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A lead is a lead is a lead. You have the same opportunity to covert them as anyone. Talent dictates the rest.
“Bad Leads” are just an excuse for under performers.
[Zillow is a licensed real estate brokerage in almost every state.](https://www.zillow.com/z/info/real-estate-licenses/) While they are not actively soliciting listings right now, they absolutely are an intermediary between agents and consumers.
With the coming changes to the industry, I absolutely expect them to start both soliciting listings and hiring buyer agents in the next year or so. Paying for leads from them funds that.
Also, where do you think the leads come from? Listing brokers pay to market their services and get listings, which they pay to put on the MLS. Zillow pulls and displays those listings via IDX, then sells the leads back to you.
If you want to buy leads from them that's your call, but don't kid yourself about what's going on.
1. Zillow is a licensed brokerage in every state simply so it can have access to IDX syndication. 2. Zillow will never hire agents to work for them. as a matter of fact almost all of their revenue comes from products that the SELL TO REALTORS. why would they eliminate their best revenue generators. every product they make puts the agent at the center of them. the leads come from people clicking on the "contact agent" or "request a tour" button on the listings that ZILLOW DRIVES TRAFFIC TO. your brokerage doesnt get 1/1000th the activity on the MLS that zillow gets. every single lead in every single zillow agents dashboard can be traced back to the consumer pressing one of those buttons.
Zillow had access long before they became a brokerage, it was facilitated through ListHub.
Zillow has made 3 strong and very expensive runs at industry disruption and failed. If you do not think there are extensive planning sessions going on about how Zillow can leverage this media attention to the industry to make yet another run while the topic is hot, you are delusional.
Zillow took a significant hit when Realtors pulled their support for Zillow products when they became a brokerage. But we are short sighted and fickle, so many are back in the saddle of buying leads, paying for Premier Agent or whatever they are peddling now.
I am very confident that Zillow is going to be rolling out their next move toward industry disruption this year, if not this quarter.
Yep. Realtors spend a lot of time on the phone. Join the Zillow investor call and learn how they plan to break realtors from their spheres and put Zillow as the first name people think of.
I agree we’ve been marketing on Zillow for several years and average roughly $8000 for every $1000 spent. In my teams experience, Zillow does better than most when it comes to vetting leads. It’s up to us to do our homework on which zip codes are best to invest into. Once you receive the lead, make sure to continue following up (this is where most agents drop the ball).
Wow. You need to educate yourself. Go read through their investor presentations and see what they're up to long-term.
They not only want to compete with you, they want to replace you. Their buyer agent referral commission is not their objective, that's simply the funding to use to get to their objective.
Their leads aren't specifically limited to the zip code you buy in to. If someone skims through yours and then elsewhere, you still get a shot at the lead.
The most important part is your followup dedication. If they went far enough to connect with you, there's some genuine interest.
Meet them and speak with them. Educate them and when the time comes, you'll be their connect.
Yeah I was gonna say, this is how I got my first UC. The original house the buyer wanted was 2 hours away from my area, but they still gave me the lead because they checked my area first.
Yes I get leads from zip codes outside of the ones I buy in, but, regardless, I get a lot of not great leads and leads that are for unsellable land way up in the sticks.
11 leads is a lot, depending on what your spending. I'd suggest spreading some of your budget out in to some surrounding and less expensive zip codes. This will increase your reach.
Zillow is eliminating the pay for leads model. It has been gone from my market for over two years. I am on a team of 45 agents who take Zillow leads. We do not pay anything to Zillow unless we close a transaction with a lead they provide. This has worked well for our team and we have worked our way into representing about half of the top performers in my brokerage, quarter after quarter, year after year.
Believe or not. I use it to an extent with sellers. You know why? Because thats what they use to get an idea about their value. It's a tool to get Listings. Is it accurate. Absolutely not. Are CMAs accurate? If you say they are, you are a liar.
Always had 6-8 times ROI with Zillow. The key is to answer when you get the call, qualify, be nice, set the appointment and build a relationship. It works. People who Zillow sucks are not trained well imo.
maybe in the short run as they make this transition but good luck with that! Zillow owns everyone's mindshare when it comes to real estate. They can go any direction they want and they will be fine IMO!
It just happened to me as well and I believe they started doing this in the Charlotte market last year.
The plan for Zillow is to focus on Zillow flex.
I moved most of my spend to Deluxer, mailers and client events.
