Zillow Premier Agent - Worth the cost?

Question

Hey BP friends - Are Zillow Premier Agent subscriptions worth the cost? $800 per month gets me 4-5 leads, obviously not guaranteed. I’m here in Austin, TX. Looking for your thoughts?

Jonathan Greene · Answer

The effectiveness of Zillow leads are at an all-time low and have never been worth the money. A small percentage of us were good at converting them, but only when you have systems and a team in place to respond and react in a moment. There are SO many better ways to spend your money than on a company like Zillow who won't even give listing agents their own leads on their own listings. Also, once you sign up for something on Zillow, they will make it near impossible for you to cancel. This is the best time to spend less and to go into your database and make a personal call to everyone you've done a deal with or worked with just to see how they are doing.

Jordan Moorhead · Answer

No, Zillow needs to crawl in a hole and die. I advertised there 6 months and sold 0 houses from it.

Tyler Gibson · Answer

@Darshil Parikh I honestly think there are better ways to spend that money. Why not invest it in hiring a marketing guy to set up FB ads to drive leads. Cheaper and more effective. Plus you know that those leads are not being sold to other competitors. I personally have looked into Zurple which has an all in one CRM google and FB ads and AI communication built in I think it is less than the 800 and they nurture the leads with AI communication until the person is ready to start buying.

Russell Brazil · Answer

It depends on your ability to convert Zillow leads to sales. I know that may sound like well yeah duh obvious.  But really the obvious isnt as simple as it sounds.  Im in the top 1% of agents nation wide, and I honestly have zero chance of converting a Zillow lead to a sale, because it is a skill set I simply dont have.  But if you do have that skill set, then it can be worth it. One of the things thats needed to be succesful, is answering every single incoming lead almost immediately, and getting those leads to the property the same day. I have friends that kill it at Zillow, and I cant convert a single lead from there.

Damon Bodine · Answer

@Darshil Parikh.  Call every single person in your phone.   This may not be a time to solicit business but its a time to stay connected with people.   You know they're most likely home.  Cold Call (check with your state to see if this legally permitted during a state of emergency.  For example in NYS it is not)Mail -start building connection. Educational Videos. - never a bad time to start.  Volunteer in the community.   Whatever you can do to help.  Show your community that real estate agents aren't just sales people they're human being.

Its going to be a long road moving forward but I think any agent has to be very careful where they spend marketing money.  I guarantee the lead selling sharks are coming and they're coming in full force this time around.   Just don't think its sound business strategy to have a business based on buying leads   no matter who the vendor is.

Jonathan R McLaughlin · Answer

@Darshil Parikh wow! Hats expensive. Only one person but as an active investor who regularly surfs Zillow for background and occasional inquiries I can tell you the only call I ever make are to the listing agent. Feels like a scam to get in the middle of a deal where someone adds no value. Not even saying that’s automatically true, but that’s how it feels.

And the few times I’ve screwed up and called all they do is say “ I’ll contact the listing agent” we’ll I can do that and if I wanted representation I’d get someone I know.

Can’t comment on the owner occupant approach. Likely better. I’d be curious about the quality of your leads from there. The price seems WAY out of wack for the value

Damon Bodine · Answer

I wouldn't .   Its A LOT of money and the lead quality is not what it used to be.   If an agent is going to survive the next 2 years they need to become a listing agent first.

Mukul Lalchandani · Answer

Hey Darshil, I've been on and off with Premier Agents several times throughout my career, and here in the NYC market, it is pretty competitive. Average prices are around $900,000, I've closed two Zillow leads in all the years I have advertised with them - one at about $200,000 and another at $550,000. I say, save your money, invest it in marketing assets you control and drive your own demand. Austin is a great market with so many opportunities for growth. All the best to your success!

Darshil Parikh · Answer

@Tyler Gibsonill check out Zurple. Thanks

Shawn Mcenteer · Answer

@Darshil Parikh zillow leads are expensive.  What does your broker recommend?

Zillow Premier Agent - Worth the cost?

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