Zillow

Name: Zillow
Rating: 4.4

Is This Your Business?

4.4

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210 User Reviews

9.5

Overall Score

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LAST UPDATED: September 20th, 2021

Zillow was developed as an online real estate search engine that was incorporated in 2004. It was created by Rich Barton and Lloyd Bring, former Microsoft gurus who were key in the development of the Expedia website. Spencer Rascoff serves as the company CEO. The company has data on over 110 million homes in the United States, in addition to the 2 million that are currently listed on the website for sale. The site offers value estimates on homes, gives key data on how the price of a home will change over a given timespan, gives aerial views of homes and helps customers find data on similar homes that exist in the same search area. The website accesses basic public data on a home and also gives information on the square footage and number of bedrooms listed in a home. If a home has a recently added feature, such as a renovation, this information is also tracked on the website for the home. Zillow also has API integration and developers can also network Zillow's search feature into websites developed for other realtors. Zillow has a unique functionality that is not found on many realtor websites. The "Make Me Move" feature is a great way to get a pre-market price on the home out there. One of the nice features of the Zillow website is the rental search feature, which was launched in 2009. The website doesn't list as many rentals as homes, but this helps renters find an affordable website. Zillow is also used to power other key real estate search paradigms, such as AOL Real Estate and MSN Real Estate, in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Zillow also was one of the first companies in the industry to begin using apps to access its real estate search database. Here is a list of apps available and the dates that they were launched:

April 2009, iPhone app
March 2010, Android app
April 2010, iPad app
March 2011, Blackberry app
July 2012, Windows phone app
November 2013, Windows 8.1 app.

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The Good

Search functionality
Apps

The first thing that we noticed about the Zillow website was its functionality. We liked the number of listings that we saw available. The search feature is also easy to use. Site users can do multiple types of searches. It is possible to search by address, state, map, type of home, rental or home purchase, the number of bedrooms in a home, and other search criteria. It also includes a "Make Me Move" price, where customers can see new homes that are just starting to enter the market. Another thing that we liked about the website was the feature that lets users see factors that increase a home's values. Price valuation increases in a home can be projected for a 5- or 10-year timespan. Also, the site lists recent renovations to a home that may also increase its price. We also liked the number of apps available for Zillow. When we looked at apps in the industry, many of the apps were only geared for the iPhone. We saw apps available for the iPad and Google tablets as well. The Zillow app is very flexible to use on the Windows 8.1 phone, a major plus in our opinion, given the Zillow functionality of the MSN Real Estate website. We found that the Zillow "Zestimate" was also accurate. We looked at homes on the website and then checked these prices with real estate websites and other listings. The Zestimate feature allows users to see a price that is projected based on several factors, including prices of homes that are also going in the same search area. Zestimate, however, is not always accurate. One of the problems that we found with "Zestimates" was that the price accuracy varies by location and current offers if buyers are negotiating for the home.

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The Bad

Customer support
Zestimate accuracy

One of the things we noticed right away was the lack of support available for the Zillow website. They don't offer a toll-free number for customers to call in. There is also no live chat app for customers who are looking for information about a particular home. Another problem that we found with Zillow was that the Zestimate and home prices listed on the website was not always accurate. We found that a homeowner who rented had lost income on a property because the property was incorrectly listed as being "in foreclosure." The client asked to receive funds to help compensate for their losses, but Zillow responded by saying that their information is received from third-party sources. We found that the pricing critiques of the website hinged on the following factors:

Some data used to compile the Zillow price estimate can be as old as twenty years and is based on old bank data, public data, and sales transactions.
Only 65% of Zillow's listing stock can be considered "accurate," according to Fortune magazine.
Real estate agents and brokers are more likely to know the most up-to-date and factual information about a home that is listed for sale.

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The Bottom Line

Overall, we would recommend Zillow as a website for listing your home or looking for a new home. Here is what we liked about Zillow's website:

Accurate data, for the most part, that is compiled from trustworthy and up-to-date public sources.
The "Zestimate" price that is listed for homes.
The search functionality of the website.
The ability for site users to ask real estate questions in a public forum.
The map feature and aerial views offered for homes.
Price valuation information for a home that is listed in timespan intervals.
Rental listings that are almost as extensive as sales listings.