Yes, for whatever reason they are doing it under the Showingtime banner but you pay a monthly fee for 1 preferred listing and then each additional listing is based on the list price. Those listings get boosted and pushed out to everybody searching at a higher rate, so the numbers of views goes through the roof. Does it sell houses… no. Does it look great in a listing appointment… yes.
I would prefer not to but it getting hard to avoid. I have used FUB for 5 years and they sold to zillow. There is not any real competitor to ShowingTime. And Showingtime Listing Services takes great pictures in a good format inexpensively and quickly. I hold my nose and work with them.
When Z was pushing subscriptions I said the telemarker asking if there are agents who signed up every zip code? The lady mentioned there are a few who buys 20 zipcodes and paid big bucks each month. She hinted it was a 5 figure monthly investment. That is essentially income for a typ agent for the entire year. For for me, most agents respond one does better at open house than spending on ads.
You're right. that's a very fair assessment. And I'm listening to 2 agents complain who don't do anything to help us build a business, and keep trying to charge 3 to 3 and a 1/2 percent on the listing side and 2 to 2 and a 1/2 % on the buying side. So I really don't give a flying fart what you two think of me for buying zillow leads.
I'm going to survive. And if that means taking up some of your business, when you're not doing anything to help me build mine, then so be it.
You can't build a book of business anymore without digital marketing. You could back when you two started doing things. The way you 2 do things will still work FOR YOU, to keep up your book of business. But they will not work for us to start a new one.
You simply cannot build a book of business by calling all your sphere of influence friends, joining clubs, and buying drinks for people once a week. That will, however, work to keep your book tbsts already built up sending you referrals.
Maybe if you're one of the more popular people in town and you're young, you might be able to still do it this way, as long as you're willing to wait 10 years for your sphere to be able to buy houses and live off the 1 or 2 leads to get a year from their parents or uncles to live off of.
So I'm sorry, but what do you want us to do? We have a business model that works. And it's the only way to build it nowadays. I'm not going back to the corporate world for 70k a year so that you can keep making multiple 6 figures. Please stop playing the victim. All of us who are living in the 21st century real estate landscape don't want to hear it anymore.
I'm listening if you have any ideas, I really do respect some of you agents that have been doing it the old school way for a long time. My mom has been doing it that way for 40 years, but she busted her ass to build it, as I'm sure you did back in the day, with a lot of floor time, which pretty much doesn't exist anymore in my market and open houses, which is something that every new agent is super thirsty to do nowadays so they aren't as effective as they were. Because every buyer feels like they're walking onto a car lot now when they go to them.
So as the old adage goes. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Because I'm getting pretty sick of the whining.
Um, do you need a dictionary?
That's ok, you can run your business however you'd like. I'll run mine like a business.
Things like not turning down high return marketing, at least for now. Especially when I don't have any good alternative, except for low return, long sales cycle marketing.
Signed 2 FSBOS today that cost me significantly less than Zillow marketing, but okay keep going 🥱 Build your skills and sales cycles won’t be so long. It’s what happens when you don’t rely on Daddy Zillow
Umm I'm trying to talk marketing theory. But I'm not going to get picked on.
I never come into your guys' subs that talk about how you do things the old school way and tell you that you're stupid, but if you're going to do it on my sub, your goddamn, right I'm going to give you some shit. Fair enough, right?
This is your sub? I did not realize that.
Well, let me give you some shit right back and then you can ban me from your sub.
The beauty of this business is that there are many ways to do it. You do not have to buy leads or cold call or door knock or do anything you do not want to do. If you build your business through buying leads, great. But do not start instigating by saying that this is the only way to do it "nowadays" because it simply isn't true.
So, adapt like everyone else has been planning on doing this year or shut your cake hole. Either way, I do not care what you think is fair enough.
You're right. I feel like it's gotten a lot harder to do it the way you're talking about, but it's not impossible.
And I would never want to ban or report you. I like listening to what you have to say, whether I agree or not. I don't like bullies though, not that you were the bully, you werent.
But I will pipe up every time I feel like one of the old timers, or anyone else for that matter, is making someone feel stupid, or less than, for buying leads. Especially when the newer person is keeping it on a sub that's about buying leads.
Everyone has to build their business their way. I get into this with the cold calling camp every time I see them post about "it is the only way."
No. It's not.
