The Differences Between New Orleans Zillow and New Orleans Realtors

Zillow is one of the most prominent sites nationwide for finding homes for sale, and there’s no doubt that it’s a good resource. As one of the big kids on the block, they tend to have more listings at more price points and more sizes than any other listing service.

And, yes, you can use Zillow for houses for sale in New Orleans. In this article, we’re not going to try to convince you that Zillow is bad and anything else is good. Instead, we want to explain the way that Zillow works and help you to see why you may want to find homes on Zillow, but then work with a local real estate agent.

Zillow Premier Agents

Zillow makes the bulk of its money through Zillow Premier Agents–the Premier Agent program. If you’re an agent and you want to submit a property to Zillow, and you’re a Premier Agent, then only your picture will appear next to the property on the Zillow listing. However, if you’re submitting a property to Zillow and you’re not a Premier Agent, then two other Premiere Agents from the same zip code will appear beside the listing, along with your own.

What’s wrong with this model? Well, for starters, the posting real estate agent is the one who is in contact with the homeowner and who will have the bulk of the information about what makes the property unique and will have a relationship with the owner.

That’s the downside for the buyer. The downside for the real estate agent is that they must pay Zillow a commission for the number of impressions that the property gets (something that the Zillow Premier Agents don’t have to pay.) This commission works out to about $100 per converted lead.

In other words, Zillow is squeezing local realtors and, as is always the case, those fees inevitably get passed on to the consumer. These fees, as of the most recent filing, represent the bulk of Zillow’s revenue. 

Local Agents Simply Know the Area Better

Zillow Premier Agents are the people who will let someone else do the leg work of making relationships and building trust with buyers and sellers and then swoop in at the last minute to close the sale. But this doesn’t mean that the Premier Sellers know the area better than the local realtors. In most cases, Premier Agents work large swaths of areas (or even larger territories).

Realtors in New Orleans–the local realtors who know the area–will be able to give you the specialized information that a Zillow Premier Agent can’t give you. 

A Local Realtor Example

Take the example of a family of four who is looking to buy in Algiers, New Orleans. A local realtor, who is familiar with the city, will meet you somewhere local where you get to experience the culture of Algiers and enjoy the walkable streets. You might stop in at Dimartino’s Muffulettas and then treat your kids at Honey Whip Donuts.

When asked about the schools, the local realtor will be able to give you real information about school attendance, zone boundaries, which schools are the best and even which teachers to request. They’ll show you around the neighborhood and help you fall in love with Algiers in addition to showing you around the house and helping you fall in love with the house.

Now contrast that with a Zillow Premier Agent. They may be extremely personable and friendly, but they don’t have the same on-the-ground knowledge of Algiers that the local agent does. Odds are good you’ll never get the walking tour of the neighborhood, and if you have questions about the schools they’ll look up the stats on a computer, not have personal experience with them. 

There Really is No Other Choice

If you’re looking for a fast, impersonal sale, given by a Premier Agent who pays monthly fees and common charges to maintain their status as a Premier Agent, then maybe Zillow is all that you need. But if you’re looking for that personal touch, from someone who truly knows the neighborhood, the schools, the shopping areas, and the local issues, then talking to someone who is local–truly local–is your best course of action.