Comments on: Zillow vs. Trulia – A Cage Match For The Ages

By: ecahoon

ecahoon — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:48:45 +0000

Trulia doesn't have an estimated house value like eppraisal or Zillow? Hard to see any value added by Trulia.

By: Karen Rice

Karen Rice — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:57:45 +0000

Thanks for this info – I think each site definitely has its place.

By: Eric Stegemann

Eric Stegemann — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:35:16 +0000

Jim,
Unless something has changed it is not an IDX feed. What most of the companies do is either create their own script that takes an IDX feed they already get (or their IDX vendor gets) and parse it down into XML standarized formats. This is the automatic way to do it and is included in the product we offer at Tribus. Other companies like Point2 etc make you retype the whole listing in again.

It would be against almost every MLS’ rules to push an IDX feed out to a non-broker website.

By: Jim Marks

Jim Marks — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:07:20 +0000

Actually it is NOT an MLS feed, but it IS an IDX feed. IDX providers filter the MLS feed by broker or agent, (and the good ones) offer the ability for the broker or agent to send that feed directly to Trulia and Zillow… (this is how all my clients get their listings up?)

Eric, Did I miss something?

By: Eric Stegemann

Eric Stegemann — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:45:20 +0000

No it’s not IDX feed, (I’m sure Trulia and Zillow wish they could get IDX feeds) but a broker could easily add something to their IDX feed, maybe some kind of unique ID code for all their listings that only the person in charge of the feed and Trulia / Zillow know. That way it can be corroborated. In our feed I’m fairly confident we put in our MLS office id in there for something else we are working on, don’t know what Realogy is doing…

Dealing with integrity IS tricky. I think it needs to be more of a priority for these companies than it is at the present time. I mean they have policies in place and I understand they have 3+million listings. But let’s step it up.

By: Rob Hahn

Rob Hahn — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:38:07 +0000

Unless I’m very mistaken (entirely possible), neither Trulia nor Zillow get a true “IDX feed” from anyone. They’re not participants in an MLS in the sense a broker or agent is.

The feed that Zillow gets from CB is not the IDX feed, but the CREST feed. I suppose where Zillow/Trulia has a relationship directly with an MLS, they may be getting the direct MLS feed — but who knows?

Plus, allowing data editing is a tricky, tricky proposition. Ensuring data integrity is no small feat. For example, how do you deal with overwrite rules? Does the MLS feed data overrule hand-edits in Trulia? Or does the hand-edits in Trulia take precedence, based on timestamp of entry?

-rsh

By: Jim Reppond

Jim Reppond — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:40:08 +0000

I consistently have issues relating to controlling information on my listings with these companies. I am a Coldwell Banker agent, and Zillow gets it’s IDX feed from ColdwellBanker.com. I can not control or edit my own listings because of it. Even if they try to fix it, it just gets screwed up again because I use syndication programs like Postlets.

I can’t justify partnering with either of these companies until they modify their systems to allow the true listing agents to access, edit, and control their listing’s information.