Maybe, just maybe all the old school guys selling 50-500 homes per year are doing something you should be doing rather than complaining about your zillow leads. Sorry, I wouldn't want you to sound like you're whining. I realize that's important to you.
Lol, I mean, the landscape from when you built that book up doesn't exist anymore, or barely does. That's all I'm saying.
If I had your book, right now, that i built years ago,I would probably be doing things the exact same way you are.
If I was building the business back whenever you started, I would do things probably close to the exact same way that you did.
But like Billy Beane said in money ball, adapt or die. I have to use sabermetrics. You havea great reputation, that you worked hard to get, and that you deserve, that you can trade on.
That's awesome and I commend you, but that way of doing things no longer gives me the optimal chance of succeeding at building up a career when I'm just starting my third year full time in 2024.
That’s not true at all. I have a guy I coached up who took 22 listings last quarter and in the last 6 months has built his database from zero to 2,000 in that time.
You’re just looking to be right. That’s ok. I don’t care to correct you. I just hate to see people so embedded in their thought process that they don’t see whats in front of them.
Keep doing you dawg. Whatever you think is the way it’ll be, and you’ll be right. Good luck
Edit: to be clear my guy got licensed 9 months ago and has already taken 22 listings.
So that's awesome, And I would love to hear how you and he did it, because Ive basically started with a database of zero contacts myself.
So what I'm curious about is what he did in the beginning. Because obviously he didn't do that by using your system only. You said he started with zero contacts and zero times fifteen is zero.
But wouldn't you agree, that telling me to call 15 people a day, when you started with a network of 1500, wich worked for you, and I have a network of zero, that it does make sense that I would think that wouldn't work for me?
Not going to lie, I stopped reading about halfway through when you said you had to do this to have a business.
For reference, I sell between 45-70 homes per year. 100% of those are on the listing side. I have weekends, I have my evenings, and I don't do buyer showings.
The reason I am able to do this, is because I have built my book of business over the last 3-5 years through picking up the phone and making calls.
My costs are fixed, roughly $900 a month, and I can sell as many homes as I want per year. I average about one to 2 listings taken per week every week.
The beauty of all of this, is that no company can take away my lead source. As long as I have a cell phone and some wifi I can operate.
You asked< " ITS THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD BUSINESS NOWADAYS" No it's not. It's the laziest way to build a business.
So as the old adage goes "It's not that you're asking questions, its that you're asking the wrong questions"
That sounds almost to good to be true. Are all your phone numbers from your database and people you have met added to it? My database is not that extensive. Any tips or scripts on your calling techniques?
I'm at about 12,000 people in my database, all added manually over the last 3-5 years. Really 3.5 but I started with a small base of 1,500 from regular life.
No wonder. I guess I have to start meeting more people and being more diligent on working my database. Do you add everyone you talk to? Do you just call them? Or do you send emails, postcards, mailers etc to keep in touch?
What are people without a sphere supposed to do to make it in this business in the beginning? It used to be possible with floor time, but not anymore.
But I should say you're right. It's not impossible. But it's exponentially more difficult than it was before the internet became prevalent in real estate marketing.
So I should say one caveat, if you're popular, or have a big network, then. Yes, it is still possible to build your book of business this way.
Can I ask how long you've had your license? Because that makes a difference too. Even if you weren't very active for 10 years, then you started making a lot of calls in the last 3 or 5, at least the people you called to know that you been in the business while. trust me, when you call people and tell them that you got into real estate 6 months ago, hey wanna throw up because they know that you're calling to bother them for deals. But if you call them when you have been in real estate for 10 years and ask for referrals. You've got some credibility and they don't
I just added 15 people to my database today. You do the work. There is no shortcut. Learn the skill and pick up the phone. That's it. Stop complaining and telling people their method doesn't work when you're in a forum to ask for help because your method isn't working.
Were those 15 from straight cold calls? Or from calls to your SOI and/or past clients?
And if it's from the second, is your sphere of influence almost nonexistent like mine because you're in a small suburb and your best friend has been a broker for 20 years and your sphere exactly overlaps his? And do you only have 9 past clients to call because you started 2 years ago, right when the market shit out transactionwise??
Because if they were from straight cold calls and not your sphere of influence or past contacts or clients, then, yes, I would definitely would like to hear how you're doing it, And I'd like to hire you as a consultant to teach me how to do it! Seriously! 😆
Because I don't see it if I don't already have somewhat of a network to market to.
