SOURCE: Realtors or Service Providers? The Debate Continues

… Skill vs. Service
Underlying the Zillow debate is a secondary controversy over the designation of Realtors as “service providers,” which, according to Dalton, is the nomenclature used on the Zillow site to refer consumers to Realtors.

… [Says Allan Dalton, President of Move Inc.], …”The debate emerged out of the realization that on the Zillow site, instead of educating or cautioning consumers that in order to get more meaningful information than a [estimate], they should rely upon a Realtor, they recommend that consumers seek out ‘service providers.’ I believe that Zillow believes they may lose consumer trust if they were to recommend those individuals who are most qualified—Realtors. It would seem as though Zillow is actually asking Realtors to subsidize through advertising on their site the notion that consumers can receive more refined information from those others than Realtors. Amazingly, Zillow would appear at the California Association of Realtors directly advancing that if they had their way, the National Association of Realtors on Zillow’s site would be the ‘National Association of Service Providers.’ If they are truly an advocate of the Realtor, why don’t they say, ‘see a Realtor?’

Good question. We’ll keep referring to “estimates” as just what they are, ESTIMATES!

As a member of NAR, We’re held to a higher standard ethically, and we take that VERY seriously. We wonder why Zillow chooses not to acknowledge that distinction, especially when they’re pitching their products to REALTORS® and want support from us?