Did anyone notice what the Zillow folks did on their home page? For some reason or other — could it be blogger criticism? — Zillow changed their home page.
Here is the prior Zillow home page:
Notice the claims we highlighted. These led critics to accuse Zillow of misleading consumers. The appeal to buyers to “avoid overpaying” and the pitch to sellers to use zestimates to arrive at the “right” price seemed to be more hook than hyperbole.
But check out the new and improved Zillow home page. Gone are these allegedly misleading claims.
For this, Zillow earns a pat on the back. David, if you’re watching, will you explain the reasoning behind the change?
Thought my RSS reader was broken, i had to come over and take a look. I like the new Zillow front page too.
We’d love to hear David G’s explanation. What made them remove that language? The VCs, owners, agents, NCRC, lowly bloggers, Mr. Barton or Frink? Who has that memo? We’d love to see it.
Yeah, you might want to get in good with the Zillow people before they take over the world
If they were marching nicely to world domination, they would not have removed that language. They are answering to someone & that someone is the real estate professional who they NEED to list and buy ads. When they make agents happy, agents will make them happy by listing and buying ads. Statisticians are not agents, so it takes a little time for them to get it.
Zillow should love us. We have been giving them free advice for a long time–eg. make the owner calculated zestimates public (done), fix your faulty/incomplete public data (getting done w/owner help)and give owners who list the right to opt-out (hide) their faulty zestimate so they can sell the house without that obstacle(not yet but it’s coming). Until they lose those silly zestimates next to the For Sale prices they can’t take over New Jersey. They’re a bit stubborn on this one since they bought into the notion that homes are like cars. Silly rabbits.
BTW Markus, like your blog.
Hi Sellsius, thanks for noticing. I’m glad you find these blurbs an improvement.
We use our home page to highlight our most recently added and most valuable features. So, we’re now promoting the fact that owners and agents can post and find homes that are for sale — this change was made with the December launch of our new home posting features. Zestimates are still promoted on the Zillow home page but they now share the spotlight with for-sale content.
As you mention, user and blogger feedback has been very useful in fine-tuning our site’s content and functionality. Please keep the feedback coming — it’s much appreciated.
Hi David
Happy New Year. We are pleased to see the improvement, for consumers’ benefit. It is indeed a credit to zillow to listen to its critics, eventually(and we think we are constructive critics).
Still, you have not explained WHY that language “do not overpay” and “arrive at the right price” is gone. Both would seem particularly useful now that houses are being listed for sale.
That strong marketing language was displayed prominently on the home page to attract consumers by a skilled copywriter and it was approved by the principals for launch & beyond. Zillow took heat for it. The FTC was brought into the picture. Now it’s gone. Who’s decision was it to remove it? And if I’m not mistaken, language is not changed willy-nilly. It’s discussed, memos are written, meetings taken (with croissants & bagels) and votes are cast.
Can you give us the skinny on that process?
Did it have anything to do with zillow’s talks with NCRC? NHB?
Last thing–user feedback. Has zillow received any complaints from listers that the zestimate beside their “for sale price” is too low (or high) and that they would like to hide or remove it?
How many objections would Z need before it would consider giving listers that option? Do it before someone raises another big stink which permeates the blogos? Deep-six that albatross. Have we ever steered you wrong?