One embodiment of online systems for matching consumers and real estate professionals relates to collecting consumer information from a consumer and service provider information from a plurality of service providers through an internet-based interface and mediating an exchange of at least a portion of the information between the consumers and service providers. Some embodiments relate to controlling the anonymity of the consumer to minimize the pulling of credit scores, to matching consumers to local service providers, and providing interfaces to facilitate tight turnarounds between the time a quote is requested and the time a bid or quote is received.