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oStar CEO Andy Florance has taken to social media to criticize Zillow's listing standards and what he calls "outrageous bullying." However, some agents are also unhappy with Homes.com. In a LinkedIn post, Florance questioned the legality of Zillow's new Listing Access Standards, which bar listings that are publicly marketed but not widely available to consumers. He suggested that Zillow is leading an "anticompetitive cartel" with partners Redfin and Realtor.com.
Florance pointed out a double standard in Zillow's rules, noting that they don't apply to listings directly submitted to the company. He asked how agents can earn commissions when Zillow dominates four major real estate portals. Florance also noted that Homes.com had promoted a listing banned by Zillow, which received 10,000 views over the weekend.
Florance has long criticized Zillow's business model and Premier Agent program as a "lead diversion" strategy. He claims that Homes.com's model, based on a "your listing, your lead" approach, is more agent-friendly. However, some agents are uncomfortable with Homes.com's premium "boost" feature, which allows agents to pay for top search results. The company has also been sending glossy brochures to potential sellers, pitching the value of a boost on Homes.com. Some agents see this as a money grab that interferes with their client relationships.
