Name: Zillow
Rating: 4.6

LAST UPDATED: August 19th, 2024

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

4.6

1,132 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

58%

4 grade

28%

3 grade

10%

2 grade

1 grade

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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.

3 years ago

Jay Great Falls, MT

These people are a nightmare!! We aren't even listed with them. Our home is not for sale, not in pre-foreclosure, not up for auction!! Our home has been in loan modification, was approved by our first lender, sold to another lender and is in final review. We have been told by our lender that all is approved. Zillow and Auction.com will not remove the false listing!! They both tell us to have the mortgage company just call them...Per both of our lenders, "we don't call Zillow or Auciton.com". Both mortgage companies are saying this is a scam and will be initiating legal action. We are in contact with our attorney as well. This happened the first time in Feb 2019, and was removed immediately by Zillow. Now somehow they just can't remove it. This was re-posted a week ago and now they won't remove it!! Avoid Auction.com and Zillow at all cost. They listed this on their own, we never contacted them.

5 years ago

Francis Adesuyi

Their website sucks I tried listing my home for sale a 3bed room bungalow and I waited for like 3days without any listing showing and I have to relist. I got mailed that I should verify that I was the owner which is impressive from there and I did and nothing to showing off from it with all the paper work I did taking through stress don’t even bother to call any customer service because it sucks if I could give it a zero rate I will because it doesn’t worth my 1 rate

1 year ago

robin Gaithersburg, MD

Zillow's estimates are hard to decipher, especially when an estimate for a delapidated home in an OK neighborhood in Montgomery County MD lists for more than $500K when other larger and remodeled homes around it are estimated at nearly $100K less. Same with under-estimates that are based on some arcane and not well-defined criteria that does not make sense. Why does Zillow even offer estimates when they are so far off of what the real value is, including actual home sales in the area?

9 years ago

Eli Colon

Probably one of the worst places to try to rent from. You find a place, you take the information down. Try to reach to the landlords, contact number brings you back to Zillow service, just do try to set a viewing just for the landlord to never contact you back!. Here’s the thing, If you’re a landlord,… and post a property for rent! Least be mindful and respectful enough to reach back or don’t post your property at all if you’re going to lack on communication/responding!. App is truly a joke especially with these type of landlords!!. Unsubscribed!

2 years ago

peter Catonsville, MD

inaccurate click bate, mote of their listing is either under contract, not for sale, horrible if you want to waste your time. the only positive is the ease of use of the interface and app. other than that the info is garbage

7 years ago

Terika Parrish Memphis, TN

The homes that are listed are sold! Please update your search more. I have broken my heart a couple times due to listings not actually available. Some aren’t even for sale period! That makes it easy for people to scam.

upnorthwi Bellevue, WA

I tried Zillow to find property in my area. I found it difficult to use and descriptions were vague and often pricing for the property didn't seem right or was "estimated". After a few attempts I stopped using them.

3 years ago Edited January 3, 2022

Tracy McMillan Orem, UT

Zillow pulls information from other sites, but often has incorrect and outdated information. I would not recommend using them when looking at homes or when wanting information about what your home might be worth.

4 years ago

Carol-Lisa Hapner Bloomington, IN

I paid for services.. such as background checks . Sent over 15 renters. Never even got one response thru zillow nor refunded

KMR R Cincinnati, OH

Used Zillow for real estate leafs. Was charged 500 for a zip code. Had 0 leads. Tried for a refund but they lock you into 6 months at a time

3 years ago Edited April 8, 2022

Christine Philadelphia, PA

Really couldn’t find anything I wanted I would put in my city and it came up another city

Micheal Gibbs El Centro, CA

Need to get right to the part that gives appraisal for your home!

Naturally Beautifully Phoenix, AZ

Never responded to me no matter how many voicemails and messages are left

Mario C

The prices that they are selling the homes for our very well over inflated.

Sandra Goff Walterboro, SC

THEY OVER VALUE HOMES. THEY DO THIS FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN

DeeDee M. Austin, TX

Posts looks ok. Customer service is lacking.

Poorboy Atlanta, GA

False and misleading or obsolete listings