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- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
I see Zillow had second thoughts on the $1 charge, and have removed it, both on "for sale" listings as well as on rental listings.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Whatever
By the way, I "never" use the "featured" sort, but either use a price sort, or a days on market sort, or a lot size sort. Occasionally I might use a Zestimate sort.
It is clear to me why they did it.... 1) Revenue, and 2) faster cleanup of stale listings.
It is the same thing they did when they increased the cost for posting from "Free" to $9.95 for 6 months.... they said then it was to reduce stale listings and fictional listings, but also obviously for revenue. And it is the same when they increased the listing cost from $9.95 to $39.95 for 6 months; they indicated it was the market value of what they were offering.
And now it is the same again; but changing the "featured" to only for "premier" agents, they have more selling leverage for the "primer" status, and with postlets for FSBO and other agents, very few were paying the $39.95 for 6 months, so reducing it to 2 months and only $1, improves the "stale listing" removal time frame, as well as brings in revenue from people that would have done a listing, but didn't want to pay $39.95. They would have paid $39.95 before the Postlet acquisition and policy change, but they weren't buying those once it was "free".
There is always a trade off between "volume" and "price". With the Postlet acquisition, they were obviously overpriced. And with the desire to use the "featured" status as a way of selling "premier status", this makes it even more obvious that a direct listing was over priced.
$39.95 for a 6 month "featured" listing was a "bargain" for those advertising and needing market exposure. It likely is even more of a "bargain" now to post directly for $3 for six months. Now the question is do they have to remember to renew their listing subscription every 2 months, or do they get a reminder, or is the $1 automatically charged to their credit card?
As for "notices"? Since when does Zillow announce changes ahead of time? Each time they do, such as "my estimate" revisions, the time frames are not met, and people keep wondering when it will show up.
It is the same thing they did when they increased the cost for posting from "Free" to $9.95 for 6 months.... they said then it was to reduce stale listings and fictional listings, but also obviously for revenue. And it is the same when they increased the listing cost from $9.95 to $39.95 for 6 months; they indicated it was the market value of what they were offering.
And now it is the same again; but changing the "featured" to only for "premier" agents, they have more selling leverage for the "primer" status, and with postlets for FSBO and other agents, very few were paying the $39.95 for 6 months, so reducing it to 2 months and only $1, improves the "stale listing" removal time frame, as well as brings in revenue from people that would have done a listing, but didn't want to pay $39.95. They would have paid $39.95 before the Postlet acquisition and policy change, but they weren't buying those once it was "free".
There is always a trade off between "volume" and "price". With the Postlet acquisition, they were obviously overpriced. And with the desire to use the "featured" status as a way of selling "premier status", this makes it even more obvious that a direct listing was over priced.
$39.95 for a 6 month "featured" listing was a "bargain" for those advertising and needing market exposure. It likely is even more of a "bargain" now to post directly for $3 for six months. Now the question is do they have to remember to renew their listing subscription every 2 months, or do they get a reminder, or is the $1 automatically charged to their credit card?
As for "notices"? Since when does Zillow announce changes ahead of time? Each time they do, such as "my estimate" revisions, the time frames are not met, and people keep wondering when it will show up.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Thank-you..
So 2.
2. "Who can have a Featured Ad? Manually- or posting a listing directly through the Zillow website- only Premier Agents can do this. However, most listings come to us through feeds, and many non-premier agents have featured listings with us through this method. "
remembering of course
"Featured Partner Feeds vs free feeds:
If your broker is sending us a feed for your listings, your listings will show on Zillow and you will show as the agent. Placement and how you show depends on if you have a profile filled out. To show at the top right of your listing, the only requirement is to have an image (photo) and the information filled out in your profile. If you are not a Premier Agent and your feed is not featured a Buyer's Agent List will also show with the listing agent.
A featured partner feed will only show you as the listing agent.
Premier Agents show as the sole contact for their listings AND show on Buyer's Agents lists in addition to some other goodies."
Seems like a fairly significant change..difference
So 2.
2. "Who can have a Featured Ad? Manually- or posting a listing directly through the Zillow website- only Premier Agents can do this. However, most listings come to us through feeds, and many non-premier agents have featured listings with us through this method. "
remembering of course
"Featured Partner Feeds vs free feeds:
If your broker is sending us a feed for your listings, your listings will show on Zillow and you will show as the agent. Placement and how you show depends on if you have a profile filled out. To show at the top right of your listing, the only requirement is to have an image (photo) and the information filled out in your profile. If you are not a Premier Agent and your feed is not featured a Buyer's Agent List will also show with the listing agent.
