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Having Trouble Using Zillow.com?

Date:March 2, 2006 | Author:Jeff Lubetkin | Category:FAQ

Zillow’s search and maps functionality is based on some of the latest and greatest web technologies (AJAX, Flash, XSL transformations, and more). While we work hard to make everything work perfectly for every user, we know that some of you are having trouble making the site work in your browser. Here are a few things to look for that might be affecting you:

Are you using a supported browser? On Windows, these include Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0, and Firefox 1.5. On the Mac, we only support Firefox 1.5, with Safari support coming soon. For those of you with Linux, Firefox 1.5 should work there as well.
Do you have Flash installed? Zillow.com’s maps require Flash 7 or better. You can install Flash from Macromedia’s web site. (It’s free!)
Are you using some sort of Flash ad-blocking software, such as Flashblock? Try turning it off temporarily, or putting Zillow.com on the whitelist.
Do you have Javascript turned off in your browser security settings? Our search functionality won’t work without it.
If you’re on Internet Explorer, do you have ActiveX turned off? This will prevent Flash and our AJAX search functionality from working. To turn it on, open your browser window, click on Tools –> Internet Options –> Security tab. Click on the "Custom Level" button. Then, scroll down to "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins." Make sure the radio button is "enabled."
Are you using a software firewall, such as Norton Internet Security? We’ve had reports from some users that the firewall software prevented Zillow.com’s search from working. Try temporarily disabling the firewall to see if Zillow.com works for you. Even if it does, please turn your firewall back on, and drop us a note using our feedback form. Please include the browser, operating system, and firewall software name.
Is your Internet connection slow? There are timeouts in some of the Zillow.com components that might be preventing you from getting results.

In any case, if you continue to have problems, please let use know by asking a question in Zillow Discussions. The more information you can provide, the more likely we are to be able to diagnose the problem, so please be verbose! Browser type and version, operating system, names of browser extensions or plug-ins, and information about firewall software are all very useful.

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Responses (22)

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ivwshane 7:24 PM - Mar 17,2006

On one computer I have trouble with zillow showing the results. I get the following error:
“We’re sorry. We encountered a problem performing this search. Please wait a few seconds, then refresh the page or search again.”

Flash 8 is installed and IE is running the latest version. No firewall software is installed (including windows firewall). No adblocking is running and java script is enabled.
Winxp pro sp2
Cookies have been cleared as well. What else could the problem be? It works fine on other systems with the similar software and hardware.
b j 11:25 AM - Jan 1,2007

My inlaws have norton internet security. When I disable it, zillow works, otherwise in both firefox 2 and IE 7, it says you must enable scripting (even though it is enabled). This is XP2, Dell Dimension
Michelle Sollicito 2:58 PM - Jun 1,2007

Ditto IVWShane above..
I have tried to use the zillow search on 5 different computers all using supported IE browsers (6 or 7), all using supported OSes (2000,XP) and all have flash installed, javascript enabled and so on.. one is a laptop (tried on 2 different networks with no firewalls) and 2 are at home, one is at work (my hubby works for yahoo and tried a few builds at yahoo – no joy)

We always get the following error:
“We’re sorry. We encountered a problem performing this search. Please wait a few seconds, then refresh the page or search again.”

I think Zillow has the problem, not us!! Please email me at michelle.sollicito@yahoo.com when its fixed – we are trying to send you a whole lot of clicks/views because we are building a new real estate portal which will allow users to click through to trulia, zillow and yahoo real estate!! If you get it fixed, we can put zillow in our first release!
Michelle Sollicito 3:00 PM - Jun 1,2007

I should add that the zillow site used to work on ALL the pcs I am talking about until about 6-8 weeks ago.. At that time we had the Corbonzo (www.corbonzo.com) portal page pointing to Zillow successfully and were going to roll out our portal with Zillow at the top of the page cos we thought it was the best site.. now it doesnt work we look pretty silly..
Dan 2:04 AM - Jul 3,2007

I am using IE6 and have had no problems using Zillow.com until a week ago. I am now getting the following browser error: Line 3450, Char 1, Expected ‘}’, code 0.

