No doubt many of us can be found on Zillow, Trulia and a myriad of other sites. Some of these sites are able to make money off us us by prominantly displaying our pictures and contact informaton next to listings in areas we service. It does not SAY we are the listing agent, but it is easy enough for buyers who are looking at the page to make that assumption. For the most part, I think agents (other than the actual listing agent?!) like that fact.
It is definitely not unusual to get a call from a prospective buyer stating that they saw my listing on _________________ (name your favorite site here). I'm used to that and I do explain if a property is not my listing and if the buyer is unrepresented and would like my help, I take it from there. What really blows me away are the agents.
Just this afternoon I got a call from an agent. "I'm calling about your listing on XYX street". My response, "I don't have a listing on that street, where are you seeing that". 'On Zillow"... Huh? is it me or is this agent completely cluesless? If I am looking for properties to show my clients, I look them up in the MLS. Does that make me old fashioned?! I don't think so. Why on earth would you call an agent about a listing because you saw their information next to a property photo on Zillow or Trulia or whatever site?
I had this happen in another way not long ago. The agent actually argued with me that YES I DID have a listing on XYZ Street. Her client emailed her the page from the IDX search results from my website so therefore it was absolutlely true that is was MY listing. Sorry to disappoint you, but I DO know if I have a listing or not. (Oh to be that swamped that I couldn't keep track of all of my listings, but I digress...)
When thee market got tough, everyone said the lousy agents would fall by the wayside and we'd be left with only good ones. Apparently they were drinking the Kool Aid when they made that remark. I'm telling you, lately I've had contacts from more cluless agents than I can count. They don't know how to write offers, they don't understand the contract, they don't know how to determine who the listing agent is and perhaps some of them aren't even able to read! I provide all pertinent information in the MLS regarding when a home can be shown, the deadline for offers, the list goes on. I don't mind calls with questions about the property, but please don't call when the information is so easily available to you. It feels like there is no point in providing any information since they call and ask questions that are right there in the MLS in black and white. Oh yeah, I forgot, they are looking in Zillow instead of the MLS....
I swear, there should be an itelligence test that goes along with the real estate licensing exam!
Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
