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Does Zillow Suck Or Is It Me?

By Kasey Kase

Services for Real Estate Pros with API Network

October 10, 2007 12:34 AM

I'm working on a project for an agent to pull some data to help automate/enhance their CMA process. I wanted to learn what I could so I posted on a few real estate forums and was told to try Zillow.

In case you don't know, Zillow.com is an online real estate service company which launched in February 2006. It was founded by a pair of former Microsoft executives (same guys that did Expedia) Zillow was created to provide home value estimates.

So, I go to have a look, and while the site is Expedia-class in the design, I can't seem to get any data from their 70 MILLION + inventory of homes. I tried searching for homes in a number of posh neighborhoods and this is the most common result:

Sorry - can't find any data?

I'm guessing Zillow is for people that don't know any better. Am I missing something?

(This is more what I was looking for, but for Michigan)

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Kathy Stanavitch

RARITAN BAY REALTY LLC - Freehold, NJ

REAL ESTATE, CERTIFIED SHORT REO LUXURY HOMES

It sure does, I thought it was great when I first tried it but since then I have been left on an address in Delaware.

I am in New Jersey and can't get that address off! I thought it would be an added attraction for my website. I have just joined this and I don't believe how popular it is.

Oct 10, 2007 12:37 AM

Scott Daniels Florida Real Estate 2.0. Agents Earn 100% Commission.

Florida List For Less Realty, Inc. Broker/Owner. - Cooper City, FL

Want a good laugh?

Go to the Zillow.com discussion boards...

It`s a scream...

Oct 10, 2007 12:42 AM

Bill Gassett

RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA

Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Kasey - in terms of evaluating properties zillow does a very poor job. It is very innacurate both high and low on various homes. I have not done any searching as you mentioned but that would get real annoying. Zillow does have some value as a listing agent in terms of enhancing your listing with photos, descriptions, ect....it is a highly traveled site.

Oct 10, 2007 12:43 AM

Richard Dmochowski

ERA Hemlock Sales Agency - Lords Valley, PA

ABR, CRS, e-Pro, SRES

It doesnt seem to work where I live in Pike County PA, something to do with GPS. Its never worked at all here.

Oct 10, 2007 12:44 AM

Charlie Ragonesi

AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA

Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

The product has tons of issues. I guess they did not use realtors in the design but figured like evrybody else they know more than we do

Oct 10, 2007 12:47 AM

Christopher Pike, 803.727.7800

Keller Williams® Realty - Columbia, SC

E.Kasey,

I think that Zillow over prices property, too. At least in my area and when I lived in FL.

Oct 10, 2007 12:48 AM

Danielle V. Lewis

DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY

DDR Realty

You are lucky that's the message you get. Zillow is a complete hazard and disgrace, and makes it harder to work with clients who think it's educated them.

Oct 10, 2007 12:56 AM

Sam Miller

RE/MAX Stars Realty - Howard, OH

Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist

Yes, Zillow does suck and they suck in a big way. They certainly give the consumer an uneducated view of a property value which and this is truly not helpful for anyone.

Oct 10, 2007 01:03 AM

Michael Mapes-Suntrust Mortgage

Sun Trust Mortgage - Newport News, VA

NO i do not think you are missing anything, sillow is not very friendly

Oct 10, 2007 01:04 AM

Mike Jaquish

Realty Arts - Cary, NC

919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

And for 25 points...............My whack at Zillow:

Your inclination is right. Zillow is Zillow.

Oct 10, 2007 01:10 AM

asdf zcxv

Keller Williams Realty - Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor Area Real Estate

So now we have to know about site which are inaccurate...but at least we can speak to it. Much better position than if we aren't aware of it!

Oct 10, 2007 01:20 AM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Expect to get a call from David, he moniters comments on Zillow.

Oct 10, 2007 01:41 AM

Karen Webster...Grand Rapids, MI Realtor

5 Star Real Estate, Grand Rapids MI - Grand Rapids, MI

I'll have to check it out. Sounds sucky to me. Thanks for the info.

Oct 10, 2007 02:17 AM

David Gibbons

Zillow.com - Seattle, WA

Hi Kasey, it's David from Zillow -

I'm sorry to hear about your sucky experience. The site is working fine - but the map component which is giving you an error can be sensitive to conflicts with other software you're running. To repair the problem, please see the FAQ that lists all known solutions to this problem - for most people, activating active-X or updating Yahoo! Instant Messenger seems to do the trick.

Let me know how it goes. If you're still battling, let me know and I'll have one of our customer support folks jump on the phone with you and troubleshoot the problem.

Kathy -

We "remember" the last address you searched. If you search for an address in NJ we'll stop showing you stuff in Deleware. As to the site's popularity; 4,4 million people used Zillow in August.

Charlie -

You should be happy to hear that we regularly have Realtors in our focus groups and have licensed agents and brokers on staff. Do you have more specific feedback or suggestions?

Missy - ;-)

Oct 10, 2007 03:06 AM

Kasey Kase

API Network - Mequon, WI

I'm not really a pirate

Hey David! Wow, thanks for the feedback! I did click the link that was shown in the above error message and it took me to a forum page where I found feedback from others. Down around posting 8 I found one that looked like something similar to what I was experiencing:

Getting Errors While Searching?
Are You seeing an Incorrect Year Built on your Home?
Recently Sold Information
FLASH Bug
Pictures
House mixup
How to remove listing?
Search Failed : Never found data

I viewed the last one and CoRinn3 said to clear cookies from the browser. That really didn't seem to make sense to me, but I did it anyway... same results. If your site is ActiveX dependent then maybe it's a Firefox issue as I (almost) never run IE (and never use Yahoo IM) I really do appreciate you taking the time to respond. Thanks again!

Oct 10, 2007 03:30 AM

David Gibbons

Zillow.com - Seattle, WA

Kasey -

I'm sorry, I meant to link you to this FAQ and will change the error message to also point there.

Zillow does work well with firefox (also my preference.)

If you've recently added anything that could block flash files - like spam and ad blockers and software based firewalls - please try disabling it and then searching Zillow again.

Oct 10, 2007 03:42 AM