How to find the listing agent?
Ask Phyllis: a blog series of frequently asked real estate questions.
Dear Phyllis,
I have been reading your real estate questions in the Glendale News-Press, and I am so glad you continue to write for our CV Weekly. I am the trustee of my mother’s estate and have her La Crescenta home listed with my cousin, who is a Realtor in a nearby city.
Because the real estate market is so hot, my siblings and I had hoped for more action in the first week. As trustee, I tried to figure out why there were not more showings. I went on Zillow and looked up the listing, thinking perhaps my cousin didn’t have the correct information. The photos and description all seem adequate. I decided to click on the “Contact Agent,” thinking maybe people were inquiring and she wasn’t responding quickly.
I clicked “Contact Agent,” expecting the message to go to my Realtor, the listing agent. Instead, another Realtor called me—someone who had never even seen my mother’s home. Next, I tried “Take a Tour.” This time, the message stated: “We’ll connect you with a local agent who can give you a personalized tour of the home in-person or via video chat.”
I don’t know if my cousin is using the platform incorrectly, because it seems logical that contacting the agent would go directly to the seller’s agent. Can you explain how this works and suggest the best way to approach this with her? Dilemma
Dear Dilemma,
Unfortunately, most of these real estate websites were designed for lead generation. Realtors typically purchase these leads by buying a zip code.
Therefore, your cousin is not doing anything wrong. In fact, I agree that most of these listing searches confuse people. As a result, they make it nearly impossible to identify the actual listing agent. Alternatively, your cousin’s only other option is to opt out of data submission to the internet. However, this would limit exposure to the MLS only.
Best of luck to you on a successful sale!
