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Dear Zillow,

By Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Shoreline New Hampshire & Maine

January 30, 2011 01:57 PM

Thank you so much for giving me added exposure for my listings at no additional cost to me.

However..............................do you really think putting a "Zestimate" (which by your own admission can be wrong by as much as 50%) that's over $46,000 below my list price is being helpful?

And what's up with putting the names AND contact info for 3 of my competitors beside my listing? In my hardly ever humble opinion this really sucks.

Zillow is not your friend

And another example. To whatever meager credit I can give them, my friend Judi Starliper is the listing agent on this property and she is included in the list of "buyers agent" to contact to see this listing.

If you're reading this you might want to see what's up with any listings your MLS may be sending to Zillow.

Image of a listing agent being screwed by Zillow

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Fathom Realty Group Inc.

Fathom Realty Group Inc - Orange, CA

Get Paid what your WORTH!

Jim nice BLOG. Yes I went in and signed on and manually changed the zestimate its real easy.

Jan 30, 2011 02:00 PM

Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS

RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH

Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Thanks Mike,

Did you change the agents that weren't you on your listing too?

And why should we have have to do that?

I don't know how you feel but that really frosts me big time.

Jan 30, 2011 02:16 PM

Anonymous

Vickie L Wyman

Jim,

I have recently had conversations with Zillow about this and other issues and the response was that we should want to claim our listings! Of Course it isn't free!!

Another issue is, depending on where Zillow pulls there feed from our listings show up more than once and never come down!

In regards to the other three agents well they pay to be there so unless I want to pay to be a neighborhood expert I am low on the list of preferred agents!

In my opinion Zillow fails miserably, however I have learned to use that to my advantage when meeting potential sellers by showing them real data.

Jan 30, 2011 02:36 PM

Kristal Kraft

Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO

Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022

Zillow acts like the agent who refers the same client to 5 different people. Got to cover all those bases in one swing.

Duh.

Jan 30, 2011 03:47 PM

Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS

RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH

Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

My main complaint is that Zillow advertises other agents on OUR listings.

Realtor.com is forbidden by their contract agreement with NAR to advertise competing agents on invidivual listings. This practice really makes me angry.

Jan 30, 2011 11:21 PM

Bernard Gibbons

RE/MAX Accord - San Ramon, CA

The English Agent

I don't think Zillow cares much about real estate agents' complaints. They seem to take a pretty high-handed approach to us, yet they constantly try to sell me advertising on Zillow.

I'm still not sure what their business model is. Are they making any money yet?

Bernard G

Jan 31, 2011 04:00 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hey Jim - sorry I'm late getting here, I just saw your post. There are times and locations where the Zestimate accuracy can be off to varied degrees and the folks at Zillow are very transparent about that, at least from what I've seen and witnessed. There is a Zestimate Value and Accuracy chart that is available on every page of Zillow that can be searched, printed, downloaded, or exported into excel for your future use.

One thing I have learned in the short time I've been with Zillow is that the Zestimate is just a starting point for the consumers and that the Agent and or Appraisers is where a consumer can get a "Zactimate!" (that's my new word for exact value) I'm sure you'll agree that without ALL the local facts available that determine the value of every single home, it would be nearly impossible for Zillow (or anyone) to be 100% accurate. (But I know we do keep trying!)

This is why Zillow ALWAYS recommends seeking the advice, experience, and knowledge of their local agent or appraiser to get more detailed information about the value of their home. We know that YOU can drive to the property to assist them where-as we cannot.

Regarding the Premier agents that show up on Zillow listings, every listing does show the listing agent but your screen shots are not displaying this. Here's a screen shot of one of the listings you mentioned in your post.

you just needed to scroll down the page a bit.

If the agent would simply create a profile (no cost) on Zillow, then they would appear on the sidebar as the listing agent. We can't force people nor do we want to force them to join the directory, but since 13 million visitors are coming to Zillow to research Real Estate in local markets all across the country every month, we rely on the Premier agents that are willing and able to work with buyers who might need a CMA or additional real estate or loan assistance.

Hope this helps my friend, you know my door is always open if you ever have any questions or need anything at all.

BTW - I noticed you do have a profile on Zillow but it's not showing any of your listings?? If you have some listings and want to get them added to your profile, just call me and I'll walk you through it when you have some spare time. Thanks. 707 646-1876. :-)

Jan 31, 2011 09:25 AM

Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS

RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH

Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Thanks for the update Brad.

My main complaint is that you're displaying other agent's names and contact information on our listings.

I have no problem with them being everywhere else on your (Zillow) site but that just goes against my grain.

You may or may not know that Realtor.com is forbidden by their operating agreement with NAR to display competing agent's contact listing directly on our listings there as you do.

I'm also not sure if it's not a violation of the IDX agreement aggregators have with boards, MLSs', and associations to display their listings.

Always great to hear from you amigo.

Feb 01, 2011 04:58 AM

Brad Andersohn

Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA

ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

No problem Jim, always happy to check in.

Just so it's clear, premier agents on Zillow are the only ones that show up on their listings. I'm not really familiar with Realtor.com or how they do things and operate so I'll leave those comments and observations to you my friend.

I have found that at times there are just some misconceptions out there about Zillow, but nothing that a little time, training, and education won't cure. It's what I love best about my job there. Have a great rest of the week, and my offer still stands. :-)

Feb 01, 2011 06:01 AM