“No one can argue with technology today,” says Lehmkuhl, who explains that evolving with the industry is crucial. Zillow’s partnerships are an example of this necessary evolution; the early success of these programs hints at a future of collaboration, where home shoppers get exactly what they want—a comprehensive, easy-to-use, all-in-one home search—and industry partners get what they need—a connection with home shoppers through active, accurate listings.
And when it comes to consumer preference, the numbers don’t lie. According to Google Analytics, Zillow comes in as a category leader, reporting 77 million unique users in March 2014. The site’s tremendous growth in audience makes it clear that consumers aren’t willing to part with their newfound empowerment in real estate information. So the industry must embrace consumer preference and work together to achieve greater success for everyone involved.
For more information, please visit www.zillow.com.