Eligibility
To be considered, an agent must:
- Hold an active Utah real estate license in good standing with the Utah Division of Real Estate.
- Have closed residential transactions in Utah during the research period.
- Be nominated by a client, a fellow industry professional, or themselves.
Nomination & submission
Nominations are open year-round. When a research cycle begins, each eligible agent receives a submission packet that includes:
- An agent questionnaire covering experience, service areas and specialties.
- A secure form to submit client references.
- Confirmation of the award categories they're eligible for.
Research components
Each agent's work is assessed using several independent sources:
Client feedback
References are surveyed on communication, market knowledge, negotiation and whether they would recommend the agent to a friend.
License & record review
We confirm license status and check for disciplinary history through public state records.
Transaction history
Recent closed sales are reviewed for volume, consistency and range of clients served.
Public reviews
Reviews across major platforms are read for patterns, not just star averages.
Confidentiality. Client references are kept strictly confidential. Individual responses are never shared with the agent or published.
Scoring
Research is combined into four category scores on a 10-point scale:
- Local knowledge — understanding of Utah neighborhoods, pricing and market conditions.
- Responsiveness — how quickly and clearly the agent communicates.
- Negotiation — outcomes achieved for clients on price and terms.
- Client feedback — overall satisfaction and willingness to recommend.
The four categories produce an overall score. The highest overall score in the state earns the #1 Utah Ranking.
Notification & public release
Ranked agents are notified privately by email before the rankings are released. The full rankings are then published on bestutahrealestateagents.com, with each award tied to its edition year.
Editorial integrity
No agent can pay to be ranked or to change their position. Every agent goes through the same process, and rankings are reviewed before publication.