We are hearing lots of stories where Google is suspending Google Business Profiles for real estate agents working for eXp Realty. In this Google support thread, this individual was told by Google that “our guidelines currently restrict us from working with cloud-based brokerage models”.
Sherry Bonelli, a Google Business product expert, chimed in and said “I have heard from several people that Google has said this about eXp”. Another product expert, Amy Toman, also stated she is hearing about it from clients.
Why is eXp Realty Not Eligible for Google Business Profiles?
So what exactly is it about eXp realtors that is making them not eligible for Google Business Profiles. Well, according to Google’s AI, eXp is cloud-based and operates without physical offices.
Except, that’s not entirely true. eXp definitely has offices and lists tons on their website. Stefan Somborac told me you can even verify these exist on Street View (example here). So if a realtor actually worked from one of those offices and had customers showing up there, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be eligible for a profile. If the realtor doesn’t consistently work in the office and primarily works from home, they would be eligible for a profile as long as it was set up as a service area business as long as they see their clients face-to-face. If a business is completely virtual (like online counselling), it would not qualify.
According to this reddit thread, one eXp agent says they often meet their clients at a cafe. According to cases I have heard of, they all claim to meet customers in person.
Do you know an eXp realtor who has had their profile suspended recently? Tell us about it in the comments or tell us about it on our subreddit or forum.
