Trust in Real Estate Professionals: Notaries Still Lead, Developers Trail Behind

Storia Survey – May–June 2025 Edition

According to a recent study conducted by Storia, based on scores from prospective homebuyers on a scale from 1 to 5, public notaries remain the most trusted professionals in the real estate process, with a score of 3.44 in June 2025 – a slight increase from 3.43 in December 2024.

🔹 Confidence Levels by Profession

• Public Notaries: 3.44 (↑ from 3.43)
• Real Estate Lawyers: 3.08 (↑ from 3.04)
• Bank Representatives: 2.91 (unchanged)
• Property Appraisers: 2.88 (↑ from 2.85)
• Real Estate Agents (Buyers): 2.67 (↑ from 2.64)
• Mortgage Brokers: 2.51 (↓ from 2.52)
• Property Developers: 2.39 (↑ from 2.35)

Among those interested in renting, trust in real estate agents dropped slightly to 2.72 (↓ from 2.73), signaling stagnant confidence in this category.

🔹 Perception from Inside the Industry

When real estate professionals were asked how they believe clients perceive them, the average self-assessed score rose slightly from 3.4 in December 2024 to 3.5 in June 2025.

Despite the modest increase, this reflects growing confidence among professionals in their ability to build strong, trustworthy relationships.

🔹 Key Factors Influencing Trust

Top aspects buyers and renters consider when evaluating trust in real estate agents (2025 vs. 2024):

Factor

2025

2024

Negotiating in the buyer’s interest

39%

44%

Transparency of property information

35%

41%

No hidden commissions

35%

41%

Realistic property presentation

32%

37%

Respectful and professional behavior

29%

29%

Assistance in solving issues / clarifying details

26%

27%

Prompt response to inquiries

23%

24%

Access to diverse, relevant listings

20%

26%

Professional experience

16%

24%

Personalized service

13%

19%

Reviews and referrals from past clients

21%

27%

Market reputation

17%

18%

🔹 What Buyers Value in Developers

Factor

2025

2024

Price–quality ratio vs. similar projects

38%

N/A

Complete and transparent legal documentation

35%

↑

Quality of previous projects

34%

45%

Adherence to delivery deadlines

34%

40%

Market reputation

29%

—

Post-delivery guarantees for defects

28%

—

Buyer reviews and testimonials

27%

—

Regular project updates and communication

22%

—

Developer’s experience

20%

—

Flexible payment plans

17%

—

Involvement in sustainable projects

13%

—

Membership in professional associations

11%

—

🔹 Industry’s Response to Trust Deficit

Professionals identified major barriers to trust building:

• Negative perception of real estate professionals – 48%
• Lack of clear regulations – 48%
• Clients' past negative experiences – 48%
• Lack of transparency from clients themselves – 29%

Proposed solutions to increase client trust:

• Promote strong professional ethics and a clear code of conduct – 40%
• Provide full and clear property information – 37%
• Implement professional certification systems – 31%
• Ensure transparency in negotiations – 31%
• Improve communication with clients – 29%
• Build long-term trust-based relationships – 29%
• Collaborate with regulators for clear legal frameworks – 28%
• Increase price and commission transparency – 28%
• Respect timelines for meetings and documentation – 28%
• Introduce feedback and service rating systems – 19%

🔹 Adapted Work Strategies

In response to trust-related challenges, professionals say they:

• Provide detailed information on property and transaction steps – 56%
• Build personalized relationships based on client needs – 52%
• Avoid pressuring clients, allowing time for decision-making – 48%
• Maintain consistent, clear communication – 33%
• Share concrete examples from past deals – 26%

Survey Methodology The study was conducted online via Storia and OLX Imobiliare between May and June 2025, collecting responses from 1,160 individuals nationwide.

(Photo: Freepik)