A featured partner feed will only show you as the listing agent.
Premier Agents show as the sole contact for their listings AND show on Buyer's Agents lists in addition to some other goodies."
Seems like a fairly significant change..difference
- Rachel Rosen, "RachelRosen"
- Contributions:1493
Hi, hope this helps:
1. Can an FSBO buy a Featured Ad?. No, a FSBO can no longer buy a featured ad on Zillow directly through the Zillow website- (aka manually vs through a feed). A FSBO can however, use a FSBO service provider that has a featured FSBO feed with us such as www.owners.com.
2. Who can have a Featured Ad? Manually- or posting a listing directly through the Zillow website- only Premier Agents can do this. However, most listings come to us through feeds, and many non-premier agents have featured listings with us through this method.
3. It's the same as before or it has changed? It changed. Today, a user can manually post their listing to Zillow for $1. If the user is a Premier Agent the ad will be featured. Again, most of our listings are from feeds and anyone can use www.postlets.com for free which will syndicate the listing to Zillow and many other real estate sites.
1. Can an FSBO buy a Featured Ad?. No, a FSBO can no longer buy a featured ad on Zillow directly through the Zillow website- (aka manually vs through a feed). A FSBO can however, use a FSBO service provider that has a featured FSBO feed with us such as www.owners.com.
2. Who can have a Featured Ad? Manually- or posting a listing directly through the Zillow website- only Premier Agents can do this. However, most listings come to us through feeds, and many non-premier agents have featured listings with us through this method.
3. It's the same as before or it has changed? It changed. Today, a user can manually post their listing to Zillow for $1. If the user is a Premier Agent the ad will be featured. Again, most of our listings are from feeds and anyone can use www.postlets.com for free which will syndicate the listing to Zillow and many other real estate sites.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
1. Can an FSBO buy a Featured Ad?
2. Who can have a Featured Ad?
3. It's the same as before or it has changed?
- Rachel Rosen, "RachelRosen"
- Contributions:1493
Hi Debra, I actually don't see your listing as featured, unless I"m looking at the wrong one.
Featured Partner Feeds vs free feeds:
If your broker is sending us a feed for your listings, your listings will show on Zillow and you will show as the agent. Placement and how you show depends on if you have a profile filled out. To show at the top right of your listing, the only requirement is to have an image (photo) and the information filled out in your profile. If you are not a Premier Agent and your feed is not featured a Buyer's Agent List will also show with the listing agent.
A featured partner feed will only show you as the listing agent.
Premier Agents show as the sole contact for their listings AND show on Buyer's Agents lists in addition to some other goodies.
Yes, the zestimate is under the sale price...sorry I don't have any powers to change that =0.
Featured Partner Feeds vs free feeds:
If your broker is sending us a feed for your listings, your listings will show on Zillow and you will show as the agent. Placement and how you show depends on if you have a profile filled out. To show at the top right of your listing, the only requirement is to have an image (photo) and the information filled out in your profile. If you are not a Premier Agent and your feed is not featured a Buyer's Agent List will also show with the listing agent.
A featured partner feed will only show you as the listing agent.
Premier Agents show as the sole contact for their listings AND show on Buyer's Agents lists in addition to some other goodies.
Yes, the zestimate is under the sale price...sorry I don't have any powers to change that =0.
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2734
Thanks for the follow up Rachel.....but I am confused........(.of course that's nothing new these days!)............since my broker feeds to and is, I suppose, " partnered" with zillow....does that mean my listings (and all our company listings) are "featured", even though I am not a premier agent??
My new listing came up as "featured"............that's why I am asking.
As an aside, I never search for listings here - why would I...........but I just noticed that the zestimate is just under the list price....has it always been like that?
Now, I am even more annoyed with the zestimate....well, the placement of the zestimate!!!
I am going to assume that a large number of consumers find zillow with the purpose of searching for homes........they put in their criteria........and up come listings..................for the less sophisticated visitor, as to how zillow works........i can really see someone looking at the zestimate and saying: "Wow, this house is really under..or.... over...priced.......many probably won't take the time to "read up" on what the zestimate means, because that's not what brought them here..........they are simply perusing the site to find homes.........that first impression a consumer gets might really influence what they do next.........they might be mislead by a low or high Zest......
Oh well............doesn;t matter what I think...this is a company that needs to make money and be profitable............the zestimate brings in visitors.......and the revenue follows.
I just never realized the zestimate was right up there with the list price....kind of gives it added importance, especially to the uninitiated!
My new listing came up as "featured"............that's why I am asking.
As an aside, I never search for listings here - why would I...........but I just noticed that the zestimate is just under the list price....has it always been like that?
