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Best Answer
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26790
Wow! A fast change seems to have been triggered by this thread. (Good job Connie!!!! Three more gold medals for you.)
When one opens a property that is not for sale, the header over the photos of the three agents on the right of the screen used to say "for more information on XXXX Main St". Now it says "Request a free professional estimate".
When one opens a property that is not for sale, the header over the photos of the three agents on the right of the screen used to say "for more information on XXXX Main St". Now it says "Request a free professional estimate".
- Alan Grizzle, "Alan Grizzle"
- Contributions:401
YES. I have had people get mad at me because they saw their house as a Zestimate and thought I was advertising their house without their permission.
- Michelle Terry, "MICHELLEATERRY2"
- Contributions:33
No.
- Jennifer Evans, "Jennifer Evans"
- Contributions:22
Yes I've had this same issue. I've just explained to each client how Zillow works.
- Gordon Barnett, "Gordon.Barnett"
- Contributions:31
It always seems like the zestimates are off by alot. But look at the bright side, people who are interested in buying property are calling you to ask about it!
When someone ask me about it, I just explain why I think the zestimate is not right, and try to help the customer find what they are looking for.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
when you get a customer looking, they are frustrated but that can still turn into someone you can help -telling them you can set up a better search, use your website and so on. but when you get the VIOLENTLY angry elderly person that thinks their home of 50+ years is being falsely advertised for sale becuase their grandchild showed it to them on zillow, it's an extremely difficult situation to handle and you can hear that tone in their voice where they are getting worked up while telling you how they feel. i always worry if we don't difuse that quick enough that the person is going to need medical assistance (they don't have to be elderly to get upset, but hearing the age in their voice too makes me worry more about how to calm them down quickly) - and the point of that complaint is...zillow isn't the one on the phone with them calming them down. we are.
I haven't gotten one of these in a while, but I scaled back my profile for a while too. (less zip codes, less posting etc).
anyway...thanks for the responses, I like keeping this in front of zillow and hope they will take action on it. there's a lot of good reasons and things zillow can do aroudn this issue to create a win win situation.
I haven't gotten one of these in a while, but I scaled back my profile for a while too. (less zip codes, less posting etc).
anyway...thanks for the responses, I like keeping this in front of zillow and hope they will take action on it. there's a lot of good reasons and things zillow can do aroudn this issue to create a win win situation.
- Frederic Delarue, "milliondollarviewhom"
- Contributions:8
Thank you for posting this question. Yes indeed, i have had many potential buyers who like to search first online, before contacting a real estate agent, who wanted me to show them homes that they thought were on the market, just because they could see a zestimate. They almost got frustrated with me over the phone when I kept telling them it was not for sale, until I explained them the difference between listed for sale and zestimates :)
- Jesus Pazmino, "Jesus Pazmino"
- Contributions:46
I get those calls all the time.
Oh but zillow says the home is for sale and home is already sold - two years ago- Obvious IDX feed issues???
Oh but zillow shows the Zestimate for $209,000 why are they selling it for $300,000. Sometimes I am not sure where the Zestimate value comes from exactly, but the formula or data definiately needs to be reviewed by Zillow.
Oh but zillow shows the rental rate as $1,200 - This should not even be on there.
Something needs to be reviewed with the agents. Hold a conference or a monthly session about issues and or concerns.
Oh but zillow says the home is for sale and home is already sold - two years ago- Obvious IDX feed issues???
Oh but zillow shows the Zestimate for $209,000 why are they selling it for $300,000. Sometimes I am not sure where the Zestimate value comes from exactly, but the formula or data definiately needs to be reviewed by Zillow.
Oh but zillow shows the rental rate as $1,200 - This should not even be on there.
Something needs to be reviewed with the agents. Hold a conference or a monthly session about issues and or concerns.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
That one is an easier case To argue for a fix because it represents opportunity missed
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
oops duplicate post.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
I've started inviting those callers to comment here because zillow does follow this thread or they were following it for (per Russ).
but of course none of them had- however if you guys get the opportunity to get a consumer to provide feedback It would have more meaning than our comments.
as for the reference to it being an opportunity...sure it's an opportunity but most of us would rather spend efforts on opportunities that were more reasonable to become a transaction instead of exercising our personal diplomacy skills on behalf of zillow becuase the consumer feels like false advertising has occured. there's many better opportunities out there. AND if zillow would work on reducing the confusion the opportunity is even better.
but of course none of them had- however if you guys get the opportunity to get a consumer to provide feedback It would have more meaning than our comments.
as for the reference to it being an opportunity...sure it's an opportunity but most of us would rather spend efforts on opportunities that were more reasonable to become a transaction instead of exercising our personal diplomacy skills on behalf of zillow becuase the consumer feels like false advertising has occured. there's many better opportunities out there. AND if zillow would work on reducing the confusion the opportunity is even better.
- Blaine Dunlap, "BlaineDunlap"
- Contributions:4
Yes this is very confusing and does have some angry phone calls. They also seem to be based on tax value and in a fast moving market are not as accurate as they might be.
