I closed 59 transactions last year. Over 95% of those were from leads received from ZipRealty. I spent all my time closing deals, not looking for leads, and my results show it.
Dan L.

I've been selling real estate for over 10 years and the last 5 have been with ZipRealty - it's been the best move I've ever made in my real estate career! There are so many reasons why I love ZipRealty. ZipRealty gives me all the tools I need to succeed - all I have to do is use them! I get daily leads that I manage on ZipRealty's agent management system. This technology allows me to easily stay in contact with my clients as often as I want as well as streamlines our contract files and paperwork. I know what I need to do to complete my transactions, which is extremely helpful, especially when you have several transactions going at the same time and all without a personal assistant! I don't have to do any marketing, no "floor time", and I get to spend my time with clients and selling, which is what I love best! I don't have to spend MY money marketing because the company does it for us and provides all the leads I need! I also love the fact that we're employees and that we have a whole corporate headquarters full of people that only want to help us succeed, focus on our clients' customer satisfaction, and continue to make ZipRealty a great company!
Lynn A.

I'll tell you what got me here...No more prospecting. I really love real estate but I was just worn out from all the prospecting and marketing and trying to figure out what to do next. When the market's good, it's easy but when the market's down, it's hard. Real estate is the easiest no-paying job and the hardest high-paying job. That is shown by the fact that the average agent makes less than $20,000/year - they don't realize how much work it takes.

This month, I'm so busy that I wrote 7 offers in the last 4 days. ZipRealty makes it possible. You wake up every morning and your clients are there. You just have to learn how to use ZAP (ZipRealty's agent management system) and learn how to convert clients. It's so much better than knocking on doors, trying to figure out how to do marketing, and competing with other agents. At this company, you're competing to build the company - you're creating something. In traditional (real estate), you hold your clients close to your chest - here, you share your clients, and the camaraderie is different than anywhere else. You have to be in it for a while to discover the grass is greener here.

I believe the entire world is going towards technology - it's our future - and I truly believe ZipRealty has made a big difference in how real estate is done.
Eileen H.

ZipRealty's technology is unbelievable! It brings a new meaning to prospecting! It's easy to go to the platform (ZipRealty's agent management system) and chose from 'several' prospecting options such as who has logged in during the past 24 hours to view homes. I get a list of my prospective buyers who have searched our website for houses in the last 24 hours and am able to quickly send them an e-mail or phone them up to see if I can be of service. Another favorite is searching the clients who have saved homes in the account. Wow - talk about easy appointments. All I have to do is send them an e-mail or call them up to ask them if they would like to view the home at such and such address they have recently saved in their 'My Homes' tab and before I know it, my whole week is full of showings with different clients. I never thought I could be so busy and write as many offers in a month as ZipRealty's technology has helped me do. I can't wait to log in every day to see who needs my help!
Jessica R.

Having worked with different companies over the years, where you get the leads from extensive and expensive farming or from babysitting the front desk, hoping to get a call that might get an appointment, I can see the big advantage of ZipRealty's business plan. Although the commission split may appear to be lower, it is higher when the second transaction of the month kicks in, and it goes from there. Never have I seen agents anywhere, except at ZipRealty, who reach a point where they ask for leads to stop for a while because they cannot cope with more. Not only are the leads free, but they actually come to us instead of us fishing for them, and we are reimbursed for out-of-pocket money that is necessary to conduct our business.

Our company's technology gives us an insight into what our clients want and need, so we can provide better service. We learn their habits, their search hours, options they are looking into, and much more, which when we use properly, make us look like mind readers to our clients.

The most valuable aspect is the spirit of teamwork, where we can share any problems or inquiries with each other about clients, without fear that another agent might steal your lead. Try sharing in other companies and you might lose a client to someone else who can outtalk you or outcharm you.

These are a few of my favorite things about ZipRealty.
Mike S.

What I love about ZipRealty...

1. You feel as though you are part of a large team that supports you and wants you to succeed.
2. It's exciting to be part of a growing company that has a unique vision that is changing the way real estate is bought and sold.
3. I'm impressed that at the corporate level, they actually listen to what the agents say and try to make positive changes based on agent input.
4. The ZAP platform (agent management system) is amazing! No other real estate company comes close to what we have and it allows you to get up and running quickly.
5. The ZipRealty model prepares you to do a lot of volume and gives you the tools to manage it.
6. My time is spent working with the clients that I receive from my platform, and not spent trying to get clients or coming up with marketing plans.
7. The emphasis is on providing great customer service and I think our clients appreciate that. They know that we are employees and have to be held accountable.
8. Clients rave about the website and the rebate. It's really a win-win for everyone.
9. There are additional ways to earn income such as receiving positive client surveys and making President's Club (compensation incentive plan).
10. There is always some type of ongoing training that is company-wide. We also have team meetings which allow us to learn from more experienced agents.

How ZipRealty stacks up against the competition.

A 100% commission company is great if you have a huge database/huge client referral system. When I came here, I was a transitional agent and I was referred to ZipRealty because of the leads. For 2005, I didn't have to pay for any leads. I didn't have to pay for business cards. I didn't have to pay for signs. I didn't have to spend any money to market myself, when I had been spending $5000/month. ZipRealty covers it all. It has been the easiest prospecting that I've done from the comfort of my own home.

