Zillow is an American tech real-estate marketplace company that was founded in 2006 by Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink, both former Microsoft executives and founders of Expedia. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and has grown to become one of the most visited real estate websites in the United States.
Zillow provides a comprehensive suite of services related to real estate, catering to buyers, sellers, renters, and real estate professionals. Here are the key services:
Property Search: Buyers can search for properties based on location, price, features, and other criteria. Zillow's platform includes listings for homes that are currently on the market as well as those that are not, providing a broad view of available real estate.
Agent Connection: Zillow connects buyers with local real estate agents through its Zillow Premier Agent program, helping them find the right property and navigate the buying process.
Zestimate: Zillow provides an estimate of home values, known as a "Zestimate," which is based on public records and comparable sales in the area. This helps sellers get an idea of their home's market value.
Listing Tools: Sellers can use Zillow's tools to create interactive and 3D floor plans, and access professional photography and media services to enhance their listings.
Agent Connection: Similar to buyers, sellers can connect with local real estate agents for market analysis and advice on home improvements to maximize value.
Cash Offers: Sellers can request cash offers from Opendoor through Zillow's platform.
Rental Applications and Payments: Renters can apply for apartments and pay rent through Zillow's platform. Landlords can process applications, conduct background and credit checks, and accept payments.
Zillow Home Loans: Zillow offers mortgage loans and refinancing options through its affiliate lender, Zillow Home Loans. The platform also provides information on down payment assistance programs.
Managing multiple Zillow accounts can be beneficial for various reasons, but it also comes with risks. To avoid getting banned, it's essential to be aware of common mistakes and implement best practices. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid when managing multiple Zillow accounts:
Mistake: Accessing multiple accounts from the same IP address can lead to account linkage and potential bans.
Solution: Use residential or mobile proxies to mask your IP address, making it appear as though each account is accessed from a different location. Tools like Smartproxy can help with this.
Mistake: Interacting with your own listings or profiles from different accounts, such as upvoting, commenting, or messaging, can trigger Zillow's detection algorithms.
Solution: Avoid any form of interaction between your accounts to prevent detection.
Mistake: Logging into multiple accounts from the same device or browser can leave digital fingerprints that link the accounts.
Solution: Use multi-account browsers like GoLogin or Incogniton, which create separate browser profiles with unique digital fingerprints for each account.
Mistake: Providing inconsistent or conflicting information across different accounts can raise red flags.
Solution: Ensure that each account has consistent and accurate information that aligns with Zillow's terms of service.
Mistake: Violating Zillow's terms of service, such as creating duplicate profiles or posting misleading information, can lead to account suspension or banning.
Solution: Familiarize yourself with Zillow's terms of service and ensure all activities comply with their guidelines.
Mistake: Using the same email address for multiple accounts can easily link them together.
Solution: Create a unique email address for each Zillow account to avoid email-based linkage.
Mistake: Failing to clear cookies and cache can leave traces that link multiple accounts.
Solution: Regularly clear cookies and cache or use browser extensions to automate this process.
Mistake: Not keeping track of the activity on each account can lead to inconsistencies and potential issues.
Solution: Monitor the activity on each account to ensure compliance with Zillow's terms and to quickly address any issues that arise.
Access each Zillow account from a different device and network. This can be achieved by using multiple computers, smartphones, or virtual machines.
Use residential or mobile proxies to mask your IP address. While VPNs can change your IP address, they are less effective than proxies for managing multiple accounts because they do not alter other digital fingerprints.
Clear cookies and cache regularly to prevent tracking through persistent cookies. Use browser extensions or settings to automate this process.
Ensure that you claim listings correctly and avoid any misrepresentation. If you are an agent, make sure the email addresses of your Zillow profile and the listing match to avoid issues with claiming listings.
Keep track of the activity on each account to ensure compliance with Zillow's terms and to quickly address any issues that arise.
DICloak: This tool allows you to create separate browser profiles, each with its own unique digital fingerprint. This means different IP addresses, device models, operating systems, and other digital characteristics for each account, making it appear as though each account is being accessed by a different user
Running multiple Zillow accounts safely involves avoiding common mistakes such as using the same IP address, cross-account interactions, ad inconsistent information. By using tools like DICloak, employing proxies and VPNs, and following best practices such as using different devices and networks, regularly clearing cookies and cache, and monitoring account activity, you can effectively manage multiple accounts while minimizing the risk of detection and bans.