ZipRealty

Author: Kalicia Bateman

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6.1 Overall Score

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5.5 Overall Score

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5.3 Overall Score

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The Good

• Features
• Listing tracking
• Agents and partners

We liked the features that Zip's website provided. One of the neatest features of the website was the "local information" button that was included in each listing. While we were browsing for homes, we had access to the following information by clicking on the "local information" button:

• Climate
• Walk Score (providing information on amenities located near the home"
• Transit Score
• Education (including access to the Great Schools listings).
• Population information about an area's white-collar vs. blue-collar population.

In other websites that we reviewed, such as Trulia and Zillow, this information was not always accessible. We liked the white-collar vs. blue-collar population, as this information might help a prospective buyer gauge what type of neighbors comprised the community. The cost of living information was also particularly helpful (this was not a common demographic provided on other listings websites). The score lists "100" as being the average national cost of living in the United States, and then rises or falls based on the locale selected. Also, the website helps track whether or not the listing is still active. There is information that shows the number of viewings a home has received. While Zip says that there may be some inactive listings, we didn't find an inactive listing during our review of the website (we found that auction and short sale sites had the most inactive listings). The map feature was also probably the best in the industry with Zip. Zip Realty uses Google as the basic structure of its interactive map. Homes are then listed with flags on the map. The map contains the address, number of beds/baths in the home, and the price of the home. It is also possible to layer schools and transit hubs onto the interactive map. Another positive aspect of the website was the "Mortgage Center." In addition to bank and realtor lenders, we also found that Zip Reality's mortgage center included FHA and VA loans, for those who qualify. The mortgage area of the website lets you enter your home's price, your down payment, and credit. The service compiles a list of realtors that are available in your area and takes you to the appropriate website. We also liked the fact that Zip Realty had its own agents and partnered with other realtors in the field. We felt that this helped increase the ease of helping a buyer get their home faster. Other websites only listed realtors and companies that had listed the property.

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The Bad

• No live chat
• Phone numbers
• Complaints

Zip's website does have a few opportunities for improvement. We didn't like the lack of live chat support on the website. Many of the websites that we had looked at in the industry did have a live chat support to help answer questions about setting up an account or finding a realtor. Another problem with the website was the different phone numbers listed with each Zip marketing area. We felt that one centralized number that "hooked up" with the different Zip offices would be helpful for the customer looking to purchase a new home. The handful of complaints listed on the website dealt with the nature of purchasing real estate online. One customer felt that their commissioning fees should be refunded because of issues with the home and Zip honored this request. Other complaints had issues with incorrect documents or errors on documents. To circumvent these problems, Zip Realty might want to push more home showings and offer better document options for buyers and sellers.

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The Bottom Line

Of the free real estate company sites (ones that do not require a subscription) we feel that Zip has the best platform in the industry. Here is what we liked, bolstering our recommendation of Zip Realty:

• We didn't find inactive listings on Zip's website (in the industry, according to Zip's Data Quality Study, 15% of most listings on real estate websites are inactive due to auction closings or sale of a home). Zip also captures 99% of all currently available listings.
• The awesome integration with Google Maps, helping clients get an accurate picture of a property and its locale.
• The Mortgage Center, which helps clients find a lender in an area before purchasing a home.
• Information about the neighborhood for each listing.
• Detailed pictures of a home, including photos with furnishing.