Prepare at 40 page CMA that points at a price, and then they pop up the Zestimate and say what about this.
- Alan Grizzle, "Alan Grizzle"
- Contributions:401
I get calls and emails all the time from zillow about homes that are not for sale. It is very confusing to the public.
- David Stewart, "David Stewart"
- Contributions:20
I get this constantly! I think the the to are very confusing to consumers. I've even actually had to homeowners call me furious that I had there house listed on Zillow and it wasn't even for sale!
- Yolanda Matos, "TFreedomRealty"
- Contributions:28
True, that the situation could stand to be tweaked. However, it is a simple explanation and a great opportunity to speak with a customer. Ultimately, you are not responsible. People understand when it is explained to them. Cease the moment!
- REisBroken
- Contributions:21
Thanks
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1946
Only for the Consumers & Agents who care about Professionalism/Quality or Honesty..no big deal
Zillow has bigger Fish to Fry right now like turning the words of Posters into Links, deciding what color the Links should be..you know important stuff
I like your Avatar REisBroken..
- REisBroken
- Contributions:21
This is still a problem.
- Wendy Witt & Scott Fogleman, "ScottFogleman"
- Contributions:205
It has gotten better but I have received angry calls from people wanting to know why I am selling their house and who gave me permission. I would like for it to be made clearer to the general public
- Kamaaina Realty
- Contributions:54
Just a question... Why is there confusion? I would look at every opportunity in receiving a call is an "OPPORTUNITY"...
- Mark Stratton, "Mark Stratton"
- Contributions:1
Yes Connie I do get calls from potential clients that are looking for a paticular home that they have seen on Zillow. I have been able to use this as an opportunity to showcase our ability as a realtor to provide a more accurate search for them and use the opportunity to discuss what they are looking for in a home. So far so good.
Mark
Mark
- Susan Blanford, "Susan Blanford"
- Contributions:55
Wow!!! Zillows info, as far as I have always seen, clearly states the status of the property being viewed. The person viewing the property is clearly not reading the info being presented.
- Sharon Lewis, "Sharon Lewis"
- Contributions:3915
People are still confused, a lot of them think if its on Zillow, it must be for sale so I think the issue is with Zillow, they need to really spell it out for the consumer.
- MarKus McClellan, "MarKusGroup"
- Contributions:106
I have had many leads call me thinking a Zestimate was for sale. It could be more clearly marked somehow.
- Lisa Jonsson, "lisajrealtor"
- Contributions:142
I agree, this can be very confusing. If there is a way they could clearly mark NOT currently listed for sale, that would help. Please thumbs up my comment!
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
ooohhh sunnyview- that looks really good!
I still think however the single most impactful change would be to remove the agent ads on the right side of the screen. where they changed it to "interested in selling this house" but no need to show agents faces- if the user really owns that home and is interested in contacting a listing agent, an extra click to pull a list of agents/faces isn't going to be a problem.
ideally-the use of that marketing space on that listing is acurately targeting only ONE person- the owner of the home. (and inaccurately targeting the confused shopper). but we've already had this suggestion in many versions...so it's just a matter of waiting to see what they do on that.
I still think however the single most impactful change would be to remove the agent ads on the right side of the screen. where they changed it to "interested in selling this house" but no need to show agents faces- if the user really owns that home and is interested in contacting a listing agent, an extra click to pull a list of agents/faces isn't going to be a problem.
ideally-the use of that marketing space on that listing is acurately targeting only ONE person- the owner of the home. (and inaccurately targeting the confused shopper). but we've already had this suggestion in many versions...so it's just a matter of waiting to see what they do on that.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21450
"...it is well worth taking the time to post suggestions here on this. they are reading this thread" -
Well, Zillow certainly is not keeping it with a "sticky status" for no reason.
If Zillow thought it was an "old topic" and the thread worked its course already, they would have removed the stick status by now!
Thus, I think Zillow is still looking for a workable solution.
And the change of color has been suggested before, and I still think a good idea.
Well, Zillow certainly is not keeping it with a "sticky status" for no reason.
If Zillow thought it was an "old topic" and the thread worked its course already, they would have removed the stick status by now!
Thus, I think Zillow is still looking for a workable solution.
And the change of color has been suggested before, and I still think a good idea.
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25127
What about a different page color or border on houses for sale? Or maybe a larger colored bar at the top of the page. Do you think that would separate them better?
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
this might be an old post, but the problem remains.
they still need to clean up and make changes. as an agent that pays to advertise on zillow- it's not a welcome thing to get a call from an irate home owner that thinks their house is for sale because the presentation of their home looks so similar to one that is for sale.
so as new information/ideas are thought of...it is well worth taking the time to post suggestions here on this. they are reading this thread.
they still need to clean up and make changes. as an agent that pays to advertise on zillow- it's not a welcome thing to get a call from an irate home owner that thinks their house is for sale because the presentation of their home looks so similar to one that is for sale.
so as new information/ideas are thought of...it is well worth taking the time to post suggestions here on this. they are reading this thread.
Are the zestimate listings confused with "For Sale" listings?
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- 4.9/5.0
- (5 reviews)
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