Add up the office expenses (anywhere else) - leads, marketing materials, an agent website, and a desk fee which cost me almost $2000/month. And if you do no deals, 100% of nothing is 100% of nothing...and you have to pay for it all. With ZipRealty, what did it cost you to get that lead? Nothing. You're not spending money for it.

I owe nothing if I don't make anything.

The commission structure goes up (with ZipRealty) if you do volume. And I get extra money from President's Club and the satisfied client survey. I have health insurance, dental, and optical insurance! If you look at the big picture, it's huge!

I've been doing this for 9-10 years. I've sold 5 more homes this year as a brand new agent in AZ (with ZipRealty) than I did my best year as a lifetime resident of Michigan. In my best year (elsewhere) I sold 45 homes. And then I move to another state, with this model, and do better! At ZipRealty, I made more money than I did at 100% split at another company! I can't imagine NOT being in this model.
Deborah G.

As soon as I received my real estate license I researched several companies. I found ZipRealty to have the best technology and support to get going. Since ZipAgents are online when they are not working with clients, I'm able to solicit help with a click of a button. The team meetings allow me to interact with other high performing agents and gather ideas. The platform (agent management system) which organizes the leads and the workload is essential to my success as well. The specific goals and steps the company set motivated me to obtain a listing and a deal within the first couple months as a newly licensed agent, and I know I couldn't have achieved that sort of success anywhere else. If you want to give your real estate career a jump start...ZipRealty is the only way to go!
Rachelle W.

With ZipRealty, you don't have to spend your own money on marketing and prospecting. Non-ZipRealty agents spend 80% of their time prospecting and I can spend that time working with clients.

Having leads come to you versus having to shop for them is great! The website and expenses paid every month - no one else does that.
Paul P.

I have been in the Bay Area for 30 years and worked in the high tech industry for over 20 years. After the dot-com collapse, I decided to quit the high tech altogether, spent 7 months studying for my real estate broker license and joined ZipRealty in Feb 2004.

Before I joined ZipRealty, I did interview with a few (other) brokerage firms. ZipRealty impressed me with its business model and the technology. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be able to get going quickly, work the leads that are provided to me, and not have to worry about high marketing expenses from the beginning. Sure enough, I made the first listing appointment when my platform was activated at the end of my training, knocking on the door of my first client the following Monday, and got my very first listing 8 days after joining ZipRealty!

Having worked in the high tech corporate world for a long time, I appreciate what ZipRealty is providing to their employees - health benefits, 401(k) plan, stock options, etc. These are benefits I was accustomed to and they all add to my bottom-line earnings as a full-time employee.

Looking back, I have been with ZipRealty for over 2 years. Of the last 8 quarters, I have exceeded my own expectations. Being new to this industry, I have completed 30 transactions, $20M of sales, and have been a member of the President's Club for 4 out of the last 8 quarters. Getting into the President's Club is an honor. Not only are you being recognized as a successful agent by peer agents, it also brings higher commission split and extra bonus.

Some agents may have doubts about the lower-than-average commission split offered at ZipRealty, but if you talk to fellow ZipAgents who have worked with other traditional brokerages before, or work out the numbers, it all evens out. At ZipRealty, agents do not pay for leads, marketing materials, advertisements, prospecting and client management/tracking system. I make up the commission by not incurring many expenses that I would otherwise have if I worked for other brokerages that don't provide these benefits.

I enjoy working for ZipRealty and know you will too.
Martin K.

1. With ZipRealty being totally internet based, I have been able to keep in contact with clients while on vacation AND facilitate offers/transactions to close. I have opened 3 separate transactions while on vacation.
2. Having ZipRealty take care of all the website/technical aspects of the business means I don't have to design a website or monitor it. I don't have to "track" my leads and decide if they are profitable.
3. When you just start up in this business it's expensive: MLS dues, lockboxes, business cards, letterhead, open house signs, name riders, marketing brochures... After 2 years in traditional real estate with many "Production" Awards won, I filed bankruptcy! With ZipRealty, even if you are not "working" [vacation, whatever] you are still being marketed - without writing one CHECK! And when you do take time off, you don't start back at the bottom of the hill.
4. I have 3 children, the health & medical insurance is great to have. I put the MAX in my 401(k) every year, RIGHT OFF THE TOP, no taxes.
5. When I first started with ZipRealty I told myself that if I could make $50K a year, I would be doing well - I almost doubled that my first year. The second year I had my 3rd child and STILL made close to what I did my first year. In my 3rd year with ZipRealty and having an infant, a 4 year old, and a 7 year old I still made nearly the same!!
6. One of the things I like most is not feeling like I have to "rush" a client into making a decision. If this client doesn't write an offer today it's ok. I KNOW I will have another client soon that will. So "this" client and I can take the time needed to find what he/she needs.
7. I don't know why ANY agent would want to work at any other company. If you are a new agent or a seasoned agent that is tired of paying everyone else to get the business you need them, you need ZipRealty.