Now, I am even more annoyed with the zestimate....well, the placement of the zestimate!!!
I am going to assume that a large number of consumers find zillow with the purpose of searching for homes........they put in their criteria........and up come listings..................for the less sophisticated visitor, as to how zillow works........i can really see someone looking at the zestimate and saying: "Wow, this house is really under..or.... over...priced.......many probably won't take the time to "read up" on what the zestimate means, because that's not what brought them here..........they are simply perusing the site to find homes.........that first impression a consumer gets might really influence what they do next.........they might be mislead by a low or high Zest......
Oh well............doesn;t matter what I think...this is a company that needs to make money and be profitable............the zestimate brings in visitors.......and the revenue follows.
I just never realized the zestimate was right up there with the list price....kind of gives it added importance, especially to the uninitiated!
- Rachel Rosen, "RachelRosen"
- Contributions:1493
Hi, I agree messaging could be better. I'm passing the feedback up the "ladder."
Debra, I do see you have an open house on your listing. Postlets doesn't have an open house option. However if an agent was using Postlets, they could go to Zillow and input the open house data if they would like to (once the listing was fed over from the Postlets account).
Featured listings: All featured listings whether PA or Broker partnership are sorted the same. So featured listings come first, then sorted by days on Zillow.
Debra, I do see you have an open house on your listing. Postlets doesn't have an open house option. However if an agent was using Postlets, they could go to Zillow and input the open house data if they would like to (once the listing was fed over from the Postlets account).
Featured listings: All featured listings whether PA or Broker partnership are sorted the same. So featured listings come first, then sorted by days on Zillow.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Who's kidding?;)
I think "could this not be any more convoluted?" is the question.
Obvious change..must be a reason..do not believe for 1 sec the reason given so far is the reason
I think "could this not be any more convoluted?" is the question.
Obvious change..must be a reason..do not believe for 1 sec the reason given so far is the reason
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2734
all kidding aside........is it me, or could this not be any more convoluted?
who thought this up?
I see them sitting in the candy playroom saying: "Ok gang, let's forget the 39,95 deal and charge a whole $1.00, but..............you can't have the listing featured anymore unless those agents pay us the big bucks to be a premier agents......
Is the goal to eliminate or discourage listings unless they come from premier agents?
AND, although it sounds that way..... I still don;t know if ONLY premier agents can have featured listings................along with Howard Hanna, 'cause he has an "agreement"!
sounds like Z is in the attack mode after that company in AZ, or Edina, or whatever it's called....... pulled their listings.......
who thought this up?
I see them sitting in the candy playroom saying: "Ok gang, let's forget the 39,95 deal and charge a whole $1.00, but..............you can't have the listing featured anymore unless those agents pay us the big bucks to be a premier agents......
Is the goal to eliminate or discourage listings unless they come from premier agents?
AND, although it sounds that way..... I still don;t know if ONLY premier agents can have featured listings................along with Howard Hanna, 'cause he has an "agreement"!
sounds like Z is in the attack mode after that company in AZ, or Edina, or whatever it's called....... pulled their listings.......
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
But the reason for the change has been explained...
"To clarify"
(All right!!!)
"manual postings on Zillow were previously $39.95 and were also featured listings"
(OK)
"Today, as a home owner, the cost is $1. However, this is a different product in that the listing is not featured."
(The $1 Dollar Listing is not the $39.95 Featured Listing previously sold.)
"Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets)."
(Some agents, home sellers, and landlords do not want to click on a Link to Postlets..they don't want to be posted on other sites..just this one)
"For these users, we provide the option to easily create and post a listing for just $1. This can be done in minutes, without leaving Zillow.com."
(For these people we changed things so they can pay $1 instead of clicking the Postlets Link)
Simple as that!
"To clarify"
(All right!!!)
"manual postings on Zillow were previously $39.95 and were also featured listings"
(OK)
"Today, as a home owner, the cost is $1. However, this is a different product in that the listing is not featured."
(The $1 Dollar Listing is not the $39.95 Featured Listing previously sold.)
"Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets)."
(Some agents, home sellers, and landlords do not want to click on a Link to Postlets..they don't want to be posted on other sites..just this one)
"For these users, we provide the option to easily create and post a listing for just $1. This can be done in minutes, without leaving Zillow.com."
(For these people we changed things so they can pay $1 instead of clicking the Postlets Link)
Simple as that!
