Real Estate Agent Profile Challenges
Real estate agents face unique challenges with Google Business Profiles. The nature of the industry—working from homes, showing properties at various locations, and having temporary office arrangements—creates numerous compliance issues that can lead to suspensions.
Understanding the specific rules for real estate professionals and how to maintain compliant profiles is essential for maintaining your online visibility.
Common Suspension Reasons for Real Estate Agents
Home-Based Business Issues
Many real estate agents work from home offices, which creates complications:
- Using your home address when you meet clients at properties (not at home)
- Listing a home address that isn't visible with proper signage
- Service area confusion (SAB vs. physical location)
- Residential addresses that don't appear to be business locations
Brokerage vs. Individual Agent Confusion
Google has specific rules about when individual agents can have profiles:
- Agents working under a brokerage may not be eligible for separate profiles
- Must have a distinct public-facing entrance and signage
- Can't simply be a desk at a brokerage office
- Team profiles face additional scrutiny
Multiple Locations and Virtual Offices
Real estate agents often have complex location situations:
- Using the brokerage's address without having a distinct office there
- Virtual offices or co-working spaces
- Multiple profiles for different service areas
- Temporary or shared office arrangements
Business Name Violations
Real estate professionals commonly violate business name policies:
- Adding keywords: "John Smith Real Estate Services"
- Including specialties: "John Smith - Luxury Homes Expert"
- Adding location information: "John Smith Realtor - Downtown Chicago"
- Team names without proper business registration
Service Area Definition Problems
Confusion about service areas is common:
- Listing as SAB when you should be physical location
- Overly broad service areas that appear spammy
- Multiple profiles covering overlapping service areas
- Claiming service areas where you're not actually licensed
Eligibility Requirements for Real Estate Agents
Physical Location Requirements
To have a Google Business Profile as a real estate agent, you need:
- A physical location where you regularly meet clients face-to-face
- Clear signage visible from the street identifying your business
- Business hours during which clients can visit
- A staffed location during stated business hours
If you don't meet these requirements, you should be listed as a service area business (SAB).
Service Area Business (SAB) Criteria
You should set up as SAB if you:
- Work from home but meet clients at properties or coffee shops
- Don't have a physical office with signage
- Travel to clients rather than having them come to you
- Share space without your own distinct entrance and signage
When Individual Agents Can Have Profiles
Individual agents are eligible for separate profiles only if they:
- Have a physical office location distinct from the brokerage
- Have their own entrance and signage
- Operate their business under their own business name (registered)
- Meet clients face-to-face at their office location
Setting Up Compliant Real Estate Profiles
Proper Business Name Format
Use only your legal business name or DBA:
- ✅ CORRECT: "Smith Real Estate"
- ✅ CORRECT: "John Smith" (if that's your registered business name)
- ❌ WRONG: "John Smith Real Estate Agent"
- ❌ WRONG: "Smith Realty Services - Luxury Homes"
- ❌ WRONG: "John Smith Realtor Chicago"
Category Selection
Choose the most specific relevant category:
- Primary: "Real estate agent" or "Real estate agency"
- Secondary categories that apply: "Real estate appraiser", "Real estate consultant", "Commercial real estate agency"
- Don't add unrelated categories to appear in more searches
Address and Service Area
Configure your location correctly:
If you have a physical office:
- Show your address
- Add clear photos of your signage
- List specific office hours
- Include interior photos of your office
If you're service area based:
- Hide your address
- Define specific service areas where you're licensed and active
- Show your service area radius or specific cities
- Don't claim overly broad areas
Description Best Practices
Write a compliant description:
- Focus on your services and expertise
- Mention your brokerage if required by your agreement
- Include years of experience and specialties
- Don't stuff keywords or repeat your business name
- Keep it natural and informative
Common Mistakes That Lead to Suspension
Multiple Profiles for Same Agent
Creating multiple profiles is a violation:
- One profile per real estate agent/business
- Don't create separate profiles for different neighborhoods
- Don't have both brokerage and agent profile at same address
- Consolidate duplicate profiles if they exist
Misleading Location Information
Being dishonest about your location causes suspensions:
- Using brokerage address when you don't actually work from there
- Virtual office with no real business presence
- Home address without meeting SAB requirements
- Addresses where you have no legitimate business operation
Review Manipulation
Real estate agents sometimes get suspended for review issues:
- Asking clients to leave reviews immediately after closing
- Incentivizing reviews
- Having family/friends leave fake reviews
- Responding to reviews with offers or incentives
Reinstatement Process for Real Estate Agents
Documentation You'll Need
Prepare comprehensive documentation:
- Real estate license (current and active)
- Business registration or DBA certificate
- Proof of office location:
- Lease agreement or property deed
- Utility bills in business name
- Photos of exterior signage
- Photos of interior office space
- Photos of your dedicated workspace with your name/branding
- Brokerage authorization letter (if working under a brokerage)
The Appeal Strategy
When appealing, be clear about your business structure:
- Explain your setup: Clearly describe whether you're independent or work under a brokerage
- Provide location proof: Show you have a legitimate physical location or qualify as SAB
- Demonstrate compliance: Show your profile follows all Google guidelines
- Include credentials: Attach your license and registration documents
- Show signage: Provide photos proving physical presence
Common Reinstatement Challenges
Real estate agents often face these obstacles:
- Proving legitimate physical location when sharing space with brokerage
- Demonstrating distinct business presence
- Showing you meet clients face-to-face at your location
- Providing adequate signage documentation
Prevention Tips for Real Estate Professionals
Regular Profile Maintenance
Keep your profile accurate and compliant:
- Update your license status immediately if it changes
- Keep business hours current
- Ensure address information is accurate
- Remove any unauthorized keyword additions
- Keep photos current and professional
Proper Client Communication
Manage reviews appropriately:
- Don't solicit reviews immediately after transactions
- Never offer incentives for reviews
- Don't ask clients to leave reviews from review stations at your office
- Let reviews happen naturally
- Respond professionally to all reviews
Documentation Management
Keep documents current:
- Active real estate license
- Current lease or ownership documents
- Updated business registration
- Photos of signage (update if signage changes)
- Utility bills or other location proof
Stay Informed on Policy Changes
Google's policies evolve:
- Regularly review Google Business Profile guidelines
- Stay updated on real estate-specific requirements
- Join real estate professional forums discussing GBP issues
- Follow Google Business Profile updates
- Consult with compliance experts when unsure
Working Under a Brokerage
Special Considerations
If you work under a brokerage, additional rules apply:
- Check with your brokerage about their GBP policies
- Ensure you're not violating brokerage agreements
- Verify you meet the requirements for a separate profile
- Get authorization letter from broker if needed for reinstatement
- Consider whether having your own profile is worth the compliance challenges
Brokerage Profile vs. Agent Profile
Understand the difference:
- Brokerage profiles represent the main office
- Agent profiles are only for agents with distinct physical offices
- Most agents should be listed on the brokerage's profile, not separately
- Having both at the same address is usually a violation
Conclusion
Real estate agents can maintain successful Google Business Profiles by understanding and following Google's eligibility requirements, properly configuring their profiles as either physical locations or service area businesses, and avoiding common violations around business names and multiple profiles.
If you're unsure whether your real estate profile is compliant, run our free diagnostic tool to identify potential issues. For professional help with suspended profiles, check out our Reinstatement Review service.
Remember: It's better to have no profile than a non-compliant one that gets suspended and potentially impacts your professional reputation.