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.

Top Ranked Companies

#1 Realtor.com

5.6 Overall Score

4.8

star star star star star

(366)

View Profile View Profile

#2 Apartments.com

5.4 Overall Score

4.1

star star star star star_border

(326)

View Profile View Profile

#3 Re/Max

5.2 Overall Score

4.3

star star star star star_half

(97)

View Profile View Profile

thumb_up

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.

thumb_down

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.

gavel

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.

Was this content helpful?

thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

border_color Write a Review

User Reviews

Star Rating

4.6

1,132 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

58%

4 grade

28%

3 grade

10%

2 grade

1 grade

Sentiment Criteria

Value

Quality

Service

Trustworthiness

cancel

Filter by:

arrow_drop_down

Sort by:

star star star_border star_border star_border

Dave Fortin Kingston, PA

I find that Zillow is extremely lackluster and perhaps that's just for my area but they never have what I'm looking for, they barely have any places listed on their site or app, and I'm not even sure what they're doing trying to compete with other companies like them out there. I want to like them and I continue to use them but I close the app as fast as I open it.

3 years ago

Kristen Pleasant Grove, UT

Ziillow is a great tool to find a house, but isn't necessarily the best tool to find a foreclosed home. A lot of time, the "foreclosed" listings on Zillow are outdated or are just ways to get your to look at a house even though it is not foreclosed. Best to look at real foreclosed sites to get real information. Zillow can help give ideas and pricing though.

10 years ago

Craig Slist Oak Harbor, WA

I have used Zillow for years and love how easy it is to use their website, as well as, how informative it is to see potential houses, neighborhoods and what surrounding area has to offer. However, I've recently read Zillow uses the user data to identify high search areas and use this information to invest in areas that have a high demand for profit. I'm not against companies making money but in the end it hurts the user because it increases the housing and rental costs in those areas and then companies like Zillow can either profit or sell banking the money made based solely on the users searches. Zillow recently sold half it's housing inventory (18,000 homes) which according to Housingwire dropped their market cap from $48 billion to $13.7 billion, so it will be interesting to see what happens in the future? If it's a housing market crash soon then maybe Zillow got advanced warning and dumped it's real estate on the market blaming it's failed iBuying platform?

Leonard Thompson Show Low, AZ

This website needs A LOT of work. Every time I try to find a rental, or am looking for land to look at, it’s all just scattered. When I put in a specific town it doesn’t narrow it down to that town. I feel like the design is also messy which makes me want to exit out as soon as possible. It’s a bummer because it’s a great ideas. It just needs some tweaking.

4 years ago

Chef Cat A 2 Z Living Well Solutions White Plains, NY

This corporate giant does a great job at not showing you the whole picture of what a property really looks like. Our realtor constantly warned us that Zillow was notorious for misleading on true square footage and a few other key information. This site does not offer the confidence you want when making when of the biggest purchases of one's life.

1 year ago

Denise Anderson Madison, MS

The experience was great but only thing I don't like is you got the email that you got pin this you got to remember this if you lose this you got to start out over I don't like that it should be one little simple plan but it is all twisted

2 years ago

Leah Garcia Yuma, AZ

We found the good thing about Zillow is that they give you an updated appraisal on homes so that you can see their worth. The bad thing about Zillow is that homes that sell are not taken off and so in that way it is not updated often making it hard to know if the house you are looking at is still for sale.

G Anniston, AL

My family had outgrown our apartment so we decided to buy a home .zillow seemed as good a place to start as any so we contacted them and at first they were polite and helpful until we discussed our price range.since it was on the lower end they immediately lowered the service .ended up goin to another company after being treated less than.

Brandon Farrow Gilbert, AZ

I’ve always found Zillow to be horribly inaccurate in its data. The website is confusing and I don’t like that agents who are presented as being the owner of a particular listing aren’t really the owners of those listings. I think that’s misleading.

Melody Rowe Charlotte, NC

Zillow is a major pain and open to a lot of scammers. Definitely would not recommend using this site to look for homes. As they need better security set in place and also google map directions added.

TIMOTHY RHOADES Warsaw, IN

Zillow has a problem separating sold units from rental units. On several occasions I was looking for a rental property and it ended up being a unit for sale.

Nicole Kilburn Las Vegas, NV

Every apartment i was interested in on this site was not available. I dont understand why they would still leave listings up if they were not available

Stephanie Ponce Hemet, CA

Trying to find a home to rent on Zillow is hard. I got scammed, no reply’s and always a bidding war with who has the best income and credit score.

Paul Howard Arlington, WA

Could be better, they tend to show houses that are way over my budget on occasion. Not sure why that is? Maybe it's to show what I'm missing out on?

Zillow lists homes for rent at rates much higher than the market. I do not recommend using them if looking for a fair deal.

Akshay P

Issue is that you cannot edit its home facts. It’s disabled. Therefore home zestimate do not increase

Mei Lee Cranston, RI

The estimated value of the house doesn’t seem right. Some information is missing compare to other sites.

Bonnie Hernandez Philadelphia, PA

Like most of these sites listing/advertisers are usually too good seeming to be easily accessible.

Ludrick Donovan Orlando, FL

Try renting from Zillow but return contacts and information sometime not available

Tara Gaydosh

A little complicated to use does not follow filters you put in

David Backholer Hilliard, OH

The Company is too intrusive and does not respect privacy sometimes.

RTA 07 Walton, KY

Never find house that are rent worthy and lots of scams

Edgar IL

Customer service is bad. They forever to answer.

Mark Erwin Follansbee, WV

Not enough information, not updated regularly