Zillow zillow, zestimates, estimates, class action, law suit, Internet

That is exactly what I wrote on this report two-years earlier on 8/25/15 (not 8/25/17). 

On 8/23/17 a U.S. District Court judge in Illinois dismissed a proposed class action suit against Zillow for appraising real estate at prices below market levels. The judge agreed with Zillow’s claim that the First Amendment protected their Zestimates. That is exactly what I wrote on this report two-years earlier on 8/25/17. Case closed.

“The attorney that I spoke to today believes this may be a strong suit for a class action attorney, due to 2 cut & dry factors that I can't mention here just yet.”

You wrote that 15-months ago. Is that class action dead in the water or simply nonexistent? Can you mention the, “2 cut & dry factors” yet? Or perhaps you will continue to refuse to respond because you fabricated that part of your story.

“2 cut & dry factors that I can't mention here just yet”

You wrote that ten months ago. Are you prepared to share those factors?

“If you don't believe, then just wait and see... ”

You wrote that ten months ago. We’re still waiting or are you still blowing hot air?

Zillow Group stock value has increased about 40% since you posted your complaint. Something is not moving in your favor.

Have you had any success in repealing the first amendment?

What is the status of the lawsuit? In what jurisdiction will the case be heard? What is the docket number?

"a laww firm is still looking into this"

What law firm is that?

I can't disclose details here but a laww firm is still looking into this.

“if I do not find a lawyer, I will represent myself in my local court”

You wrote that four months ago. Do you have a lawyer or will you be representing yourself?

“2 cut & dry factors that I can't mention here just yet”

You wrote that four months ago. Are you prepared to share those factors? I am very interested in this so please provide an update.

Zillow does NOT let you take yourself off their website.  period.D

Have you had any success in repealing the first amendment?

What is the status of the lawsuit? In what jurisdiction will the case be heard? What is the docket number?

Any homeowners who believe Zillow is valuing their property lower than it will appraise at please contact me.  You may be entitled to compensation if this goes to court.

Also any realtors whose sales are affected by lower zestimates please contact me as well.

Thanks

No, I am not and have never been employed by Zillow. I have no financial interest in Zillow.

No, Robert and I are not the same person. I do not know Robert other than reading his posts on this site.

It is not my intent to defend Zillow. I simply stated that anyone or any company has the right to post their opinion as to the market value of property. It is typical behavior of many complainants to claim a commenter works for the company they are complaining about.

You can easily search for previous Ripoff Reports by utilizing the search field at the top of the page. Feel free to search for the following reports and then come back and tell us if you still think I work for Zillow. This is a short list of the companies that I have been falsely accused of working for:

I was accused of working in the corporate office of InTown Suites in Clearwater, Florida (RR# 1076605).

Someone named Tobee claims that I work at Lexus of Orange Park, Florida. He later denied the accusation but it was posted for all to see (RR# 1076844).

This guy thinks I work for Fairwinds Credit Union in Orlando. It was nice of him to call me a genius (RR# 1070488).

I'm the service manager for an auto dealer in Barberton, Ohio (RR# 1068147).

I also work for Safe Security in San Ramon, California (RR# 1067734).

Let’s not forget about the firearms dealer in San Diego. No, I’m not Lenny (RR# 1006559).

This guy wants to know if I am the police chief of Montgomery, Alabama (RR# 982045).

Hey look, now I work for a camera dealer in Orlando (RR# 1064988).

I am in Florida so I must also work at Foreman Motors in Melbourne (RR# 1059701).

This guy is absolutely sure that I'm Sonia Perez at Comerica Bank. No, I’m not Sonia (RR# 1065755).

This guy thought I was someone that sold him a car on eBay but he was nice enough to withdraw the accusation. No, I’m not Darrell Holmes (RR# 1064307).

I’m still humored by Susan who claims Yahoo ripped her off after forcing her to use their free email service. Of course I work there too (RR# 1066587).

I also work for EIN Filing Service (RR# 1197088).

STILL think I work for Zillow??

Funny how you both replied at the exact same time, and you both defend Zillow with a vengence.  Why would any consumer have an interest in defending a company that causes people to lose their hard-earned equity by publicly quoting a guessed value on homes without even visiting the home sites.   What would be in it for you if you are not employed by Zillow?  Tell the truth, are you employed by Zillow?  Who knows, maybe the law researchers will trace your IP address and find out for sure.   Out of all the thousands of subjects on this site... why is Zillow the one that interests you the most if you have no business with Zillow?

