Yes.  Including my own sister over the weekend.  Imagine that.

I will check out the article. Yes at least once a week if not mor ei get a call or email about a property no longer for sale still listed on one of those sites .

I don't think saying that these two sides stealing data would be relevant or helpful to maintaining the client I think the best thing to do is say that their data is sometimes is not as up to date and accurate as what you can provide and then give them your website and you will have them as a client

Hi David -- I love to "explain" the data "supplied" via Zillow, Trulia or any other provider.  It's my opportunity to show the value I can provide to a transaction via valid informed knowledge.  

I don't deal with allegations, gossip or badmouthing of others to make my point. 

This happens. Many times.

Absolutely!

David - I don't get into the bigger picture of whether I think Zillow/Trulia are stealing listing data, or whether they are good or bad for our industry. People are going to look there because it is easy for them to use.

That doesn't make it accurate, or their information valid, but that is where people will go. I will provide them with my market analysis and let them know what I think is going on in our local market, and why my information is probably more accurate, but I will not discuss the allegations. Home buyers and sellers just won't care. 

I correct the clients perceptions, but they are going to keep usign those sites, nothing we can do about it.  I Tell them for a free tool in the tool box, they are ok but more like a "Guestimate" than a "Zestimate" and it should not be their only source of information.

Not really, at this point is is an allegation so not proved. Also, I think that 99.9% of Americans don't know about this or care so why should I make our industry look bad unnecessarily? One should have good scripts for dealing with the Zestimate and use it to your advantage by showing your local knowledge and expertise.

No  I don't get into that with the buyers and sellers. Most of them know they need a local expert to interpret the data and that is what I am. They quickly forget about Zillow as their resource.

I'm not getting involved in this fray.  I highly doubt that customers will understand the battle here and probably could care less.

It seems easiest to me to simpy apologize for any confusion that may have been caused by the website(s), and explain to your client (or potential client) that the best way to see the home is just that...to actually go out and see the homes.

Make them an appointment, show the property.  Now we have another customer.

MLS listing service selling the data for profit. It never lets paid members to vote to disallow syndicating.

I will leave the allegations to the press and the lawyers.  Most buyers and sellers have little interest in this topic. 

David,

I don't like to accuse anyone of anything.  And what is written in the press is often biased.  I am not an expert in this arena.

I would just explain that the World Wide Web is not necessarily the accurate source of information, and move on.  Ragging on someone does not make anyone look good.  A

I don't go out of my way to diss Zillow/Trulia - If it comes up organically, I will share my opinion, if not, I keep my mouth shut.

Nearly every day we get calls from consumers who "saw a house for sale" on Trulia or Zillow and get disappointed when I inform them it sold last year. We then convert the call and ask them what they are looking for, have they been qualified etc..... so we do turn the calls around.