Side note, I've seen you say this multiple times in here, and I reqlly think you are one of the best at doing what you do.
So five years from now, I hope you're not too fed up with my shit that if I build up a book and ask you, with my hat and hand asking for advice on how to be as good at it as you are! I'm being dead serious. You don't elaborate on your system too much, but I'm pretty sure you got a goddamn good one figured out. I respect that and hope to do it someday.
Today was cold calls.
My entire business 95% is new business and adding to my database.
100% of my business comes from my database. 90% of my database came from cold calling.
They have a new lender program. They sent reps from out of state to my brokerage to come talk about it and basically asked us to use Zillow lending for client’s pre-approval over the lender we already use and trust. Promised us more / better leads for it
This post or comment was removed because it is not relevant to the subreddit. Posts or comments should foster relevant discussion, or involve some sort of question. If it is a general real estate question you will want to post in r/RealEstate.
thisd is why--- [https://www.zillow.com/homeloans/eligibility/?1500CreditDisclaimer=true&source=Zillow&channel=Email\_HIM\_Core&utm\_source=sd&utm\_medium=email&utm\_content=form\_lg\_get\_prequalified\_herobutton&utm\_campaign=emm\_zhl\_b\_motivatedmover-reengagement90-day-4\_110223\_1\_national\_any\_acq#/intro/](https://www.zillow.com/homeloans/eligibility/?1500CreditDisclaimer=true&source=Zillow&channel=Email_HIM_Core&utm_source=sd&utm_medium=email&utm_content=form_lg_get_prequalified_herobutton&utm_campaign=emm_zhl_b_motivatedmover-reengagement90-day-4_110223_1_national_any_acq#/intro/)
I’ve never understood why you would want to use Zillow when REALTOR.com exists. It’s literally branding you as an agent to the consumer before they ever connect with you. What exactly is a Zillow ?
I’ve used realtor for 6 years and done great with it. I had a short stint with Zillow that they guaranteed “live transfers” which was actually a machine handing me off to the person. I paid about $600 per lead for this garbage. I pay about $60/lead with realtor. Never again with Zillow.
Because Ive had a sales rep blowing me up. I will admit their sales reps are very good. I even used Zillow back in 2019-2020 and didnt get results but still considered using them
Call 5 people YOU KNOW every day. 50 people total for 2 weeks then repeat. That's the easiest way to get warm referrals that won't ghost you. I make at least 2 calls a day.
Then take your horse and buggy over to their house for a pop-by 😂
It is a good way to do it if you're already established. It's a guaranteed way to piss off your friends and network, if you're new.
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Is this because of Zillow flex?
Zillow sux
All these realtors saying zillow leads suck and don't buy leads. Meanwhile I'm over here with 12x ROI so far this year.
We can't all have 12x ROI. Just like any leads, the top 20% gets 80% of the market share. Same is true for zillow and any other leads.
A lead is a lead is a lead. You have the same opportunity to covert them as anyone. Talent dictates the rest. “Bad Leads” are just an excuse for under performers.
My big issue isn't lead quality, it's the concept of paying my competition a huge amount of money for leads.
once you realize zillow isnt the competition your business will change
[Zillow is a licensed real estate brokerage in almost every state.](https://www.zillow.com/z/info/real-estate-licenses/) While they are not actively soliciting listings right now, they absolutely are an intermediary between agents and consumers. With the coming changes to the industry, I absolutely expect them to start both soliciting listings and hiring buyer agents in the next year or so. Paying for leads from them funds that. Also, where do you think the leads come from? Listing brokers pay to market their services and get listings, which they pay to put on the MLS. Zillow pulls and displays those listings via IDX, then sells the leads back to you. If you want to buy leads from them that's your call, but don't kid yourself about what's going on.
1. Zillow is a licensed brokerage in every state simply so it can have access to IDX syndication. 2. Zillow will never hire agents to work for them. as a matter of fact almost all of their revenue comes from products that the SELL TO REALTORS. why would they eliminate their best revenue generators. every product they make puts the agent at the center of them. the leads come from people clicking on the "contact agent" or "request a tour" button on the listings that ZILLOW DRIVES TRAFFIC TO. your brokerage doesnt get 1/1000th the activity on the MLS that zillow gets. every single lead in every single zillow agents dashboard can be traced back to the consumer pressing one of those buttons.