You exercised your first amendment rights by posting your opinion of Zillow. Since 1926 Kelley Blue Book has been exercising their first amendment rights by publishing their opinions as to the market value of automobiles. There are several other publications and online companies that also post their opinions as to the market value of automobiles. Let’s not forget about the companies that publish their opinions as to the market value of boats, planes, antiques, rare books, rare coins, rare stamps, wine, electronics, appliances, silverware, rugs, jewelry, leather goods, pictures, hand tools, power tools, vinyl records and musical instruments.

Please keep us posted as to the status and success of your class action.

It is very interesting how another poster comes here and say that not only may me and another poster are probably the same person, but I am a person who has posted over 36,000 times on another site.  Do you question it?  No...you instantly figure it must be the truth and figure it is some huge plot by the company to keep people from posting.

But let us take a look at this microscopic view you have from a logic perspective.  In your microscopic view you can't conceive how or why anyone would disagree with you or dare give another opinion.  So in your mind, even in a nation of millions of people, anyone who doesn't say something you like must automatically work for the company.  But then on
the off chance someone does not agree with you, again in a country of millions, you find it impossible that more than one would have a differing opinion.  So anyone who posts under a different name of course MUST be the same person.

Okay, so let's take your logic to the next step.  If it is logical in your mind that anyone who posts a different opinion must  be the same person.  Then it must be logical for me to claim that anyone who posts an opinion the same as yours must be you.  Or does your logic only flow in one direction?

But let's go beyond that.  The other poster would be very happy with an option to "opt-out", and since you didn't tear them down on that I figure you must be open to that as well.  Well guess what I could care less if they allow people to opt-out or get rid of them all together.  But that is a decision that THEY have a right to make.  Now, you have the right to take your complaint through the courts.  If the courts agree and force them to take certain actions based on your complaint, then more power to you and congratulations.  You just made a lot of lawyers a lot of money.  Surprised that I have this view? 

Let me leave you with this to ponder.  Since the basis for your primary claim is that people rely on these estimates so much, they are their only source for evaluating a house. If you are allowed to "opt-out" and do, what are you going to do when you have a person withdraw their offer because you don't have an estimate?  Let's take it up a notch. Say you opt-out and your neighboor doesn't.  Now, your neighboor in an identical house has a lower estimate than your listing, and you have people withdraw their offer because of that.  Do you go back and sue the company or your neighboor?

But let us even take it out of this company.  We now have your neighboor(in an identical house) list their house on the MLS and they put it up for sale for 25% less than yours because they want it to sell.  You then have a person withdraw their offer because of their MLS listing. Do you sue your neighboor?  If the answer is No, why no?  The end result is the same you had someone post a value on a publically accessible location that affected your sale.  Why in that situation will you not force your neighhboor to raise their price?  Why is that different than what this company is doing?

Now, of course these were more rhetorical, but I am sure you will answer them in great depth because you have to find some way to justify your position.

Anyways there is a concept of diminishing return, and this post really wasn't for you it was for other people who might come here and read it with an open mind.  So I will leave you with this. 

Good luck and I am sure you will keep us informed as to the status of your "lawsuit"...even if it doesn't work out like you want.

Thanks for pointing that out.  It definitely seemed like the agressive rebuttals were by the purpose of Zillow to make people back down.  I will follow up with the class action attorney today to see where we are now in research..... last we spoke a very large and well-know law firm said they were very "definitely interested in this case" and will begin research.

When 17% of Zillows 110 million Zestimates are over 25% inaccurate it is an outrage that they refuse all homeowner requests to correct or delete the erroneous valuation. As they have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted to act in a fair minded way towards homeowners it is time that some form of Regulation was introduced to protect homeowners from misery and potential financial damage as without any doubt inaccurate Zestimates influence buyers. 

At the very least homeowners should have the option to opt of of Zillows nonsense by registering with a DoNotZestimate webiste in the same way as Phone users can opt out of unwanted spam calls by registering with DoNotCall.

When Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff claims a First Amendment Right to impose inaccurate Zestimates it is a blatant infringement of the intentions of the Founding Fathers, and time it was tested in court by an ambitious Attorney wanting to make a name (and lots of money) for themself in the process.

It seems to me that Robert & Coastal are the same person as many other posts critical of Zillow Zestimates have been defended by them in the past with the same BS arguments. In fact I have called out Robert as being the ultimate Zillow Cheerleader on the Zillow Forum who operate under the name "Blue Nile" (previously as "Pasadenan" where he has made more than 36,000 posts defending Zillow as if he was the architect of its nonsense Zestimates.

