Zillow to start blocking some listings in June
Publicly marketed listings that are not widely available will be flagged beginning May 28 — and new listings that don’t comply may be barred starting June 30.
As the launch of Zillow's new listing standards draws closer, the company is unveiling additional information about how it will handle enforcement.
The standards, announced April 10, will bar listings that are publicly marketed — but not made widely available to consumers — from appearing on Zillow.com and Zillow Group-owned Trulia.com. StreetEasy, the company's New York City-focused site, is embracing a modified version of the policy.
Zillow said in a May 20 blog post that the standards "are how we're implementing NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy on Zillow sites and reflect our belief in fair access for all." eXp and others have expressed support for the program, while Homes.com says it will boost listings that Zillow won't display.
Timing and enforcement: On May 28, agents who have listings that are deemed to be out of compliance will get a notification from Zillow. However, the company will not start blocking any listings until June 30.
"Beginning then, an agent's third non-compliant listing — and any subsequent non-compliant listings — will be blocked from Zillow and Trulia for the life of the listing agreement between that listing broker and seller," the blog post states.
All listings that meet the standards will be visible even if an agent has violated the rules in the past. Also, a new, compliant listing for an address with a previously blocked listing can be displayed as long as it is from a different broker.
What about office exclusives or 'Coming Soon' listings? Private, off-MLS listings can still make their way onto Zillow and Trulia, but only in limited circumstances. The seller must sign a disclosure, and the office exclusive listing must be shared only among agents of a single brokerage or in 1-to-1 communications with clients.
"Zillow's standards are focused on listings that aren't truly private — like listings that may be publicly advertised on a brokerage's website but not entered into the MLS for a period of time," the blog post states.
"Coming Soon" listings are also allowed as long as they are entered into the MLS within one business day, and agents can share a "sneak peek" of a listing on social media or via email if it doesn't include listing details — for example, they could post a photo of the home with a reference to the neighborhood, but no price or address.
The standards do not apply to rental listings, for-sale-by-owner listings and new construction listings "represented directly by the builder."