What is wrong?
Drew Meyers 10:46 AM - Jul 3,2007

Dan-
Thanks for your valuable feedback. We’ll look into the problem and let you know what we come up with.
Betty Philemon 9:51 AM - Jul 5,2007

Is there a way for Zillow to take off the blurb that first comes up showing stats of home? I understand this is fed from tax records? Needless to say I don’t want to mess with those people but the info feeding stats of my home is totally incorrect and I’m getting no hits on this home. I don’t care if it’s left blank, I just don’t want the incorrect stats on the home.
David G from Zillow.com 11:46 AM - Jul 5,2007

Hi Betty,

To illustrate that the public facts are incorrect and to set the record straight by publishing correct information, please click on the button that says “edit home facts”. That won’t change the public records but will let Zillow’s other members know that the public records for your home are incorrect.
Alan 5:55 AM - Jul 5,2008

I have been attempting to post my home and, after I get to the map, I press continue and the following his popped up for two days:

We’re sorry, there is a problem with the site.
Please try one of the following:

* Use your browser’s Back button to return to a previous page.
* Check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization and try again.
* The link you followed might be broken or expired. Try going to the http://www.zillow.com home page and following the links there to find what you need.

I am using Firefox 3.0. I have also tried on another computer using ie but have had the same result…

Any ideas?
ilene 10:16 AM - Jul 6,2008

please take a long at 1423 richmond knwoll fullerton , the computer keeps coming up with a strangly high valuation causing us much damage. Your comps are fine except on house on laspalmas sold for 1,550.00 says its 2000 sq ft bit you info is wrong it is 5000 sq ft new that might be throwing it of i can’t tell but its off by at least 500,000 help.
Jeffery Hill 3:59 PM - Jul 29,2008

It’s so frustrating now that there is this new flasdriver noting comes up on Zillow anymore. I can’t get any new properties unles I have been to them before. The most frustrating is that you can’t even email them to send a report. Why would people continue to advertize on a site that doesnt’ work and has not customer service??
Drew Meyers 2:49 PM - Jul 30,2008

Alan & Jeffrey-
I apologize that the site is not working on your computers. Unfortunately, this issue is likely a conflict between Flash and your browser and there is only so much individual troubleshooting we can provide. Have you tried all the recommended solutions on that page already?

ilene-
What is the complete address of that home?
Joes72 5:47 PM - Nov 17,2008

I’m running IE6 on a PC and when I try to access Zillow, I get the following:

“”"We do not support this version of the Safari browser
Zillow.com now supports the latest Safari version (3.0), or you can use Firefox for the Mac.
To upgrade your version of Safari, please download the latest Safari for free from here:
http://www.apple.com/safari/download/
and then return to Zillow.com where you can find home valuations and more.

Or, if you prefer, please download the free Firefox browser from here:
http://www.mozilla.org/download.html
and then return to Zillow.com.”"”"

Anyone run across this??

Thanks…Joe
Priya 10:22 AM - Apr 14,2009

Hi,
I’ve been using Zillow regularly but of late I am getting
this error message and the page does not load.

Line:2
Char:7
Error: Invalid Character
Code:0

Is there a fix for this?
Caroline 9:21 AM - Jun 5,2009

I cannot seem to signup for Zillow, as it continually gives me an error message on the password I’ve entered and re-entered. It doesn’t tell me what is wrong or required, but highlights in red, then when I’ve corrected and re-entered, it does the same thing. HELP, please. Thanks.
eric 8:15 AM - Jun 19,2009

it is amazing zillow is around since its crappy programming seems to never work!
Vicki 1:23 AM - Jul 7,2010

If appear any questions I use your FAQ section and receive all needed answers. Thank you for zillow!
joshua 4:00 PM - Nov 11,2010

i am continuously getting the connecting to yahooapi at bottom and white screen for 50 seconds or so. it is very annoying
John 4:11 PM - Feb 12,2011

I’ll second the problem with slow (to no) connection. The call from Zillow’s home page and subsequent search pages to yui.yahooapis.com appears to be having problems, causing the page to load very slowly (minutes) and in fact renders specific pages unusable. And I’ve noticed this for about 6 months — figured enough people would bring up the issue, which seems to be a general problem.