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2734
lol
this gets better and better
so............do Howard's listings, which are going to appear atop search results, get top billing over a premier agent's featured listings on the same page - in the same area in PA???
hmmmmm
maybe if you pay $2.00..........................you can get honorable mention
this gets better and better
so............do Howard's listings, which are going to appear atop search results, get top billing over a premier agent's featured listings on the same page - in the same area in PA???
hmmmmm
maybe if you pay $2.00..........................you can get honorable mention
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
"So..........my listings (via my company) are fed here (I save a dollar)...........does that mean they can only get the cheap listing package, and not the "featured" presence, since I don't pay to be here??"
Guess your company is missing the Boat ;)
New marketing agreement will prominently display brokerage's listings
"announced a marketing partnership Monday that will feature Howard Hanna listings atop search results in the Yahoo-Zillow Real Estate Network for searches in areas where Howard Hanna has listings?.
Zillows Blog
"Our new partnership with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,
the fourth largest real estate company in the United States, is a great example of how Zillow is bringing together real estate buyers and sellers with smart agents and companies that are looking out for their clients' best interests."
Guess your company is missing the Boat ;)
New marketing agreement will prominently display brokerage's listings
"announced a marketing partnership Monday that will feature Howard Hanna listings atop search results in the Yahoo-Zillow Real Estate Network for searches in areas where Howard Hanna has listings?.
Zillows Blog
"Our new partnership with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services,
the fourth largest real estate company in the United States, is a great example of how Zillow is bringing together real estate buyers and sellers with smart agents and companies that are looking out for their clients' best interests."
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2734
I am trying to follow this.....seems to me zillow makes things more complicated than they have to.
And, all these changes in the middle of the night are off-putting, to me.
So..........my listings (via my company) are fed here (I save a dollar)...........does that mean they can only get the cheap listing package, and not the "featured" presence, since I don't pay to be here??
I looked over the list of features for "featured listings"....and this one got my attention:
And, all these changes in the middle of the night are off-putting, to me.
So..........my listings (via my company) are fed here (I save a dollar)...........does that mean they can only get the cheap listing package, and not the "featured" presence, since I don't pay to be here??
I looked over the list of features for "featured listings"....and this one got my attention:
- Option to add open house information
Does this mean I cannot list open houses anymore, unless I am a premier agent and my listings are placed as featured listings???? - What?
- If I am following the changes........the $39.95 (for 3 or 6 months?) is now defunct and changed to $1.00 for 2 months.......but no one except a PREMIER Agent gets featured listings??
- Do I have that right??
Help!
and btw - while I'm at it..........it would be nice if the sales reps educated their premier agents as to the rules here.......saw 3 of them today leave contact information in their responses..........it's one thing when someone stumbles along and finds zillow and inadvertantly/unknowingly leaves contact info...but someone who signef up to be a part of zillow and interacts with a sales rep should be told about the GNP!
ok I am done venting.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
"so, can only "premier agents" get featured listings now (is that a new hook)?"
Aha!..Finally the question I wondered if anyone else would have after seeing the change ;)
I felt that was what was suggested by this change, the wording..no more mention of Postlets..it is a complete change from the spirit and intent of the Previous Content imo
Here is how it is explained now in the (also changed) FAQ
Who can Post Homes on Zillow?
What is the cost to post a home for sale on Zillow?
"Cost is $1 for 60 days. A home listed by agents enrolled in Zillow's Premier Agent program is promoted as a Featured Listing and gets sorted to the top of search results, where it receives three times more page views than non-featured listings."
I see no mention or Link on how or where an FSBO or Non-Premier Agent can buy a Featured Listing
Postlets is only mentioned if you follow the Link given to Agents
"Or, if you're a real estate professional, send them to us -- for free -- through a listings feed."
FSBO's are not directed to that info for some reason?
Aha!..Finally the question I wondered if anyone else would have after seeing the change ;)
I felt that was what was suggested by this change, the wording..no more mention of Postlets..it is a complete change from the spirit and intent of the Previous Content imo
Here is how it is explained now in the (also changed) FAQ
Who can Post Homes on Zillow?
What is the cost to post a home for sale on Zillow?
"Cost is $1 for 60 days. A home listed by agents enrolled in Zillow's Premier Agent program is promoted as a Featured Listing and gets sorted to the top of search results, where it receives three times more page views than non-featured listings."
I see no mention or Link on how or where an FSBO or Non-Premier Agent can buy a Featured Listing
Postlets is only mentioned if you follow the Link given to Agents
"Or, if you're a real estate professional, send them to us -- for free -- through a listings feed."
FSBO's are not directed to that info for some reason?
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2734
actually, I am now totally confused............(well, so what else is new!)
so, can only "premier agents" get featured listings now (is that a new hook)?
so, can only "premier agents" get featured listings now (is that a new hook)?
