If you get my offline newsletter, Andy’s Patch, you probably read that I joined Homes.com as one of their Realtors. I joined Homes.com for several reasons:
1) Unlimited online advertising. Coldwell Banker gives my listings great exposure online with initial listing campaigns (first 14 days), and since I joined in 2018 I’ve been very happy with the CB online marketing. However, things have slowed significantly in 2025 with longer times on the market, and I wanted to keep my listings in front of potential buyers. Homes.com gives my listings unlimited advertising, both on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Meta, etc.) and retargeted advertising on other sites like CNN, Fox News, NBC Sports etc. I even see the ads when I go on Yahoo.com and Weather.com. When we are faced with longer times on the market, it’s important to keep front in center with potential buyers.
2) Matterport and floorplans included. Since I mostly represent sellers, this sealed the deal for me. While I can pay extra for the Matterport (3D tour) and floorplans through Coldwell Banker listing concierge, they are included with my Homes.com membership. Not only do my listings get more online exposure through Homes.com, the exposure is enhanced through these offerings.
3) My listings go to the top of the Homes.com search pages. That’s right, any Homes.com user looking in San Rafael right now will see my listings at the top of the page, along with the other Homes.com agents. Once again, Homes.com simply gives better exposure to my listings.
Back in 2020 I became a Zillow agent. I tried it for a year. Zillow is mostly geared towards hooking up buyers with agents, rather than hooking up buyers with homes. Since most of my business is selling listings rather than finding buyers, I did not find that much value in my Zillow membership.
At this point I’ve really soured on Zillow. They have begun blackballing any listings that are marketed prior to coming on the MLS. That means if you even put a sign up in front of a house, or make a posting about a coming listing on your social media, Zillow will not show the listing as for sale when it goes on the market. That’s just not right.
I’m happy with my Homes.com membership and what it’s does for my sellers. As Homes.com increases its market penetration, I’m looking forward to the site becoming the dominant player in the marketplace. Move over Zillow, you’ve been pushing around Realtors for far too long while adding little value.