We saw a pattern of complaints such as occasional inaccurate price information for a new home. Some landlords lost money due to homes being listed as "in foreclosure" on the website when they were in fact not. Also, we had concerns with some property information on the website, especially bank data, as being as much as two decades old. Even though Zillow gets its information from third-party sources, more supervision of the data is needed to ensure its accuracy.

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User Reviews

Star Rating

4.4

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210 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

58%

4 grade

33%

3 grade

2 grade

1 grade

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Quality

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Service

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Trustworthiness

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Brittney Mac Gregor Louisville, KY

I have been using Zillow for a couple of years to monitor houses for sale in areas that I am interested in moving to. Zillow gives a lot of feedback to the users. It let's you know how much the houses are going for, what it was sold for, average statistics and demographics in the area. There are usually pictures listed as well. There is also information on who to get in touch with for properties that you are interested in.

3 weeks ago

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Sydney Charleston South Jordan, UT

Zillow is one of the best places to look when trying to find homes. We are searching for homes right now, and we have found the most there. It is easy to pick what you would like to see and bring up certain things that youd like in a home!

1 week ago

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Abril Hunter Tallahassee, FL

I like that Zillow offers a tool to filter houses by a variety of characteristics. When I was helping my brother find a home in Oregon, the up-to-date nature of the application was nothing short of helpful. I find that, despite other home search applications, I always find myself returning to Zillow because of its accessibility. I really enjoy the emails about changes in the market price of homes, it really keeps me in the know.

3 weeks ago

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David Stickles West Jordan, UT

Great for looking to buy or rent property. As one of the bigger platforms you can truly see a large percentage of the available properties in an area with a great range of filters.

3 weeks ago

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r vido Orem, UT

Very easy to search properties, like the fact you can narrow your search criteria making it useful. Value of homes aren't the most accurate (Zillow pulls information from other sites, but often has incorrect and outdated information), but great for a ballpark estimate.

1 week ago

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Cris Balmanno Riverton, UT

The best feature I like when using Zillow, is the map feature. I can search using the map and don't need to open another browser tab to check the address on a map. I am not sure if other sites have this feature, but Zillow is the first one I noticed using it, so I've stuck with them.

1 week ago

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JJ Jenkins Phoenix, AZ

Zillow is one of the best companies for buying and selling homes. They keep homes listed even if they are no longer for sale so that you can go back And find out Facts about homes even after they have sold. They give reliable Information and photos for homes in the area that you are looking to buy or sell a home property.

1 month ago

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Erin Carothers Eagle Mountain, UT

Zillow is great for getting a quick snapshot of what homes are on the market to purchase but the Zestimate feature isn't reliable for making real financial decisions about your home. The Zillow Apartment finder is amazing though. I love that I can pay one single fee and apply to multiple apartments at the same time. Plus it saves my application data so that I don't have to fill out the same information a billion times.

2 weeks ago

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Ajanaee x Tallahassee, FL

Zillow makes it easy for me to discover properties across the nation. Any time I'm looking to move, I make sure to view Zillow listings to find my next rental property .he website is very user-friendly and provides both affordable and luxury properties.

3 weeks ago

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LeAnn Baytown, TX

I used Zillow to look for my son an townhouse. The app was very user friendly. We were able to book our viewing appointment very easily. Will definitely use it again.

3 weeks ago

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Gabe Burton Riverton, UT

It's good when looking for properties like a home, the apartment listings aren't always accurate, however, the interface is easy to use and understand, so overall it's not half bad

1 week ago

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The Bean Spiller Provo, UT

I like the wealth of information they provide for each listing. However, it can be a bit much at first glance, so it'd be nice if they organized the information better while keeping the amount the same

1 week ago

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courtney tennant Salem, VA

Zillow has a very convenient way to filter homes or whatever else you are looking for. I wish they would update the app a little bit more, but other than that, it is amazing & I look through it all of the time.

1 month ago

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Kelsey Hudson Salt Lake City, UT

Is there anything more convenient than Zillow? I love having the capability to look up neighborhoods and homes, especially when I'm in new areas. Zillow has all the important data listed for each home.

