Missing Keuka Lake Info On Zillow
June 12th, 2012 categories: Information, Keuka Lake, Real Estate News
Many buyers and sellers have been using the “expertise” of Zillow for the last few years, so much so, that if it is on Zillow, then it must be.
I have previously been a member of the Zillow pro team, allowing me to use more photos on my listings, show up as the real estate pro for my area ( zip codes ) and even write and submit blogs. I tried the program, actually several times. I always thought if the other realtors are doing it, I should as well.
Then I started having issues.
- Listings that were not mine were showing up as mine.
- The listings that were actually mine had the wrong information ( sometimes the same listing would show up several times – all with different info ). Usually these listings I could correct.
- Owners of properties would call me up to ask why I had their property listed for sale, and of course I did not. When I investigated, they usually did show as being for sale and my picture and name would be listed on the same page. Actually no one had the property listed, it just showed up on Zillow that way.
- One of the times I had a pro membership, I was allowed to receive leads through an 800 number. I would receive a call and it would start out ” Hello, you are receiving a customer inquiry through Zillow.” I would answer and the person on the other end would say something like ” Hey how long will it take to get my payday advance? or ” You sent the wrong medical products.” Completely taken back, I would contact my Zillow rep. Of course they would turn it over to their tech support. Needless to say, I do not have a pro account with Zillow anymore, but I still receive the occasional “Hello, this is a customer call from Zillow”, at which point I hang up.
Occasionally I still log into Zillow, to see what they are up to and what is new. Today I received a phone call from one of my clients stating that a friend of hers saw her house for sale on Zillow for $935,000. I had to look immediately because her house is listed at $1,099,000. I could not find it on Zillow for sale. Eventually I found it, but not for sale and it has two different prices listed as you can see in the photo below, actually three prices, one is not the sellers address ( 453 E Lake Rd $16,000 ) $1.15 mil and $1.16 million. Both prices for her property are incorrect and it is listed as not being for sale.
So if you are a buyer looking to purchase property on Keuka Lake, do not expect to see all available listings on Zillow. If you are a seller, do not get nervous if your house is not listed or listed incorrectly. For everyone out there in my selling area, please call me if you are looking for a property to purchase on Canandaigua Lake, Keuka Lake, or Seneca Lake. I will be able to give you information on all properties available for the correct price and with the correct information.
Zillow is a third-party service that offers real estate information and estimates. I am sure they do not intentionally give out incorrect information, but I believe it just happens through the various programs they use to compile info. The other issue affecting Zillow now, is that many of the Multiple Listing Services are not automatically giving Zillow the information any more, but information does show up through agents that are still paying for the Pro service. How they will succeed with just partial and or incorrect information, I am not sure. But to my clients: Buyer and Seller beware on Zillow !
I have now educated one of my Keuka Lake clients and they in turn have educated their friends. It looks like in the future I will need to remind all clients about information obtained on Zillow or any other third-party site.
For the correct information for the above listing, you can find it on our website Wine Trail Properties. It is a beautiful waterfront home and deserves to have the correct information available as well as all of the wonderful photos available. Contact me personally if you would like a viewing of this magnificent property.
And for the best information for all lakefront properties for sale on Keuka Lake, contact myself or anyone in the office.
Information brought to you by Mary St.George Realtor, Associate Broker, Wine Trail Properties, 315-719-8377, [email protected]
