Zillow is a great place for consumers who are looking to find a home, especially in the beginning of their searches.  It allows them to find out information about homes and a puts range pricing at their finger tips.  It is an important key to the consumers search, since 80% of the buyers start their home searches on the internet and they start out as much as 7 month before they are ready to purchase a home. (Although I have sold homes when buyers don't really think they are ready but happen by the perfect home and become ready much sooner then they would have thought).

I have found that if they are looking in a specific area, they can search for homes by address and/or area.  As an agent it allows me another place to advertise my sellers' homes, add pictures and information about the condition of the homes that might not be possible because of the limitation and restriction on the MLS.  It is a user friendly web site.  It keeps me aware of the fact that the consumer of today does their own searches and has a lot of information before they reach me.  It reminds me that I have to stay up with all current information so that I can provide value for my services to my buyers.  It doesn't replace the eyes and knowledge of a professional realtor, but it puts the consumer a step above those who don't get as involved with their choice of the home they are purchasing.  

It also gives a link to the realtors' web site, so that the buyer can contact the agent.  And possibly before that contact they can view other information that the realtor has available for them.  It gives them the opportunity by visiting the web site, to know a little bit about the type of information that the realtor has to offer the clients in a non-threaten forum.

Thank you Zillow for providing this information to the public.