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Richie Lewis | High Performance Culture in Real Estate

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The New Gatekeeper isn’t Google. It’s the Answer.

January 2, 2026

If you think “visibility” means a Facebook post, a signboard, and a boosted listing video…

You’re already late.

Because the next generation of sellers won’t scroll.
They’ll ask.

“Who’s the best agent in my area to sell my three-bed family home?”
“Who gets premium results in my suburb?”
“Who’s strong on auction?”
“Who has the best reviews?”

And they won’t get 50 options.

They’ll get a shortlist.

Sometimes three names.
Sometimes one.

If you’re not visible to AI, you don’t make the cut.

AI is the new Google

A national consumer survey conducted by Realtor.com found that 82% of respondents had used AI tools for real-estate related insights, with platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini leading usage.

Locally, we’re hearing this more and more.

Pay attention.

Because AI doesn’t invent answers.
It synthesises what already exists.

If your professional footprint is thin, inconsistent, or unclear, AI doesn’t “dig deeper.”
It plays it safe.

And safe means someone else.

Old marketing chases attention. AI visibility earns consideration.

Traditional marketing was about reach.

AI-driven discovery is about retrievability.

AI looks for estate agents it can confidently explain:

Who you are
Where you operate
What you specialise in
Why people trust you
Proof that backs it up

If that story isn’t obvious, structured, and verifiable, you won’t be recommended.

Not because you’re bad.
But because you’re invisible.

That’s the uncomfortable truth for agents clinging to old methods.

This is why “being good” is no longer enough

Plenty of excellent agents lose listings every year.
Not on performance.
On perception.

AI doesn’t know your intent.
It doesn’t know your work ethic.
It doesn’t know how hard you hustle behind the scenes.

It only knows what’s documented.

And documented agents win.

So, here are five things estate agents must do now to get on the AI radar…

1. Make your Google Business Profile non-negotiable

Every field completed.
Photos added regularly.
Services, areas, and updates kept current.

AI trusts consistency.
Sloppy profiles get ignored.

2. Build reviews that actually say something

Star ratings aren’t enough.

Encourage clients to mention:

suburb
property type
sales method
what you did that mattered

Those words become part of how AI understands you.

3. Create pages that answer specific questions

This, of course, assumes you have a personal website – which you should.

One page per suburb.
One page per specialty.

Clear language.
Real examples.
Testimonials embedded.

Make it easy for AI to say:
“This agent is known for X and Y.”

4. Earn third-party mentions

Local media.
Community organisations.
Industry commentary.
Podcasts.
Awards.

External validation has always carried more weight than self-promotion ever did, and that won’t change.

5. Remove ambiguity from your digital identity

Same name.
Same branding.
Same role.
Same headshot.

Link everything back to one clear home base. See point 3 above.

Confusion kills recommendations.

These recommendations aren’t hard to implement. It just takes intent and action.

The bottom line…

AI won’t replace high-performance estate agents.

But it will decide who gets seen.

And agents who delay adapting will inevitably lose business.

Not because they weren’t capable.

But because the future couldn’t find them.

Filed Under: Estate Agents, high performance, Owners, Skills Tagged With: high performance estate agent

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About

A former South Auckland emergency response sergeant, CIB investigator, and elite-level estate agent, Richie ‘s passion is performance culture in real estate.

2025 REINZ Manager of the Year, Richie plays a key leadership role in one of NZ’s most awarded real estate businesses – Ray White’s AT Realty Group – a team he is immensely proud to be a part of.

He has spoken in numerous forums, including Unitec, Ray White Connect and Trademe’s Annual Leaders Summit.

This platform is to share ideas and insights on culture, leadership and performance from a uniquely real estate perspective.

Note: I write from my own experience. The views shared here are mine alone and should not be taken as statements on behalf of my company.

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