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Quit Bitching About Zillow!

By
Real Estate Technology with Home Value Leads

Quit Bitching About ZillowI wrote this article over on the Home Value Lead's blog some time ago, but recent exchanges on social media channels have made it evident that nobody has learned. Zillow is destroying you - and it is your fault

I will preface this post now by saying this will not be politically correct and will include some colorful language. If you don't like that, you should probably click the back or close button now. I will also add in that this is not targeted at people who use or don't use Zillow, and finally this is not an "Us vs Them" article. I really don't care what you think about Zillow, Trulia and the rest. This article is directed at all of you who are pissing and moaning about how Zillow is perverting the real estate industry, yet you don't seem to do a damn thing about it. Zillow is destroying you - and it is your own fault.

Perhaps the word destroy is a bit over dramatic, but Zillow's rise to fame and popularity and your resulting headaches and frustrations are your own fault. Instead of doing something about it, you are going on Facebook, Twitter, and Active Rain whining about having to buy your own leads back from them. You know what cupcake? Suck it up. Either be an agent of change or an agent of adaptation, but Zillow and the rest of those sites are here to stay.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door." This was back in 1889 and, by the looks of it, this is around the same time that your website was designed. Sad as it is, the only internet presence out there for 90% of agents is on a company website, Facebook or Twitter. Does this sound like you? And there you sit, day after day, complaining that Zillow is using your listings and selling the leads to another agent. I know doing nothing but griping on Facebook is a popular political strategy, but didn't realized that it could help you grow and expand your business too.

Why would any consumer ever want to use Zillow? They have outdated information, inaccurate valuations, and are nothing but an advertising portal. But consumers don't see that. Consumers see a user-friendly interface. Consumers see a site that is mobile optimized. Consumers see a pretty cool mobile app. They DON'T see that the site is outdated because it doesn't LOOK outdated (like yours probably does). They don't see inaccurate valuations until YOU come along and tell them it is inaccurate. And they don't see it as an advertising portal because THEY are getting what THEY want and need. In short, Zillow has built a better mousetrap and the world is beating a path to their door. That better mousetrap may be a wolf in sheep's clothing (how many more cliches can I fit in this article?), but for the consumer it is the better mousetrap. And it pisses you off. But what exactly are you doing about it? Oh yeah, whining on Facebook and Active Rain. Yeah, that should get a lot accomplished.

Quit The Bitchin' and Start The Fixin'. Maybe instead of griping about what you need, you can start providing what the consumer needs. Instead of complaining about what you want, you can give the client what they want. Instead of going on Facebook and making a list of your demands, maybe you should ask your friends what their demands are (ever heard of Hear It Direct? Check it out.).

AND THEN DO SOMETHING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. Start with replacing your aged company-provided website with something that looks like it was built during this decade. Become active in your MLS, local, state, and national associations and push for a public-facing portal that is functional and user friendly. Have your broker pool the resources of the office and design something that consumers will actually like and use. Make the decision to stop syndicating your listings to Zillow. Be the David to Zillow's Goliath. Be an agent of change and maybe something will actually change.

Change starts with action, not complaining. Either break out the checkbook and make some changes, or give your credit card to Zillow and buy another zip code.

Agree? Disagree? Comment below.

Posted by

Brian Rayl

Licensed Dallas Real Estate Agent 

Co-Founder of Home Value Leads

What is Home Value Leads?

Seller Lead Generation Tool

Comments (9)

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

This is the wording in my e-mail signature that provides my firm's web site so that when I get inquiries from these "migration" sites, I direct them off of those sites and directly onto my site...calling them what they ARE = MIGRATION sites is the FIRST step in the process...IMHO!

 

NOTE to ZILLOW, TRULIA & HotPads users....these are migration sites for listings placed on OUR web site...you should click on the above link, find the property you are interested in under PREVIEW OUR LISTINGS and use the Contact/Inquire option on the listing for additional information.

Jul 15, 2014 07:36 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

The nature of the beast, it's so much easier to bitch and complain about others not doing something to fix it Brian.

Jul 15, 2014 08:55 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

The "original sin" occured many years ago when the NAR decided to sell (us out)  syndication.  That was a long time ago, but it was when listing brokers lost control of their listings.

No need to whine today.  It's all over.

Jul 15, 2014 09:41 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

But, but, but...it is so much easier to whine and complain.  Doing something might mean..work.  Needless to say, I agree with you. 

Jul 15, 2014 10:26 PM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

In this business EVERYONE is trying to kill you.  It will be interesting to see what Zillow looks like in five years.

Jul 16, 2014 12:24 AM
EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD
LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL
Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Brian, very interesting and informative post, I like that "Change starts with action, not complaining."   Thank you for a great post, I need it.

Jul 16, 2014 08:19 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I can remember the day when Realtors were professionals who simply put ads in papers, held a few open houses, created flyers, and other endeavors to sell a home or aid homebuyers.  Now it seems, we are needing to become techno wizzards so we can build websites and become social media gurus.  It's kind of good thing, that I enjoy it!  As for Zillow. . .Don't get me started!

Jul 16, 2014 05:53 PM
Raul Rodriguez
Covenant Partners Realty - San Antonio, TX
Looking out for the client's interest and not my p

REAL ESTATE IS LIKE, YOU WANT TO PLAY...YOU GOTTA PAY!

Jul 16, 2014 10:31 PM
Brian Rayl
Home Value Leads - Highland Park, TX
Active Agent and Co-founder Of Home Value Leads

Wallace: That is a great idea, but most agents don't have an effective website that is mobile optimized to make that an effective strategy. Yet they wonder why people go to Zillow and not their site. 

Roger: **sigh** how well I know. 

Lenn: There are steps that you can take to mitigate the damage, but nothing will ever take us back to the "olden days." 

Susan: Yes, it is easier. What is easy isn't always right, and what is right isn't always easy. 

Doug: That would be interesting indeed. 

Emilia: Glad I could help! Nothing ever changes if you don't start. 

Myrl: The internet revolution has passed many agents by, but if you are going to be successful in this business over the next 5 to 10 years, agents will definitely have to get with the revolution or move to the retirement center. 

Paul: No, you don't have to pay to play. But don't gripe about things if you aren't going to work on fixing them. I can gripe all day long that my yard isn't mowed... I can gaurentee that tomorrow, it will still need to be mowed :)

Jul 18, 2014 01:41 PM