> it would be nice if Redfin could be more open as a brokerage
https://www.redfin.com/
"WHY USE A REDFIN AGENT?"
"When your agent and your website work together you..."
"We’re full-service, local agents."
> Both Zillow and Redfin put consumers in touch with brokers.
That's a weird way of looking at it.
Would you say that BestBuy is just like Google Shopping Search -- it puts you in touch with electonics sellers. But BestBuy tries to connect you with its own internal sellers?
Anyway, Zillow has no incentive to provide high quality data / shopping experience -- they do better advertising busines when users get interested but then confused and need an agent's help. Redfin uses the website to automate as much of the agent's work as possible, freeing up the agents for the necessarily high-touch work. The better Redfin's website is, the more profit they make on a sale (lower cost to close a deal)
> https://www.redfin.com/ "WHY USE A REDFIN AGENT?" "When your agent and your website work together you..." "We’re full-service, local agents."
Yes, but Zillow and Trulia use the word "our agent" all over as well.
> Would you say that BestBuy is just like Google Shopping Search -- it puts you in touch with electonics sellers. But BestBuy tries to connect you with its own internal sellers?
Sure. You can buy a TV from bestbuy.com or amazon, or whatever comparison you want to make and from GSS. Two ways to the same means.
> Anyway, Zillow has no incentive to provide high quality data / shopping experience
I don't completely disagree, but it's incorrect that they have NO incentive. There are plenty of reasons to provide accurate data. There's a reason we spent 10s of millions at Zillow each year trying to get better data. It certainly matters.
> There's a reason we spent 10s of millions at Zillow each year trying to get better data. It certainly matters.
If Zillow cared about getting quality data, they would've become/integrated a brokerage, as its the only way to get the most up-to-date real estate data. Redfin's data is much better because of this, and it shows.
https://www.redfin.com/ "WHY USE A REDFIN AGENT?" "When your agent and your website work together you..." "We’re full-service, local agents."
> Both Zillow and Redfin put consumers in touch with brokers. That's a weird way of looking at it.
Would you say that BestBuy is just like Google Shopping Search -- it puts you in touch with electonics sellers. But BestBuy tries to connect you with its own internal sellers?
Anyway, Zillow has no incentive to provide high quality data / shopping experience -- they do better advertising busines when users get interested but then confused and need an agent's help. Redfin uses the website to automate as much of the agent's work as possible, freeing up the agents for the necessarily high-touch work. The better Redfin's website is, the more profit they make on a sale (lower cost to close a deal)