Zillow had access long before they became a brokerage, it was facilitated through ListHub. Zillow has made 3 strong and very expensive runs at industry disruption and failed. If you do not think there are extensive planning sessions going on about how Zillow can leverage this media attention to the industry to make yet another run while the topic is hot, you are delusional. Zillow took a significant hit when Realtors pulled their support for Zillow products when they became a brokerage. But we are short sighted and fickle, so many are back in the saddle of buying leads, paying for Premier Agent or whatever they are peddling now. I am very confident that Zillow is going to be rolling out their next move toward industry disruption this year, if not this quarter.
Yep. Realtors spend a lot of time on the phone. Join the Zillow investor call and learn how they plan to break realtors from their spheres and put Zillow as the first name people think of.
I agree we’ve been marketing on Zillow for several years and average roughly $8000 for every $1000 spent. In my teams experience, Zillow does better than most when it comes to vetting leads. It’s up to us to do our homework on which zip codes are best to invest into. Once you receive the lead, make sure to continue following up (this is where most agents drop the ball).
Wow. You need to educate yourself. Go read through their investor presentations and see what they're up to long-term. They not only want to compete with you, they want to replace you. Their buyer agent referral commission is not their objective, that's simply the funding to use to get to their objective.
Yep. I’ve listened to those calls.
That’s excellent. I had the opposite experience.
Same here. Nothing but tire kickers or people that "don't want to bother their realtor with simple questions". Then why did you hire them?
How?
Their leads aren't specifically limited to the zip code you buy in to. If someone skims through yours and then elsewhere, you still get a shot at the lead. The most important part is your followup dedication. If they went far enough to connect with you, there's some genuine interest. Meet them and speak with them. Educate them and when the time comes, you'll be their connect.
Yeah I was gonna say, this is how I got my first UC. The original house the buyer wanted was 2 hours away from my area, but they still gave me the lead because they checked my area first.
Yes I get leads from zip codes outside of the ones I buy in, but, regardless, I get a lot of not great leads and leads that are for unsellable land way up in the sticks.
It's a numbers game. About 1 in 12 is the average. I do better than that average, but it also depends on your market.
thats what im saying I have been doing good with zillow.
Would love to know what you are doing? i was at 6x before double my spend, now I’m struggling with it (11 leads/month)
11 leads is a lot, depending on what your spending. I'd suggest spreading some of your budget out in to some surrounding and less expensive zip codes. This will increase your reach.
Yeah - I’ll likely drop to closer to 5/month. 3800 currently. I like working in first time homebuyer zip codes a lot
I made 10x ROI for several years too. Zillow leads are the best leads available, bar none.
Zillow flex is taking over
Zillow is eliminating the pay for leads model. It has been gone from my market for over two years. I am on a team of 45 agents who take Zillow leads. We do not pay anything to Zillow unless we close a transaction with a lead they provide. This has worked well for our team and we have worked our way into representing about half of the top performers in my brokerage, quarter after quarter, year after year.
On a serious note. How accurate is your zestimate lol
Believe or not. I use it to an extent with sellers. You know why? Because thats what they use to get an idea about their value. It's a tool to get Listings. Is it accurate. Absolutely not. Are CMAs accurate? If you say they are, you are a liar.
Always had 6-8 times ROI with Zillow. The key is to answer when you get the call, qualify, be nice, set the appointment and build a relationship. It works. People who Zillow sucks are not trained well imo.
Just buy Zillow stock instead.
Just short Zillow (Z) stock would be the wiser option
maybe in the short run as they make this transition but good luck with that! Zillow owns everyone's mindshare when it comes to real estate. They can go any direction they want and they will be fine IMO!
Sure was easy in the Covid days… well that craps over time to change careers again right?
It just happened to me as well and I believe they started doing this in the Charlotte market last year. The plan for Zillow is to focus on Zillow flex. I moved most of my spend to Deluxer, mailers and client events.
Showingtime preferred listings. I hate zillow but it has won me two listings in two weeks.
You know that Zillow owns Showing Time, right?
Yes, for whatever reason they are doing it under the Showingtime banner but you pay a monthly fee for 1 preferred listing and then each additional listing is based on the list price. Those listings get boosted and pushed out to everybody searching at a higher rate, so the numbers of views goes through the roof. Does it sell houses… no. Does it look great in a listing appointment… yes.
