Zillow + Trulia= A Match Made in Heaven?

When the news broke that Zillow and Trulia were merging, most Realtors® were left scratching their heads. What does this mean for us? Will we save money on advertisements, or will we end up spending more? Will it be as valuable joined as the two sites were apart?

What Happened with Zillow and Trulia

It’s no secret that a good portion of our earnings as Realtors goes right back into the business, and a lot of that money goes into sites like Zillow and Trulia. When Zillow announced the buy, Trulia shares skyrocketed. Both sites will remain active and operate under their original names, according to Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff.

According to some, the bigger company will be able to charge Realtors more money for the same ads. Steve Murray, editor at Real Trends, is one of those who sees this deal going downhill… for Realtors.

Brad Inman is another. He’s arguing that “Zillow’s Trulia move is ‘Checkmate.’”

In the Short-Term

Nothing’s happening to change where your advertising dollars go if you’re using Trulia or Zillow. Not yet, anyway. And prices haven’t escalated as of this writing.

Sure, maybe Zillow is making a move toward world real estate domination (remember the scandal that everyone was fuming about when local MLSs gave listings directly to Realtor.com?) As long as you’re the kind of agent who knows how to provide value to web-savvy clients, you’ll always have a strong foothold in your communities.

Are You a Benchmark Agent?

No matter which direction this Zillow-Trulia deal goes, there’s one thing that won’t change: Benchmark Realty’s Total Freedom concept. We give our Realtors the freedom to run their own businesses, and for doing that, every agent is entitled to 100 percent commission.

If you’re not a Benchmark Agent yet, it might be time to call us at (615)371-1544 or fill out the form below. We’ll set up a confidential meeting where you can ask questions and learn about the way we do business.