The attorney I spoke to yesterday believes because of the easily proved damages caused by their public opinions, and the many complaints, that this might be a valid class action.  He asked me to wait while they research the case further.  Whichever lawyer firm that stands up against Zillow will make quite a name for themselves, so they are not just in it for the money!

If you don't believe, then just wait and see...  

All I am saying is that a class action law firm has confirmed with me that they are interested. It is in the research stages now.  It's a wait and see thing; it all depends on their law research. And, yes.... if you do your own research, you will see that hundreds if not thousands of similar consumer complaints are on the internet for everyone to see.

There are 2 reasons specifically that they are interested, but I can't reveal them just yet.   And yes... I am a licensed real estate broker in more than one state with 15 years real estate experience.

It’s highly likely you fabricated the story about an attorney suggesting a class action because a class action requires a large group of plaintiffs that suffered a loss or injury due to fraud or negligence. You are only one person and you have not suffered a loss or injury due to fraud or negligence. Additionally, there isn’t an attorney in America that is prepared to challenge the first amendment.

I also doubt your claim that you are a real estate broker because someone in the real estate business would be familiar with Zillow’s estimates and would tackle this issue more like a professional and less like a whiner.

“my so called "Zestimate" is off by 40%   My home appraised at $467,000 and Zillow is telling the world that the value is $314,000”

An experienced realtor would know that’s a difference of 32.75% not 40%.

The Zillow website recommends buyers and sellers supplement their information by getting a comparative market analysis from a real estate agent and an appraisal from a professional appraiser.

Sorry but you don't get to decide who and who does not make comments on your post, and you can't just decide to only allow people to post who agree with you. 

Of course I don't expect you to think that what people posted here makes sense to you, because you aren't going to open your mind up to the possibility that (gasp) you could be wrong.  So these comments aren't for you...they are for everyone else who comes here and reads your "story".   You will say that everyone will agree with you....and you are entilted to that OPINION. 

It was very interesting how you basically ignored several points in my post.  Such as if you are really a Real Estate Agent, why don't you already have an attorney you deal with?  Since you are a Real Estate Agent why didn't you go after the two people who recinded their offers?   Not only that but it is very interesting how you all of the sudden got two "smoking guns" that came out of nowhere...of course you can't talk about them.

So in closing, good luck in your "Class Action Lawsuit..lawsuit..lawsuit....(insert echo voice here)".  Where I really hope you do post your progress, but I won't be holding my breath.  Because believe it or not the "I am going to file a Class Action Lawsuit" is one of the top 10 phrases on this site...Yet I have yet to see a single person who has posted that comment to actually file a suit.  And I am not just talking about this company, but many...many other companies.

But let me guess..you will be the first.  Yea..heard that before too.

So far the responses to my post make no sense at all.  If you don't have a clue about real estate and how Zillow works; please don't waste my time or yours.  

If you are employed by Zillow I have no interest in your responses as well. Right now I am only speaking with educated people about this, and igoring clueless people.  

Please only respond to my post if you are educated on these matters--if you are a realtor, attorney or a homeowner that has been dealing with the same issues with Zillow, I would like to hear from you. 

Thank you!

The attorney that I spoke to today believes this may be a strong suit for a class action attorney, due to 2 cut & dry factors that I can't mention here just yet.

“My home appraised at $467,000”

That was the opinion of an appraiser. Perhaps the appraiser over estimated the value of your house. Zillow is a private entity that has the right to post their opinion as to property value.

“They are forcing me to lower my sales price”

They have not forced you to do anything. That is something you have decided to do on your own accord.

“I will represent myself in my local court. I can show proof that my buyers backed out when they saw Zillow's zestimate.”

That proof has no value. Zillow posted their opinion as to the value of property. You can’t sue someone for their opinion. It is my opinion that your car is worth $18.00. It is my opinion that your TV is worth 75¢.

“you can't compare a FICO score to a Zillow Zestimate”

OK, fine. You can’t compare an opinion to slander. You can’t have it both ways. That’s a double standard.

Posted on the Zillow website:

The Zestimate® home value is Zillow's estimated market value for an individual home and is calculated for about 100 million homes nationwide. It is a starting point in determining a home's value and is not an official appraisal.

Robert;

I am a licensed real estate broker with many years experience.  

The reason you can't compare a FICO score to a Zillow Zestimate is because if my FICO score went lower or higher it is based on my own actions, and if they make a mistake and refuse to correct it, the credit bureaus will get sued too.  It is actually very common to sue credit bureaus who refuse to make corrections.  

Zillow refuses to correct their errors and it is costing many people to lower their home prices for no good reason. This is their hard earned equity that Zillow is inadvertently costing them.

