"But on Zillow it says..."

There are some phrases that a Realtor will absolutely dread to hear.  I won’t bore you with the list but lately there are five words I’m hearing more and more…

“But on Zillow it says…”

Unlike like most Agents I actually like Zillow.  If you are confident in your value proposition and are able to articulate what your job actually is Zillow, Trulia and others are a great tool to be leverages by the industry and not discarded.  If your agent is threatened or annoyed by these services you may want to reconsider your representation and ask the tough questions to determine if you have the right relationship based on your needs.

Back to Zillow:

Pros

Education – I love the platform and the information it brings to consumers.  The service has engaged buyers and sellers.  This has made my job of searching, rating and viewing homes significantly easier and less time consuming.  The power of the search is now leveraged by the consumer so they can narrow the area, preferences and competition much quicker and have essentially taken this off my plate.  Educated buyers and sellers are much easier to assist through the process.  Their communication is faster, expectations are clear and delivery is smooth and progressive.

Exposure – The link from IDX feeds, syndications, websites etc. Is shared automatically and seamlessly in many cases.  One of my jobs is to expose the property to as many qualified buyers as possible.  The new technology of Zillow allows for this to be streamlined and simple.

Inconsistency – While most people view this as a con.  Agents should not.  Buyers and sellers quickly, through verification with an agent, realize that this site is a starting point and far from accurate.  It’s not designed to be.  It’s designed to collect money from advertising.  Accuracy is not the business model.  The inconsistency speaks for itself and highlights why an educated and experienced agent is absolutely necessary through the process. 

Cons

Accuracy – Consumers could either be pleasantly surprised or frustrated with the actual value of their home.  Again Zillow is paid to keep your eyes on the screen.  Not offer you a valuable accurate estimate and I don’t blame them.  It’s not easy.  Without the personal touch of a representative how could a computer know to adjust for all the intangibles of each property.  Lot location, pool, upgrades, fixtures, artificial grass, HOA, Age, Smell, Solar…the list is extensive and incredibly unique.

Crutch – Unfortunately I’ve also experienced the agents who will utilize this source similar to how a consumer would.  This has several effects.  One it gives horrible representation to their clients and allows for the negative reputation of our industry to continue.  It also makes negotiating a nightmare.  The lack in effort and diligence creates an ill-informed seller or buyer and a stubborn agent.

The Know it All – “But on Zillow it says…” This can be very frustrating.  No matter how much you explain, defend with comps or offer their opinion cannot be altered.  Zillow is right and you are wrong.

Conclusion:

Personally I like Zillow and am not threatened by this.  It saves me time and allows me to focus on what I truly bring to the table.  To each his own.

All agents and consumers should be ready and able to talk about…

“What Zillow Says”

Until next time.