Comments on: Zillow news: Upside-down and dumb like a fox

By: BloodhoundBlog.com | Zillow.com cultivates its garden with ten million new database records, improved home valuation algorithms and the adoption, with Trulia.com and other Realty.bots, of a RETS-compatible listings standard | National real estate marketin

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:08:50 +0000

[...] notice: John Cook, TechCrunch, Jay Thompson, Jim Duncan, Kris Berg, Lloyd Frink, Tom Royce, Mike Price, Peter Chiu, Search Engine Land, Joel Burslem, Thomas [...]

By: Drew Meyers from Zillow

Drew Meyers from Zillow — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:17:02 +0000

Thank you for the great post Kris — we appreciate it.

It was good to see you in NYC! Now I guess Amanda and I will have to wait another 6 months until Inman in San Francisco to see you again

By: Michael Price

Michael Price — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:57:14 +0000

The fact that you could write so well after a day on the planet of NYC just goes to show that when it comes to blogging, I will never be a patch on your bonnet. It’s only been a few hours since dragging my battered brain, back and liver back home and I miss you already!

By: Kris Berg

Kris Berg — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:09:28 +0000

Mark, you won’t get any argument from me. As a business model, however, I think they have their hat on straight. The data will get better over time. Will it ever be better enough? That remains to be seen. One thing is certain in my mind, however. As long as a home is an immovable object, breathing human beings (dare I say, real estate agents) will ALWAYS be a part of the equation, even though their roles will change.

Don, I am so glad that you find some entertainment value.

By: Joseph Ferrara.sellsius

Joseph Ferrara.sellsius — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 02:01:41 +0000

This post is unzillowable!

By: Mark Daugherty

Mark Daugherty — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:11:44 +0000

I think sometimes we get so caught up in our techno whirlwind world we forget that the “10 things that make buyers run for the door” will forever cement the real, cumulative value that two eyes, ears, feet and a nose have in this game we call real estate. Sharing information is a wonderful thing, but some things just have to be touched, seen and smelled, and so far my computer screen is just not conveying the essence of Zest.

By: Don Reedy

Don Reedy — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:50:44 +0000

All right you two. I’ve now seen the light, and it’s clear to me that you are the RE.net’s new “Ricky and Lucy Ricardo.” Charming, talented, and a bit wacky, but I can’t stop tuning in on your conversations…..

Kris, thanks for taking the show on the road, and giving “Ricky” an excuse to tell you he misses you.

By: Steve Berg

Steve Berg — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:24:27 +0000

Well, it appears you have had your coffee this morning. I think it will be better to “discuss” this in private when you get home (and I can interrupt). Sorry about the Zillow gender error. Let Amanda know that I humbly apologize.

By: Kris Berg

Kris Berg — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:57:02 +0000

Okay, Mr. Big Thinker, I understand what you are saying. However, this problem is going to be much less pervasive as time passes, particularly in active markets, as homes sell. As the Zestimate resets to the sale price each time a property transfers, won’t these things take care of themselves since premiums or inferiorities due to location, view, etc. will be inherent/factored into the sale price? (Rhetorical.) Further and in the meantime, as more people “claim” their homes and correct the information, won’t the data be more detailed and, therefore, accurate? (Again, rhetorical.) As a preemptive strike, you might argue (I say “you might,” because I know you) that people will be tempted to embellish. Maybe, but I believe the vast majority will tell it like it is. Look at Wikipedia; it is not 100% accurate, of course, and people occassionally have fun with it, but it works. Which makes one wonder if some kind of self-policing mechanism might be in their future.

While you were watching CNBC this morning instead of working, did you happen to get the news about the standarized data feeds and Prudential CA Realty’s participation? Hmmm….

One more thing – One of the Zillow Boys is a girl, and I really like Amanda.

(Aside: I just realized how comical it is that I am having a conversation with you on our blog instead of picking up the phone. At least you can’t interrupt.)

By: Steve Berg

Steve Berg — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:04:02 +0000

Not to cast a cloud over Zillow (again) but when they get to the point where a Zestimate can differentiate the value between a home on a 10,000 sq. ft usable lot vs. a similar home on a 10,000 sq. ft. lot that is mostly a non-usable slope, let me know. Oh, and homes on view lots vs. non-view lots would help, too.

BTW – Let the Zillow Boys know I already saw their boss on CNBC this morning.

Hope you’re having fun! I’m missing my Happy Hour Buddy.