What is a Zillow Agent and, just as importantly, should I use a Zillow Agent? I’ve been a top-producing Realtor® here in Central Florida for many years and my team and I have been Zillow Agents for many of those years. As such, today I’ll be helping you to understand what a Zillow Agent IS, and then I’ll be helping you to determine IF using a Zillow Agent is good for you. Towards the end, I’ll also be sharing a tip to help you pick a great Realtor®.

So let’s jump right into what a Zillow Agent IS. A Zillow Agent is really just a real estate agent that has created an account on Zillow. This requires that they fill out a bio, list their sales information, brokerage information, along with some other information. This differs from a Zillow Premier Agent in that to be “Premier”, you have to pay. So basically, you’re paying for their title. Premier Agents pay Zillow to send them leads for people looking to buy or sell homes in their geographical area.

So, let’s say you’re browsing around on Zillow just looking at homes, and you see a home, or land for that matter, that catches your eye, and you want to see that home. Well, Zillow will connect you and that real estate agent that pays for that lead. Real estate agents can easily spend thousands of dollars each and every month on Zillow.com.

In order to determine IF we should use a Zillow Agent, let’s first address WHAT Zillow IS. In my mind, Zillow is really a data collection company. I wouldn’t even say they’re wholly in the real estate business, although some pieces of Zillow are, like their financing component and their failed Zillow Offers program. Yes, you can find all sorts of homes for sale or rent, but they’re selling THE DATA to real estate agents. They provide a service like any other company.

So now we know what Zillow is, and what a Zillow Agent IS, let’s address if using a Zillow Agent is a good idea FOR YOU. I’ve used Zillow for years and I was able to help many Zillow users find the perfect home for them. The connection was quick, and we usually started looking at homes shortly after we connected.

The concern when determining if you should use a Zillow real estate agent comes when you consider how real estate agents GET ON Zillow’s platform…THEY PAY FOR IT. So, real estate agents that are willing to pay, get to be sent buyers or sellers.

Now…this does NOT mean Zillow Agents are bad, but rather that Zillow real estate agents are of ALL sorts. They can be horrible, bad, good, or great. They could’ve just earned their license and never written a contract, or they could be a top-producing professional.

I’m aware of several great real estate agents that advertise on Zillow and provide a great service. However, a BRAND SPANKING NEW real estate agent can also advertise. Can a brand-new agent be good? Of course, but I can tell you that I made a lot of mistakes as a brand-new real estate agent to learn what I know today, and trust me, an experienced real estate agent is worth looking for. They can save you thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention headaches along the way with the wisdom they can provide.

Experience is often the key. So, how can I pick a great Realtor? One option is to just go with of the real estate agents that Zillow provides, but doing so could make your phone ring for hours with numerous real estate agents blowing up your phone. But, I think there’s a better option.

Here’s a link where you can go to search for Zillow Agents. If you have a real estate agent that you want to check out, just put their name in the search bar. If you enter a city, you’ll get all sorts of real estate agents to search through. It’s important to note that the best real estate agents are not necessarily at the top of the list.

Take the time to do your research here. Check the reviews, along with the number of them. Real estate agents with more reviews tend to be real estate agents that take their business more seriously and tend to have more experience. More importantly, read their bios and see who they are (or who they claim to be).

You can also tell how many years they’ve been in business here. Be careful though, because just because someone’s been in business for 45 years does not mean they’re a good real estate agent. They could’ve sold a home 25 years ago and just kept their page updated.

Look at their sales. Look for sales in YOUR area, and RECENT sales. My team and I sell primarily north of Orlando, but real estate agents from way south of us, even in Kissimmee, are always coming up here. That could just be a great, dedicated real estate agent, but you got to wonder if they even know this area. If you’re buying a home, it’s vital that you’re working with a professional that knows YOUR AREA.

After you do all this, take the time to speak with more than one real estate agent. It’s true that you could do all this, and still end up with a bum of a real estate agent, but this…at the VERY LEAST, improves the odds of helping you select a good Zillow Agent. Of course, if you’re buying or selling north of Orlando, FL, give me a call! 

Published on March 19. 2024 / Tags: #delandfl, Central Florida Real estate, real estate trends, Zillow / no comments.