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Inquiring On Zillow Without Getting Spammed

By Patrick   Follow   Wed, 12 Sep 2012, 3:38pm   804 views   9 comments
In Menlo Park CA 94025   Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike  

A reader tells me that he filled out the little inquiry form on Zillow to learn more about a property, but was then mercilessly spammed by many realtors.

This is the kind of Zillow form I mean:

What if people just asked the realtor to reply on a specific forum thread that the user is subscribed to?

Then the user wouldn't get spammed, and could just read and reply on the forum. OTOH, the conversation would then be public.

Sound useful, or does the public nature of the discussion negate the benefit of being spam-free?

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1. PockyClipsNow Follow Befriend 19 threads 1,534 comments Los Angeles, CA

   1   3:06pm Wed 12 Sep 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Im quite sure those realtors PAY for those leads (pay for the email address to then spam them). Its like the modern version of the classic RE movie with john lennon where the agent steals the 'leads'. glengarry whatever it is. haha If patrick wast a commie (making a commission is unethical) he might be able to sell a list of buyers to agents.

2. Patrick Follow Befriend (54) 5,185 threads 6,156 comments 46 male Menlo Park, CA Premium

   2   3:37pm Wed 12 Sep 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   PockyClipsNow says Im quite sure those realtors PAY for those leads (pay for the email address to then spam them). You're right, the realtors are paying to spam unfortunates who give up their email addresses. PockyClipsNow says If patrick wast a commie (making a commission is unethical) he might be able to sell a list of buyers to agents. So I have your permission to sell your email address to spammers?

3. 37108605 Follow Befriend 1 threads 1,055 comments

   3   3:43am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Here is my take on all this recovery real estate talk ie. BULLSHITE the news keeps claiming (along with a few morons on Patrick.net who live to brag about their so-called "deals" that the housing market is on the upswing, things are selling, profits being made, listing selling fast, people are lining up, cheaper to buy than rent, etc. etc. etc. really? Really? THEN WHY ARE SO MANY ARSEHOLES FROM REAL ESTATE RELATED BULLSHITE SPAMMING THE LIVING HELL OUT OF ME AND YOU!? I DON'T BUY INTO A SINGLE WORD OF ANY OF IT. If a "market" is so good there IS NO NEED to spam anyone. Spam is desperation in my view.

4. curious2 Follow Befriend (5) 31 threads 2,234 comments Premium

   4   4:00am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike   I asked a question on RedFin and am still getting spammed. None of the realtors(tm) even answered the question either. It taught me to avoid realtors(tm) like anything short of sickness unto death. By all means, a public thread would be better, the shame of communicating with a realtor(tm) at all would be mitigated by the knowledge that at least they can't keep spamming me.

5. Raw Follow Befriend 10 threads 694 comments

   5   9:03am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   Reader says Here is my take on all this recovery real estate talk ie. BULLSHITE the news keeps claiming (along with a few morons on Patrick.net who live to brag about their so-called "deals" that the housing market is on the upswing, things are selling, profits being made, listing selling fast, people are lining up, cheaper to buy than rent, etc. etc. etc. really? Really? THEN WHY ARE SO MANY ARSEHOLES FROM REAL ESTATE RELATED BULLSHITE SPAMMING THE LIVING HELL OUT OF ME AND YOU!? I DON'T BUY INTO A SINGLE WORD OF ANY OF IT. If a "market" is so good there IS NO NEED to spam anyone. Spam is desperation in my view. There is overwhelming evidence the housing recovery is well under way. I can't understand why so many here are in denial? All you have to do is ask yourself...Why is there such a shortage of homes for sale? http://lansner.ocregister.com/2012/10/13/socal-home-prices-up-sales-down/167018/

6. Patrick Follow Befriend (54) 5,185 threads 6,156 comments 46 male Menlo Park, CA Premium

   6   9:14am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   curious2 says By all means, a public thread would be better, the shame of communicating with a realtor(tm) at all would be mitigated by the knowledge that at least they can't keep spamming me. How about a feature where users can send out a question from the forum to a specific realtor's email address, with instructions to reply on that forum thread? So the question would appear as a new thread, and the realtor or whoever would get an email with the question, and a link to click to login here to answer in public on that thread.

7. Patrick Follow Befriend (54) 5,185 threads 6,156 comments 46 male Menlo Park, CA Premium

   7   9:47am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Raw says There is overwhelming evidence the housing recovery is well under way. You mean "housing inflation is well under way", right? And I don't see it, except at the very low end, places I wouldn't want to live.

8. 37108605 Follow Befriend 1 threads 1,055 comments

   8   11:50am Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Patrick says Raw says There is overwhelming evidence the housing recovery is well under way. You mean "housing inflation is well under way", right? And I don't see it, except at the very low end, places I wouldn't want to live. I was going to answer Raw the same. It is only on the very low end. And I wish them luck. They'll need it.

9. Zakrajshek Follow Befriend 67 comments Chico, CA

   9   6:18pm Sun 14 Oct 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Those are the Glengary leads.