
Welcome to 12 [Street Name]

Body
Hi [First Name]

Congratulations on your new home. I hope settlement went smoothly. If you would like local trades or service contacts please ask. I am happy to share a list.

In a few days I will send a simple link to share a review of your purchase experience. It helps future buyers.

Warm regards
[Agent Name]

Plus 3 Days main ask

Subject
A quick favour from [Agent First Name]

Body
Hi [First Name]

I hope you are settling in well. Could you share a short review of your buying experience with me

Button
Leave a review

If we missed the mark please use this private link so I can fix it fast.

Button
Share private feedback

Thank you and enjoy the new home.
[Agent Name]

Plus 7 Days reminder

Subject
Your two minute review

Body
Hi [First Name]

When you have a moment here is the link again.

Button
Leave a review

Thank you
[Agent Name]

The private feedback path

Use a private route to protect your online pages and to learn.

• Send a one question survey with a star rating

• 1 to 3 stars

  • Call within 24 hours

  • Solve the issue

  • Do not ask for a public review

• 4 to 5 stars

  • Thank them

  • Show the Google and RateMyAgent links

  • Offer to copy their words across with permission

Legal and platform care in Australia

Keep it fair and compliant.

• Get consent to publish names or photos in your marketing

• Do not offer money or gifts in return for a positive review

• You may ask for honest reviews and you may ask both seller and buyer

• Keep records of consent and screenshots of reviews you republish

• If you edit for length on your website make sure the meaning does not change

• If a review is false or misleading, follow the platform process to report it

Add reviews to your marketing

Use the reviews you earn. Make them easy to see.

• Add the best three to your listing kit

• Add a carousel of quotes on your website suburb pages

• Add one quote to your email signature and rotate monthly

• Add a Review of the Month post on Facebook and Instagram

• Use reviews on your appraisal follow up emails

• Create a printed one page review sheet for open homes

In office checklist

Make this a habit for every file.

• Confirm seller and buyer emails before settlement

• Load the templates into your CRM and test once

• Tag both contacts with Sold 12 James Street

• Trigger the seller sequence and buyer sequence on Settlement Day

• Check the private feedback inbox daily

• Thank every reviewer within 24 hours

• Add new reviews to your website and listing kit each month

Tracking and targets

Simple numbers tell you what to improve.

• Review rate

  • Sellers reviewed divided by sellers asked

  • Buyers reviewed divided by buyers asked

• Star average for public reviews

• Private feedback average

• Time to first response on low ratings

• Source of review clicks by link

Good starting targets

• 60 percent of sellers leave a public review

• 30 percent of buyers leave a public review

• Star average of 4.7 or higher

• All issues called within one business day

Make it easy to say yes

Small touches lift response.

• Include a photo of you in the signature

• Use the client first name three times

• Keep one button only in the main ask

• Send from your name not a generic office inbox

• Send during daylight hours in the client time zone

• Add a calendar task for yourself to follow up by phone if they have not opened

Common problems and simple fixes

• Low opens

  • Shorten the subject line and send from your name

• Many clicks but few posted reviews

  • Reduce the number of links and keep one main button

• Great private feedback but no public reviews

  • Add a step that asks permission to share their words and then send the public link

• Negative review posted

  • Reply with care and facts

  • Offer a call to resolve

  • Invite them to update the review once fixed

Turn reviews into referrals

A happy client will often know someone who is thinking of selling.

• After a positive review ask a soft referral question

  • Example

    • Thank you for your review. If a friend mentions real estate this month I would love an introduction. I will take great care of them.

• Add the reviewer to your quarterly email with recent sales and suburb insights

• Send a first anniversary email to buyers with a simple check in and an invitation to review if they missed it

Your next step today

• Build your Review Hub page with three links

• Load the seller and buyer templates into your CRM

• Create the five step timeline and set the trigger on settlement

• Test the whole flow once by sending it to yourself

• Start with your last five sales and send the sequence now

Set the system once. Then every settlement becomes a chance to win the next listing.

Author Ken Hobson