We get a lot of calls from Vendors. The latest from a Zillow Marketer, Michael, was very nice. He took the time to explain to me that I could not compete with Zillow with regard to my listings. He further explained there was no way for me to achieve the exposure and “Brand Awareness” when it came to my real estate endeavors. LOL – I’m glad he did not sugar coat it 
I suppose he is right on many different levels. First, I’m not trying to be Zillow. I’m not even trying to compete with Zillow. The one think that I know about Zillow and the other real estate syndication websites is that if my seller does not want their listing showing up on their systems, it won’t.
Yes, you heard me right. The Real Estate syndication websites, like Zillow, need a sellers permission. Albeit, within our Board of Realtors, the default setting when uploading a listing is “publish to all of the real estate syndication websites.
More and more agents are realizing the anti-power. Their sellers are too. It’s like when our listings appear on Craigslist being published by someone that did not have the “listing agent’s” permission. It does no body any good. In fact, it is very deceptive and misleading.
BTW – the Anti Power that I mentioned? That is when a local real estate agent has something that is not allowed to be published by the real estate syndication websites. Google Knows – that home is going to get huge local traffic for that Local Real Estate seller and agent!!!
I explained to the Zillow Marketer that most of our sellers don’t want their listings published on the syndication websites(after they are enlightened). They love the fact that we have more control over the publishing of the data. There is more accountability and focus from the Local Forums.
One of the other things that I presented to this marketer was the fact a super small font is used on the page where our sellers listings appear. You will see three agents – a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd to the right within a banner, or below the listing (they are still fine tuning the presentation). None of those agents are the one the seller hired to sell their home. You have to look very carefully to find who the brokerage or responsible realtor is.
We are not big advocates of “dual agency”, that is where the listing agent is representing the buyer as well. click here for dual agency explained. But, isn’t this unfair to those agents who are? What about the Sellers, where is they payback when their listings are populating the syndication websites? Are they getting a cut of the profits from the agents that are signing up for the leads and closings that are being generated? Absolutely not! The pitch that could be given is that, “Your home will be seen by thousands of qualified buyers…” – I have to say that a Savvy, Local Agent can do the same with more effectiveness. They are already a local, trusted brand, not some lead generation company.
How about some thoughts, am I close or am I whistling Dixie???
