Z is, at it's core, a consumer driven website that seeks to pretend to service the real estate community. 
Today, someone inquired as to why I was not a Premier Agent on their website. I object on principle.
I will not pay for leads on the listings that I have already invested money in marketing to gain on my own. But, I decided to explore a little further.
I completed the Z more information box on their website and literally within 45 seconds my phone was ringing.
It was like the Bat Phone!
I answered knowing what was going to happen but I went with it. I told Mr. Sales Rep right up front that I was gathering information to present to someone in support of my opposition to Z. I guess he had heard that before because he just went right along with me.
I have a "Free Profile" on the site and as it turned out, one of my listings was not showing up under my profile. He fixed that for me but he did something else that caused a little hub-bub, I'll come back to this.
Next, I inquired about the MINIMUM requirement/commitment that I would need to make to be a "Premier Agent".
"Pick a zip code, any zip code", he says.
I did. One that is in my target area. A middle of the road area, stable market, not high priced, not high demand.
"$184.00 a month for a minimum of six months." At least that's what I think he said, I started laughing after $184.
Needless to say, I've read enough reviews from agents around the country to know that this would be money down the rat-hole and aside from that, it's just not something I am willing to do.
Principles, principles.
ANYWAY, back to the thing that happened when he "fixed" my profile so that MY LISTING showed up properly. Somehow that included made all of the listing for my office show up too. Over 200 listings.
Not sure if that was supposed to work like that and I probably will have to get that sorted out.
As a result of this little change, my phone and email started ringing and dinging in every direction.
Inquiry after inquiry on RENTALS! Within 2 hours, I had received 3 calls and 2 emails about these various properties.
Would you like to guess at the STATUS OF THESE LISTINGS?
One was "pending", the others were "leased"...MONTHS AGO. January, February...MONTHS AGO!
WHY DOESN'T THE PUBLIC "GET IT"?
Bad information, out of date information, incorrect information...
And you know what I think the worst part is?
I think that the public believes, at least in part, that WE are responsible for the terrible information.

Comments (11)Subscribe to CommentsComment