2 weeks ago

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Brooklyn Jensen Provo, UT

I used Zillow to look at homes in San Jose, CA. It included a lot of pictures of the homes as well as a lot of useful/important information such as the value of the house over time and what features the house has.

2 weeks ago

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Kori Travis Tallahassee, FL

Zillow is one of the best sources to use when it comes to real estate. Any home that is on the market you can easily find on Zillow. The navigation of the site can be a little tricky to access but overall it is still a good source to use

3 weeks ago

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TTeep Smithfield, UT

I've really like using Zillow to give me a pretty close estimate of the value of my home. The only thing that I don't like is that their costs lag a little behind actual value and they don't appear to take into account unique situation type of things. It seems like I can increase my value by simply filling out the details on the site, not sure if that just makes it more accurate or inflates the cost. However, we did recently sell our home for more than Zillow listed it for.

1 month ago

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Britni Laidler Lindon, UT

I love looking at real estate options through Zillow. It is easy to navigate and has a clean appearance. I love that if I see a house in a new area, I can search homes for sale in the location I am in, and see a great variety of homes.

1 month ago

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Morgan Tennant Rexburg, ID

Zillow is a very well put together website that makes it easy to search for housing. I've found the information to be very accurate, which is very important when looking for something on short notice.

1 month ago

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Steve Salem, VA

Zillow is very easy to use. I use it constantly to check real estate value in areas I have an interest in. The maps they show are great at showing the location of properties

1 month ago

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Keiana Knowles Tallahassee, FL

I used Zillow to help my grandparents find a new home in my area and they made the process very easy. They also provide great details about their houses

3 weeks ago

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Mona-Lissa Tallahassee, FL

Zillow is definetly one of my top favorite websites to look for apartments even though I don't plan on buying anytime soon. The website, for the most part is easy to navigate, but I feel as though they should do a better job enforcing sellers to upload better pictures of their properties.

3 weeks ago

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Belle Pierdon Willoughby, OH

I like the layout of this service, I found nothing that I disliked with this company

2 days ago

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Anne Sainsbury Orem, UT

I have been using Zillow for the past two years as we have been back and forth in the home search. The search filters have been very helpful to find homes in the price range, size range, and locations that we are looking to buy a home. One of my favorite parts about using Zillow is that I don't get bombarded with ads after being on the website.

2 months ago

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Derek Vasquez Tallahassee, FL

Zillow is a great website for reviewing the available real estate in an area. It is an easy app and website to navigate, and it has always had a lot of options. I recommend Zillow for anybody trying to find a new place, or for anyone who wants to look at beautiful homes!

2 months ago

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Michelle Burke Folcroft, PA

I was connected with Megan J while looking to buy a starter home. She was SO knowledgable and patient with my THOUSANDS of questions as I was a first time buyer. I couldn't recommend Megan and Zillow enough.

3 months ago

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Megan Roper South Jordan, UT

I love how user friendly the website is. They also noticed I was looking at many homes so they had a customer service rep to help me with any questions I had during this crazy time of buying homes.

2 months ago

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Jenetta E Provo, UT

Used Zillow to find a new rental in my area. It was nice to have at least some bit of confidence that the places we would find would be legit and it was great to have one website that we could find several options on.

2 months ago

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Leonard Leo Potomac, MD

One of favorite go to site to check home sale prices and current comps in the area, i.e. Zestimates. You can search by type of property, prices and areas. Zillow gives you free information that a typical MLS service would, including school districting, taxes, previous sale price. Unfortunately, this free service cannot complete with the paid MLS service.

4 months ago

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Jade Knowles Tallahassee, FL

Zillow was an amazing help in finding my parents a home after my siblings and I moved our for college. My parents are a little old school, but Zillow made it very easy for my parents to find a home in a safe neighborhood and enough space for them to live and meet new people. Great experience will and I will use again!

2 months ago

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Elisabeth Kinghorn Nakhon Sawan, 60

I love using Zillow for my real estate searches! It is super easy to use and provides a lot of really important and convenient information about each property and the location. I found my current apartment by using this website and am very happy with it!

3 months ago

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BaiLeY WiLsOn Dickinson, TX

I used this for my real estate internship and it helped me find properties quickly

3 weeks ago

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Yolanda Queer Shelley, ID

I love Zillow! Their website is easy to use and they give lots of information about the listed properties.

