Zillow Professionals Directory Launch
Find a Real Estate Pro
At its launch, it already boasts 150k members in its directory- immediately rewarding agents that have helped to fill Zillow with valuable home buyer and seller resources.
If you’re just jumping in on Zillow, you’ll need to do some catch-up to get on the all stars list, but I think it’ll be worth the effort as Zillow’s popularity grows.
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This article published on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 at 10:50 pm | Contact the editor
Topics: News
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AGBeat Founder, Director: I’ve dedicated the past two decades to consumerism in and out of the real estate space. I help focus corporations on consumerism, consumer needs and trends, and what consumers find valuable. I hope you enjoy AG, and that you will reach out if I can help your company or association communicate it’s value.
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- AG- Weekly Roundup | national real estate opinion column - agentgenius.com:
[...] Zillow Professionals Directory Launch- Zillow launched a free directory this week, should you add your name to the list? Join the conversation! [...]
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
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Charlene Jimenez
Well, Benn I hate being called an “Other” but I guess I will have to sign on? With 150,000 some are going to grow old and not sell real estate in Florida:)
haha!
Some positive publicity for Zillow! Mostly I see issues with zEstimates when I see Zillow mentioned in an agent’s post!
I don’t bother with zillow. I posted on their message boards and it was totally hostile to agents. They had poor editing capacity for the spam and realized that contributing to zillow was feeding the monster. WHY do that? \ I haven’t used Zillow recently but my opinion of them a year ago was that they needed to clean up their act, knock it off with zestimates. Until they do I abstain.
Ruthmarie-
There are many agents who participate in Zillow discussions and find considerable value doing so. We have a large base of consumers (2/3 of which are buying or selling in the next 2 years), which means potential clients for agents to interact with. I’m not going to argue all contributors to Zillow Discussions have a positive view toward agents, because that would be false. But discussions is just reflecting real world conversations which are happening everyday offline. At least when they happen online, you have a voice in the conversation — I’d recommend engaging in those discussions rather than avoiding them.
We have made very considerable steps in the last year regarding editing and controlling spam. If the last time you checked Zillow was a year ago, please give it another shot and let me know what you think.
This was a great move on their part. It makes finding people a hecka lot easier than simply bumping into them in the discussions.
Ruthmarie – I have found Zestimates to be a good starting point in the conversation with potential clients.
Well, I think I’m going to give them a try…I’ve put off making the plunge, but I think you’ve convinced me; and maybe I’ll be more impressed now.
Two problems….
1. I want them to go to MY SITE not Zillow – why feed the enemy. Agents need to smarten up and STOP FEEDING THOSE THAT WOULD SNATCH THEIR BUSINESS. Stop feeding it – it dies..simple.
2. Zillow has been VERY irresponsible. It creates havoc in our area because neighborhoods turn on a dime. One block makes a huge difference and their zestimates are often miles away. People see a low Zestimate – and that’s IT – discussion over. They want a bargain because Zillow says they should have one. Zillow seems to have no concept of municipality borders which heavily impacts prices in my area. Their choice of comps would be laughable if it didn’t create such a mess for sellers. They are off by 20-30% sometimes. There was one house a few months ago that they priced at roughly $870k – its pending at $1,289,000 – but what’s 33%? HEY! It’s only money! They took the Zestimate off – I just checked but this probably delayed the sale and created havoc for the seller who has no recourse with Zillow.
They want to create Zestimates that this far off the mark – they need to assume some responsibility for their actions and be liable for what it does to the seller.
Ruthmarie: What I meant is that many times, when you’re going on a Listing Appointment, Sellers have already accessed Zillow, and printed out the Zestimates. It affords you a starting point of discussion with regards to price, and gives you a great springboard into the value/accuracy of your detailed CMA.
I have never considered Zillow an enemy. It’s one of several viable domains where I can upload my listings for free and gain some excellent exposure.
@Nancy I don’t see an issue in participating in the blogs and forum, but I’ve never endorsed zestimates. I just wanted to set that record straight.
Ben-
No love for Zestimates?
I also abstain from Zillow. We even wish our broker wouldn’t support them. Fortunately, few people mention them here. Probably because their zestimates are so screwy.
Rich, I would hate to go on a listing presentation and be forced to waste ANY time explaining how inaccurate Z is.
The word zestimates is like a stick of dynamite, you should change it to drew-stimates, or g-stimates…
I actually have to explain zestimates all the time. I usually work as a buyer’s agent and therein lies the problem…Once that bargain price bee is in the buyer’s bonnet – its very hard to get them to come down to earth. Further, no one addresses that OUTRAGEOUS 33% mistake they made on a prime piece of property. If I made a mistake like that I would cease to be in business.
Drew – I’ve looked and can’t find a way to subscribe to Q&A or the forums. Is there a way?
Hey Vicki. You currently can’t currently subscribe to discussions or Q&A, but funny that you should ask… my team’s working on those features, along with some other big changes, and you should see them by the end of November. Stay tuned!
I noticed it yesterday and checked, since I came up number one, I like it!!!
I’ve been on and off Zillow since it started. Like most other real estate sites, it is what it is and the information provided takes a licensee to interpret and explain. I look at it as free advertising for me.
Agents that use Zillow to connect and educate posters are well treated and very much appreciated on the boards. In fact, that is how I found my last agent in Phoenix. On the other hand, agents that are condescending to posters or there to spew the NAR party line will find the board very hostile. If you aren’t more professional and better read than your average Zillow board member, maybe you should abstain and stick to Trulia. Zillow’s easy to use format should be a starting place for realtors to educate clients not the end of the conversation. Zillow has much more available to consumers other than the Zestimate, but agents who fear educated clients continue to bash the Zestimate instead of embracing a cooperative effort to find the client the best match available. Zillow is one tool available to find the buyer the perfect match.