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David Barr (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty)

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Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Our mls does not have a contract with Zillow and we do not syndicate to them. However, I still post all my listings myself to Zillow and Trulia. The public expects it... I've found they just don't care about all the reasons we give them. They want to see their home on the big portals. No skin off my nose. If another agent picks up a lead on Zillow from my listing, I don't believe it's all that likely I'd have gotten this lead myself from another source.

Jan 07, 2016 11:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Well. my main marketing is my MLS, my custom property websites and  my database of clients, Realtors and investors. That sells my homes in less than 2 weeks the last 5 years.

However, I allow my (partial address) listings to populate all the FREE sites & classifieds too, as I'm not relying on them, but I am:

1. showing my seller I've turned on the megaphone to the marketplace and

2. I do get sign calls off these sites too, which occasionally produces a valid, unrepresented buyer I convert.

So, I'm not sure it hurts to allow GodZillow  to have your listing, but I'd make it the "salt" not the "steak" in my presentation & plan. Sellers are Zillowfied, so they believe it's a necessary billboard and since I give 3 seconds of my pan, I don't care. I just do not support Zillow by purchasing anything from them.

Jan 07, 2016 11:40 PM
Rainmaker
655,940
Jeffrey Jones
AZ Home Seekers - San Tan Valley, AZ
AZ Home Seekers, azhomeseekers.com

as a broker we syndicate all our listings through ListHub, they probably go out to 60 other sites including Realtor.com and yes Zillow.

All your superior marketing tactics are going to be used regardless of whether your broker withholds the listing from Zillow.

If your job is to cast the broadest net to expose the property how is that a selling tool to take it off a site that every one of your competing listings is on.

I can't imagine that sales tactic being a big winner.

Jan 07, 2016 11:34 PM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

It's hard to control where listings show up with all the syndication that goes on. Many buyers use Zillow for searching, so I don't care if my listings show up there. Zillow doesn't charge me anything for it. My listings get syndicated to close to 1000 differnet sites. Newspapers and magazines aren't licensed to sell real estate, but agents can advertise their listings there. I wouldn't use that appraoch in a listing presentation. The sellers might love Zillow. I would explain why the info on Zillow is not always 100% accurate.

Jan 08, 2016 12:39 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

David,

I have no prediction or reaction to this.  Many of the top agents in Santa Barbara buy their listings on Zillow for $400 a month and they are limited to a certain # of listings.  That way, they are the only ones who appear on the listing...I think that it is ridculous to buy your own listing that you have worked many years for.  I am looking forward to hearing what happens!

A

Jan 07, 2016 11:32 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,164
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I expect that they would prefer to have their listing on Zillow.

Jan 07, 2016 11:30 PM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

I agree with Nina. People want to see their property on the Z and T because that is where they go to look. If that makes them happy, who am I to not comply with that expectation? Z is not selling real estate, they are selling advertisement to those who choose to pay for it. 

Jan 08, 2016 06:38 AM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

Mt listings are on over a hundred sites.  My clients listings deserve the most exposure and that is what I give them.

Jan 08, 2016 06:10 AM
Rainmaker
519,324
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

David, 

The reaction will depend upon the client. Personally I syndicate my listings as broadly as possible. I don't care what causes my phone to ring or my colleagues phone to ring to find my listings, only that it be seen.  My competition will be syndicating too, so I don't know why I wouldn't want to. These sites are like the newspapers of yesterday.  They don't sell homes, they advertise them. Only a licensed agent can bring an offer.  If the public comes directly to me, all the better for my seller. 

Jan 08, 2016 03:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

For some sellers, this may be like heresy as they see just how popular Zillow is.

Jan 08, 2016 03:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Aint tru, put your listings everywhere and explain to them that until robots can solve all your problems then you can rely on me.

Jan 08, 2016 02:55 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

David,
IMHO, that requires the seller to think about things they don’t have a good basis to evaluate. That falls to close to “thinking or talking yourself out of a sale.” I have no problem using Zillow and other sites in ADDITION to what I do. I respect if you think otherwise.