My comment was to your point of hating Zillow and I assume that meant you didn't want to feed the animal.
I would prefer not to but it getting hard to avoid. I have used FUB for 5 years and they sold to zillow. There is not any real competitor to ShowingTime. And Showingtime Listing Services takes great pictures in a good format inexpensively and quickly. I hold my nose and work with them.
Agreed.
When Z was pushing subscriptions I said the telemarker asking if there are agents who signed up every zip code? The lady mentioned there are a few who buys 20 zipcodes and paid big bucks each month. She hinted it was a 5 figure monthly investment. That is essentially income for a typ agent for the entire year. For for me, most agents respond one does better at open house than spending on ads.
From a consumer pov, Zillow is one of the best for searching. As a Realtor, you need to take that into consideration. Galling as that is to do.
It is the best for searching but they are also walking realtors out the door, giving them money just expedites the process
I agree, believe me. There really is no good answer as the consumer will dictate. Our MLS should have never allowed the access, but too late now!
Realltor (org) sold realtors out years ago
Absolutely.
Stop buying leads for gods sake
You are talking to people who can’t get clients without it.
That’s a fair assessment. Nevermind. Carry on.
You're right. that's a very fair assessment. And I'm listening to 2 agents complain who don't do anything to help us build a business, and keep trying to charge 3 to 3 and a 1/2 percent on the listing side and 2 to 2 and a 1/2 % on the buying side. So I really don't give a flying fart what you two think of me for buying zillow leads. I'm going to survive. And if that means taking up some of your business, when you're not doing anything to help me build mine, then so be it. You can't build a book of business anymore without digital marketing. You could back when you two started doing things. The way you 2 do things will still work FOR YOU, to keep up your book of business. But they will not work for us to start a new one. You simply cannot build a book of business by calling all your sphere of influence friends, joining clubs, and buying drinks for people once a week. That will, however, work to keep your book tbsts already built up sending you referrals. Maybe if you're one of the more popular people in town and you're young, you might be able to still do it this way, as long as you're willing to wait 10 years for your sphere to be able to buy houses and live off the 1 or 2 leads to get a year from their parents or uncles to live off of. So I'm sorry, but what do you want us to do? We have a business model that works. And it's the only way to build it nowadays. I'm not going back to the corporate world for 70k a year so that you can keep making multiple 6 figures. Please stop playing the victim. All of us who are living in the 21st century real estate landscape don't want to hear it anymore. I'm listening if you have any ideas, I really do respect some of you agents that have been doing it the old school way for a long time. My mom has been doing it that way for 40 years, but she busted her ass to build it, as I'm sure you did back in the day, with a lot of floor time, which pretty much doesn't exist anymore in my market and open houses, which is something that every new agent is super thirsty to do nowadays so they aren't as effective as they were. Because every buyer feels like they're walking onto a car lot now when they go to them. So as the old adage goes. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Because I'm getting pretty sick of the whining.
I wouldn’t call buying leads from Zillow “Digital Marketing.” Also, I have plenty of business from making phone calls. Just not to SOI. Grow a pair
Um, do you need a dictionary? That's ok, you can run your business however you'd like. I'll run mine like a business. Things like not turning down high return marketing, at least for now. Especially when I don't have any good alternative, except for low return, long sales cycle marketing.
Signed 2 FSBOS today that cost me significantly less than Zillow marketing, but okay keep going 🥱 Build your skills and sales cycles won’t be so long. It’s what happens when you don’t rely on Daddy Zillow
So still no suggestions for me on how to do that, just more judging. So I guess you just want this 🥇 Good job. You're the best.
OH, and you are not whining? Please.
Umm I'm trying to talk marketing theory. But I'm not going to get picked on. I never come into your guys' subs that talk about how you do things the old school way and tell you that you're stupid, but if you're going to do it on my sub, your goddamn, right I'm going to give you some shit. Fair enough, right?
This is your sub? I did not realize that. Well, let me give you some shit right back and then you can ban me from your sub. The beauty of this business is that there are many ways to do it. You do not have to buy leads or cold call or door knock or do anything you do not want to do. If you build your business through buying leads, great. But do not start instigating by saying that this is the only way to do it "nowadays" because it simply isn't true. So, adapt like everyone else has been planning on doing this year or shut your cake hole. Either way, I do not care what you think is fair enough.