1 month ago

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Raven Royal Sandy, UT

Zillow is an amazing site. It is so easy to use and has so many options. Definitely one of the best ways to find homes.

3 weeks ago

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Darci Vasquez Spokane, WA

The app Zillow has been very helpful before with finding out prices, rooms, and more about houses. It’s easy to navigate and provides you with lots of information without taking further steps.

2 months ago

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Fred Frontino Mesa, AZ

I've used Zillow for years to find several rental houses and then I found my permanent house I bought last year. I also use it for my work when I need to take a quick look at a property. I am very pleased with there service.

5 months ago

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A E B Damascus, MD

Competitive interest rates, fast and easy closing. Very professional team of experts to assure customer satisfaction! Reliable, reachable pretty much all the time. They definitely know what they are doing!

3 months ago

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Desi Bramwell Norwalk, OH

Zillow is easy to navigate and shows great homes that I would actually be interested in.

1 month ago

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Taylor Hall Los Angeles, CA

Zillow found my husband and I had a little house of our dreams. It is so easy to use and so clear! You can search by whatever characteristic you’d like. My favorite feature is the map search, which lets you search for homes based on their location. The pictures are always great quality and the realtors and sellers are easy to contact. Response time is wonderful!

7 months ago

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daphjohnson Saratoga Springs, UT

Zillow provides a fast and easy way to look at the housing market. Some of my favorite features about zillow are the market summaries and details. I also like being able to look up house price estimates as I am driving by. This helps me feel informed in real time. I use this app a lot because of that. I also found my first home through Zillow so I am forever grateful for the app.

7 months ago

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Morgan Knight Salt Lake City, UT

This past summer we were in the middle of the craziest housing market, thankfully we had Zillow! We were on Zillow all day everyday looking at neighborhoods and using the zestimate as a good reference pint in areas we were not super familiar with! Zillow was a key component of finding our home! I also used Zillow to rent our unit on our rental property and it is amazing! I love how they have an application all ready for you to use and how easy they make the process in communicating with potential applicants.

8 months ago

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Dshatch Frankfort, IL

The listings on Zillow are quick and easy to access, but they tend to be out of date. Not always the most comprehensive apartment rental shopping website

1 month ago

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Robert Washington, MI

Customer support is totally non-existent. Phone calls are not accepted unless you are a realtor. When you list-be prepared for constant hounding by realtors from sunup to sunset. My home racked up 2338 views with 68 saves. I wondered why no responses-to express interest you click agent where they give my email-no phone number accepted-that`s for realtors. Anyway 4 acquaintances tried to contact my email and I received a big nothing. Ripoff-pure and simple. Wrote to them concerning this issue 5 days ago and a big zero for a response. BTW Trulia is also owned by this same group. If you value your sanity stay away.

4 months ago

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Tiffany I Gaithersburg, MD

Zillow gives a wide range of homes on the market. Recently I inquired about a new construction home and I was able to send my message thru their site immediately. Received a message and call by the next day.

3 months ago

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Rhona Leffler Olney, MD

I like the option to look up properties on the market without being hounded by a real-estate agent. The search engine really lets you narrow down properties that fit your criteria.

4 months ago

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Amber Williams Salt Lake City, UT

Great company, easy searches and detailed info

1 week ago

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Brooke Snyder Troutville, VA

Looking at houses and apartments to rent in the nearby area help show prices and help budget money to buy a house

1 month ago

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Hannah Burke Rexburg, ID

This gave me a good range of homes and was easy to scout an area

1 month ago

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Deanna Ryde Madison, WI

Zillow Home Loans was wonderful to work with. The process was smooth and quick. They gave us quick responses to questions. The closing was one of the quickest we and our closing company have ever experienced. I would definitely recommend them! As an experienced real estate agent, I have worked with many mortgage companies and this is one of my top picks!

2 months ago

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Jessica Chen Rockville, MD

I use Zillow to look at houses and compare house prices. Recently, my parents have been thinking of moving, so I definitely use Zillow to look at houses and house price around my county. Zillow is great in providing information like the size, price, and num of bathrooms and rooms which is great for helping users who are finding houses.

6 months ago