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
OK
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
I'm not even going to speculate why, it doesn't make much sense unless they plan to raise it soon. At a buck they aren't going to any more than break even with transaction processing costs.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Let's see...
Changing that content/pages to Not mentioning/linking people to Postlets or explaining they can purchase a Featured Ad ...that will help with Fraud
"The free postlet option is still available, but not mentioned when clicking on FSBO."..
or when you click on the Page for Agents either
For Sale by Owner.....For Sale by Agent
That a good part of what makes me "Wonder what's really going on?"
Those pages before this change existed to provide 2 pieces of info. to FSBO and AGENTS
1.Postlets
2. You can buy a Featured Ad ...
Now neither of those things are mentioned
These changes were made because ..says the Zillow Rep
"Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets). For these users, we provide the option to easily create and post a listing for just $1. This can be done in minutes, without leaving Zillow.com. "
You buy that?..Hey it's a response worth a TU?
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
Caveat,
I don't think it will help with fraud. There have been too many posts about the scammers paying for featured ads with stolen card numbers.
I don't think it will help with fraud. There have been too many posts about the scammers paying for featured ads with stolen card numbers.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26852
The free postlet option is still available, but not mentioned when clicking on FSBO.
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
So is the Postlet option still available but not specifically mentioned to FSBO's?
- Caveat Emptor
- Contributions:500
maybe it will help with fraud, although I'm sure foreclosures.com will still abuse the system...
at the least it should allow zillow to track fraud which is something.
at the least it should allow zillow to track fraud which is something.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Wonder what's really going on?- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
Love it when Staff gets TUs for just posting
The question was about a specific change
Before when you went to For Sale by Owner you were told about/directed to Postlets AND offered the chance to buy a Featured Listing ...now you are not
1. Now no mention of Postlets at all
2. No mention of how an FSBO can get a Featured Listing...can they?
3. Same for For Sale by Agent....just this mention of Featured Listings
"Premier Agents' listings will appear as Featured Listings, shown at the top of search results."
Are Premier Agents the only ones who get Featured Listings now?
This
"Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets)."
My reaction...Yeah that's why the change was made and I'm the Emperor of China
The question was about a specific change
Before when you went to For Sale by Owner you were told about/directed to Postlets AND offered the chance to buy a Featured Listing ...now you are not
1. Now no mention of Postlets at all
2. No mention of how an FSBO can get a Featured Listing...can they?
3. Same for For Sale by Agent....just this mention of Featured Listings
"Premier Agents' listings will appear as Featured Listings, shown at the top of search results."
Are Premier Agents the only ones who get Featured Listings now?
This
"Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets)."
My reaction...Yeah that's why the change was made and I'm the Emperor of China
- Rachel Rosen, "RachelRosen"
- Contributions:1493
Hi,
To clarify, manual postings on Zillow were previously $39.95 and were also featured listings. Today, as a home owner, the cost is $1. However, this is a different product in that the listing is not featured.
Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets). For these users, we provide the option to easily create and post a listing for just $1. This can be done in minutes, without leaving Zillow.com.
For users interested in marketing their home broadly across the web, Postlets is a great option.
To clarify, manual postings on Zillow were previously $39.95 and were also featured listings. Today, as a home owner, the cost is $1. However, this is a different product in that the listing is not featured.
Some agents, home sellers, and landlords come to Zillow with one specific goal in mind: to post their home for sale on Zillow. They are familiar with Zillow, and are not interested in visiting a second website (i.e. Postlets). For these users, we provide the option to easily create and post a listing for just $1. This can be done in minutes, without leaving Zillow.com.
For users interested in marketing their home broadly across the web, Postlets is a great option.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1969
robyne your post was what made me aware of the change
Unannounced Change as far as I know
"What's up with that?"..I certainly have nothing but guesses in response to that but I'm sure someone will explain how it's a good thing ;)
I admit my bias, I most likely wouldn't believe any explanation they gave
I do know they also did this recently..
Unannounced Change as far as I know
"What's up with that?"..I certainly have nothing but guesses in response to that but I'm sure someone will explain how it's a good thing ;)
I admit my bias, I most likely wouldn't believe any explanation they gave
I do know they also did this recently..
Zillow ends Listings API, pulls FSBOs from Redfin, other sites - AGBeat
- robyne1012
- Contributions:5
Yes, Tug of War. It seems like they changed this overnight. I just created a free Postlet the other day. Why the change? I don't see an overwhelming amount of "for sale by owner" people taking advantage of the free postlet.
Where did the FREE postlet option go?
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