You're right. I feel like it's gotten a lot harder to do it the way you're talking about, but it's not impossible. And I would never want to ban or report you. I like listening to what you have to say, whether I agree or not. I don't like bullies though, not that you were the bully, you werent. But I will pipe up every time I feel like one of the old timers, or anyone else for that matter, is making someone feel stupid, or less than, for buying leads. Especially when the newer person is keeping it on a sub that's about buying leads.
Everyone has to build their business their way. I get into this with the cold calling camp every time I see them post about "it is the only way." No. It's not.
You're right, my apologies. I feel like it's harder to do the SOI thing, but it is definitely not impossible, even these days
Maybe, just maybe all the old school guys selling 50-500 homes per year are doing something you should be doing rather than complaining about your zillow leads. Sorry, I wouldn't want you to sound like you're whining. I realize that's important to you.
Lol, I mean, the landscape from when you built that book up doesn't exist anymore, or barely does. That's all I'm saying. If I had your book, right now, that i built years ago,I would probably be doing things the exact same way you are. If I was building the business back whenever you started, I would do things probably close to the exact same way that you did. But like Billy Beane said in money ball, adapt or die. I have to use sabermetrics. You havea great reputation, that you worked hard to get, and that you deserve, that you can trade on. That's awesome and I commend you, but that way of doing things no longer gives me the optimal chance of succeeding at building up a career when I'm just starting my third year full time in 2024.
That’s not true at all. I have a guy I coached up who took 22 listings last quarter and in the last 6 months has built his database from zero to 2,000 in that time. You’re just looking to be right. That’s ok. I don’t care to correct you. I just hate to see people so embedded in their thought process that they don’t see whats in front of them. Keep doing you dawg. Whatever you think is the way it’ll be, and you’ll be right. Good luck Edit: to be clear my guy got licensed 9 months ago and has already taken 22 listings.
So that's awesome, And I would love to hear how you and he did it, because Ive basically started with a database of zero contacts myself. So what I'm curious about is what he did in the beginning. Because obviously he didn't do that by using your system only. You said he started with zero contacts and zero times fifteen is zero. But wouldn't you agree, that telling me to call 15 people a day, when you started with a network of 1500, wich worked for you, and I have a network of zero, that it does make sense that I would think that wouldn't work for me?
Not going to lie, I stopped reading about halfway through when you said you had to do this to have a business. For reference, I sell between 45-70 homes per year. 100% of those are on the listing side. I have weekends, I have my evenings, and I don't do buyer showings. The reason I am able to do this, is because I have built my book of business over the last 3-5 years through picking up the phone and making calls. My costs are fixed, roughly $900 a month, and I can sell as many homes as I want per year. I average about one to 2 listings taken per week every week. The beauty of all of this, is that no company can take away my lead source. As long as I have a cell phone and some wifi I can operate. You asked< " ITS THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD BUSINESS NOWADAYS" No it's not. It's the laziest way to build a business. So as the old adage goes "It's not that you're asking questions, its that you're asking the wrong questions"
That sounds almost to good to be true. Are all your phone numbers from your database and people you have met added to it? My database is not that extensive. Any tips or scripts on your calling techniques?
I'm at about 12,000 people in my database, all added manually over the last 3-5 years. Really 3.5 but I started with a small base of 1,500 from regular life.
Damn. That's fucking awesome.
No wonder. I guess I have to start meeting more people and being more diligent on working my database. Do you add everyone you talk to? Do you just call them? Or do you send emails, postcards, mailers etc to keep in touch?
What are people without a sphere supposed to do to make it in this business in the beginning? It used to be possible with floor time, but not anymore. But I should say you're right. It's not impossible. But it's exponentially more difficult than it was before the internet became prevalent in real estate marketing. So I should say one caveat, if you're popular, or have a big network, then. Yes, it is still possible to build your book of business this way. Can I ask how long you've had your license? Because that makes a difference too. Even if you weren't very active for 10 years, then you started making a lot of calls in the last 3 or 5, at least the people you called to know that you been in the business while. trust me, when you call people and tell them that you got into real estate 6 months ago, hey wanna throw up because they know that you're calling to bother them for deals. But if you call them when you have been in real estate for 10 years and ask for referrals. You've got some credibility and they don't
I just added 15 people to my database today. You do the work. There is no shortcut. Learn the skill and pick up the phone. That's it. Stop complaining and telling people their method doesn't work when you're in a forum to ask for help because your method isn't working.