Jan 08, 2016 02:20 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I wish I could do that...our mis screwed that up

Jan 08, 2016 02:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I'm in agreement with Nina.  Our board doesn't put listings there either, but sellers expect it because that is the site they are on.  I take steps to make sure anyone who sees the listing knows it's mine and how to reach me.  Plus Z does list you as the first agent for people to contact and IF memory serves, requires that you be contacted (checkbox is checked and cannot be unchecked).

Jan 08, 2016 01:31 AM
Rainer
5,514
Dex Hubbard
Murphy, NC

We market on Zillow and the like. It works in our market. Most people are looking online and it's just easier to use it then to devote precious time to doing it ourselves. That being said, I always tell my clients I don't care what Zillow said their home was worth. Zillow doesn't sell houses. 

Jan 08, 2016 12:53 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

I don't think that it would go over well with Mr Seller.  If I were the seller, I wouldn't believe that you could get better internet exposure than a national website.

Jan 07, 2016 11:58 PM
Rainer
112,947
Vera Gonzalez
RE/MAX Suburban, Inc. - Sterling Heights, MI
Gonzo For Real Estate

This is only from comments I have received during a listing and after home was listed. One of the things my sellers have said was look how many people are liking or following it on Zillow. As well as that they Googled their address and their listing was everywhere.   What may work in your favor if your mls automatically IDX's to them is to let them know that is does so every agent can do this. Let them know what you can do in addition to this so they see it as a benefit to assist you in standing out. 

Jan 07, 2016 11:41 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

As Alexandra said I'm one of those agents that pays $350 for Zillow and $80 for Trulia to buy my listings back. Even though Local Sothebys locks at a brokerage level I want full control.

Jan 07, 2016 11:37 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Our MLS does not syndicate to Trulia or Zillow due to not having a signed contract to remove old listings.  I explain this to my Sellers, and have not had any push back.  But, we are in a VERY strong market, and homes are going UC quickly. 

Jan 08, 2016 11:44 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

As Zillow does not work in Canada, it would not make sense to put a listing on Zillow.

Jan 08, 2016 05:24 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

David, while I'm not a fan of Zulia, it's not a bad idea to post listings there.

Jan 08, 2016 01:52 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I can only tell you as a homeowner I wouldn't hire that agent.  Because buyers ARE using zillow

Jan 08, 2016 11:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Fortunately, I work mostly with sellers who know Z isn't effective marketing. And for those sellers who don't, you should be able to demonstrate superior ways to market their property that makes it a non-issue.
That Z skews and misinterprets and bastardizes info about so many properties should TERRIFY sellers. Especially of unique, special homes.

Jan 08, 2016 09:32 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi, David.  Greetings from a fellow Venetian (I was born in Venice, Florida).

    I hate Zillow.  99% of Agents hate Zillow.  But that's where the Buyers are... or those Buyers are on Trulia, or Realtor dot Murdoch dot com, or some other website.  And those websites are not going away, they will only grow larger and stronger. Therefore, I am going to let my Board syndicate my listings, via List Hub, to all of those sites.

     (No, I will NOT pay the extortion fee to "buy my listings back").

Jan 08, 2016 06:46 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

David,

I have found it more effective to discuss the peril and hazards created when the owner loses control of their homes data.....FOREVER.

The peril and hazard to the seller does not end when the home sells.

The words I've heard is 'creepy' when they finally realize what is already there.

My prediction, regarding Zillow, is my approach will be more readily embraced that a 'do it better myself' declaration.

Agents who, in their advertising state, '90% of home buyers begin their search online" undermine the 'better' argument in regards to the EXPERIENCE of the consumer. If EVERYONE uses Zillow and you are eliminating Zillow, you are contradicting their experience and logic.

Jan 08, 2016 01:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

If one wants to use Zillow or Trulia to showcase the listing it is their perogative. This being said if an agent puts it in they should also go back and show it expired, sold or whatever to keep it from being a false listing.

If the client goes to a site and cannot find the listing they will be pointing the finger at the listing agent. 

The company I am with now does not like the properties on those two sites.

Jan 08, 2016 12:24 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

What Jeffrey Jones said - it's not under our control as Associate Brokers...

Jan 08, 2016 12:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Buying a listing to block the premier agent to show homes.....Coldxu^% has been doing it for a long time.  Not sure how these sites operate on mobile....

S.

Jan 08, 2016 12:22 AM