The main difference is that Zillow told me in an email that their system does not have the ability to differentiate between homes that are in flood zones and homes that are not.  For this reason they should not be estimatiing values publically at all!  I don't have the ability to give medical opinions, therefore I do not give medical advice to anyone.  

My home is not in a flood zone but it is being compared to homes of its size that go underwater when it rains because it is near a flood zone!  

I believe I have a valid case, and if I do not find a lawyer, I will represent myself in my local court.  I can show proof that my buyers backed out when they saw Zillow's zestimate.

You obviously haven't even consulted a lawyer because you are off base on several areas.

First of all, they provide an ESTIMATE, based on THEIR criteria.  This is really no different than Credit Scores, there are dozens of different scoring models each give a different value.  Do you go around suing these companies because one gave you a credit score 50 points less than another?   There are even several Automotive sites that have gotten into "pricing", are you going to sue them if they say your car is only worth $15,000 when you say it is worth $20,000?

Your bigger issue is your claims that you had people withdraw their offers.  My guess is that in addition to you not having a Lawyer, you don't have a Real Estate Agent.  Because a good agent would not just let this go.

Once an offer is submited, and accepted by the seller.  The buyer(and seller) has very limited options to recind it without being held accountable for any possible damages by the other party. "Buyer's Remorse" is not one of those reasons.   If they think they paid too much they should have done their due dilligence BEFORE submitting the offer.  So you may have legal grounds to not necessarily force them to buy the house, but you may be able to claim damages against the other party. 

Now, of course if you are exaggerating your claim and they really didn't submit an offer, well then they could say anything...even their Palm Reader told them to not buy it...so would you go after the Palm Reader?

As for Slander in general Slander has a very high threshhold to be able to claim any damages.  Someone giving an "opinion" is not Slander..see above comments.  After all if someone was looking at your house and their real estate agent friend said that they hated the color of your house and it isn't worth more than $150K, and the person based on that withdrew the offer would you go and sue the friend?  Of course not because that friend was giving their opinion.  

On lawyers, where you state that lawyers sue every day.   Your right, in fact many lawyers will sue anyone for anything...as long as someone is paying them.  They only time a lawyer does something for no cost(up front) is if it is a slam-dunk case, and that you do not  have.  So be prepared for a case of sticker shock when you find out how much of a retainer they want to even look at your case.

Now, of course I expect you to totally dismiss everything said here and ignore my overall theme.  You probably will even accuse me of working for this company(which by the way you would be wrong on).

So I will say that if you do find your lawyer, I hope you keep this post updated...even if things don't go your way.

I will address your argument...  

I am a licensed real estate broker in one state and agent in another state, and have 15 years real estate experience.  I also owned a franchise of a mortgage company for 6 years, therefore I have worked very closely with appraisers as well.  (Zillow is not a licensed appraiser, nor are their estimates based on any guidelines of the "Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice" USPAP)

Yes I work with many attorneys on a regular basis with closings, and I did consult with 2 of them, but they recommended a class action attorney for Zillow, due to the large number of complaintants.   

Why didn't I go after the 2 potential buyers that backed out when they saw the Zestimate?  I did explain to them that the Zestimate is in dispute, but I can't force them to trust my word or come back.

Any other questions?

Opinions that cause people financial harm are different from general expressed opinions.  Slander is also an opinion, and lawyers sue daily for slander.   Next....

An attorney can do nothing for you because Zillow has the right to post their opinion as to the value of property. Perhaps you should be reminded of the first amendment to the Bill of Rights.

Sorry but you misunderstood the post.  It does't matter which realtor you use, your home will have a page on Zillow and a Zestimate which is most likely under the true appraised value.  Zillow does not give you a choice, it is out of every homeowners control.  Put your property address in a zillow.com search and see for yourself.

I am saying that they should allow people to opt their property out, since they admit themselves that their system is flawed.  And they are telling my buyers that my $467k appraised home is valud at $314k and they are not trained appraisers.

In an email to me Zillow admitted that their algorithms may be off by 8.3% but an appraisal on my home and many others will prove that to be wrong by actually closer to 40%

 Seems to me the issue is that YOU went with a WEBSITE and NOT an actual realitor!!!Maybe just remove it from their site. You know instead of WHINING that the WEBSITE isnt smart enough to do what YOU want. ITS A WEBSITE!!!!! WHERE is that CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS??? WHERE IS THAT COMMON SENSE??? Oh thats right!!!! YOU put your faith in a WEBSITE and NOW whine about it when it doesnt meet your demands.