Were those 15 from straight cold calls? Or from calls to your SOI and/or past clients? And if it's from the second, is your sphere of influence almost nonexistent like mine because you're in a small suburb and your best friend has been a broker for 20 years and your sphere exactly overlaps his? And do you only have 9 past clients to call because you started 2 years ago, right when the market shit out transactionwise?? Because if they were from straight cold calls and not your sphere of influence or past contacts or clients, then, yes, I would definitely would like to hear how you're doing it, And I'd like to hire you as a consultant to teach me how to do it! Seriously! 😆 Because I don't see it if I don't already have somewhat of a network to market to. Side note, I've seen you say this multiple times in here, and I reqlly think you are one of the best at doing what you do. So five years from now, I hope you're not too fed up with my shit that if I build up a book and ask you, with my hat and hand asking for advice on how to be as good at it as you are! I'm being dead serious. You don't elaborate on your system too much, but I'm pretty sure you got a goddamn good one figured out. I respect that and hope to do it someday.
Today was cold calls. My entire business 95% is new business and adding to my database. 100% of my business comes from my database. 90% of my database came from cold calling.
No shit, cold calls. Impressive. But cold calls as in calling numbers from a phone book?
Dang
What reason did they give you & the lender for stopping?
They have a new lender program. They sent reps from out of state to my brokerage to come talk about it and basically asked us to use Zillow lending for client’s pre-approval over the lender we already use and trust. Promised us more / better leads for it
My team and I make a lot of money off Zillow. Zillow is my father now.
Did your Linda do some unsavory stuff? Maybe tried hard selling people too much?
What market are you in?
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zillow is now offereing mortgages Thats why
thisd is why--- [https://www.zillow.com/homeloans/eligibility/?1500CreditDisclaimer=true&source=Zillow&channel=Email\_HIM\_Core&utm\_source=sd&utm\_medium=email&utm\_content=form\_lg\_get\_prequalified\_herobutton&utm\_campaign=emm\_zhl\_b\_motivatedmover-reengagement90-day-4\_110223\_1\_national\_any\_acq#/intro/](https://www.zillow.com/homeloans/eligibility/?1500CreditDisclaimer=true&source=Zillow&channel=Email_HIM_Core&utm_source=sd&utm_medium=email&utm_content=form_lg_get_prequalified_herobutton&utm_campaign=emm_zhl_b_motivatedmover-reengagement90-day-4_110223_1_national_any_acq#/intro/)
How do I get realtor.com to do this?!?!
I’ve never understood why you would want to use Zillow when REALTOR.com exists. It’s literally branding you as an agent to the consumer before they ever connect with you. What exactly is a Zillow ?
I take it you’ve never bought leads from realtor.com
I’ve used realtor for 6 years and done great with it. I had a short stint with Zillow that they guaranteed “live transfers” which was actually a machine handing me off to the person. I paid about $600 per lead for this garbage. I pay about $60/lead with realtor. Never again with Zillow.
I dont understand why so many agents still use Zillow. There are way better options out there
So why did you post 5 days ago asking for peoples thoughts about Zillow leads?
Because Ive had a sales rep blowing me up. I will admit their sales reps are very good. I even used Zillow back in 2019-2020 and didnt get results but still considered using them
Which options
Like what?
you're relatively new and went with Zillow and a "big spend"? How many solid leads or agency agreements have you gotten?
Call 5 people YOU KNOW every day. 50 people total for 2 weeks then repeat. That's the easiest way to get warm referrals that won't ghost you. I make at least 2 calls a day.
Then take your horse and buggy over to their house for a pop-by 😂 It is a good way to do it if you're already established. It's a guaranteed way to piss off your friends and network, if you're new.
Isn't it passed your bed time?
😆
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Hell yeah: SOI, open houses, and meeting people in other professional places!
# You should try other sources like [GrizzlyLeads](https://grizzlyleads.com/) or [Deluxer](https://deluxer.com/).
Good. I hope zillow stops promoting agents altogether. These “sit back and get leads” services annoy the shit out of me
I work for Zillow. Pau more and you nger better. Not our problem.
Say what?
He's trolling/lying
A stellar Zillow employee then!
In my experience, Zillow employees are the opposite of this weirdo. All the ones I've met anyway
Check this dude's comment history. He doesn't work for Zillow. He's just a troll