I was very hesitant at the thought of switching to another real estate company. I had been a "traditional realtor" for over 10 years. I was amazed from the very start at how far advanced ZipRealty was with their technology and support! I have nicknamed it "push button real estate"! Everything I could ever need is right there for me. ZipRealty supplies "warm real person leads" - no more sitting on floor, no more cold calling, and no more desperate farming schemes. My Buyers and Sellers are a click away! I love working from my home while still having the office support. I start my day with my coffee and computer - I log on and see new Buyers and Sellers that have registered and are just waiting for me to call them! The Buyers absolutely love our Buyer Rebate and the Sellers are very pleased with our lower commissions. With our high quality presentation tools, our quality flyers, signs, and virtual tours, ZipRealty makes my job easy to acquire listings! I used to pay dearly to market myself in the monthly real estate industry magazines, the shopping cart advertising, the local golf course and gym news boards, and many other ways to get clients. This was very costly to say the least and not very effective! I love not having to pay for advertising, signs, flyers and business cards anymore - and even my gas and office supplies are reimbursed. I am thrilled with the health insurance, stock options, and the 401(k) programs - these were never thought of in my "traditional real estate" job!

My first year I matched my former income and every year since I have made more money then I did before. I can honestly say that I could never go back to being a "traditional real estate agent"! We are like other agents in the services we provide and the high standards of real estate ethics that we abide by. We are just head and shoulders above the rest of the industry with our programs and technology....

Sit floor? Who needs it!! I've got a more productive way to spend my time with ZipRealty! I believe in ZipRealty so much that my daughter and son-in-law have also joined the ZipRealty Team of agents!
Linda S. (4 and a half year ZipRealty agent)

I never worked at another real estate firm. I like the web based technology ZipRealty offers to agents and clients. I use the client based technology to help me set up visits - the best route for multiple visits and directions is key for me. ZipRealty has packaged time savers for everyone. You can pick some other things from the Wall Street Journal article with Steve Stecklow. He wanted to be able to go from town to town before deciding on where he would live. A lot of our clients do the same thing - rule out towns based on schools, commute, etc. before focusing on a town where they will live. Agents cannot focus on the commission - they need to focus on the number of deals and total dollar volume, preferably all in one quarter to maximize payout!!! Good luck!!!
Jack G.

I was drawn to ZipRealty because I'm not a door-knocking, cold-calling type of person. Each contact I make is to someone that came to me, not vice versa. I have friends at more traditional offices who started the same time as me, have done a quarter of the deals I've done since starting with ZipRealty...and seem to be working just as hard with making contacts. I was well on my way to making six figures within my first year at ZipRealty and my first year in real estate...and none of my friends in other offices have been able to do that.
Mary A.

I've been in real estate for 26 years. In that time I have seen many changes, especially with the use of the internet. I saw that the internet was the future for real estate, so I joined ZipRealty. On my first day with ZipRealty, I had clients on my (agent management) platform. In my first month, I had a closing! Pretty amazing, especially since it was November when I joined ZipRealty.

I love ZAP (agent management platform). There's no better way to keep in contact with people. The beauty of it is that you can contact people 24 hours a day. There's nothing like getting up in the morning, turning on the computer, and already having business in front of you. You can work no matter what the circumstances.

I have health and dental insurance - on your own, you usually don't have it. The 401(k) is a nice little bonus and incentive. Most people don't think that far ahead. At ZipRealty, we're encouraged to save - in real estate, you usually don't think of putting anything aside.
Maria Z.

1. Getting started as a new agent: When I joined ZipRealty, I had just received my license and was with another broker. I was doing floor duty, spending quite a bit of money to get started and I had nothing to show for it. After I'd been with them about 2-3 months without a single deal, feeling frustrated and unmotivated, I joined ZipRealty. I was pretty hesitant but I didn't have anything to lose. By the end of my first full month of work with ZipRealty, I had 4 contracts!
2. The agent management platform: I don't know what I would do if I went to another company - the platform is the best thing about the company, besides the leads. I don't have to keep track of all my emails or my clients - with the database, everything is recorded. Without the platform, I wouldn't be able to handle it. It's unbelievable!
3. The leads and the commission: One of the concerns of other agents is our commission but you have to look at it in perspective. 70% of my business comes from my platform. Our clients come from the leads we get, so I look at it this way: if I were with another company, I would never have had that client. I have several clients who are out of town, including investors, because they found me through ZipRealty's website.
4. The team: When I'm overwhelmed with business, I might get a new client but not be able to serve them well. So it's great to give them to a new agent. We share or give clients away - you would never give them away at another brokerage! Once when I was on vacation, another agent "saved" my client by taking them out when they were in town for that weekend only.

I've been in real estate for over 20 years. I "watched" ZipRealty for a year before I joined. It exceeded my expectations when I came on. There have been many positive changes. I look forward to every quarter!

What I love: The technology, the support, the quality of the leads we receive, and the team spirit. In traditional real estate, it's such a competition between agents. Here, it's not. Nowadays, most buyers are looking on the internet before they buy. The ones I work with have logged on, are knowledgeable, they check out houses online, they mark the ones they want to see, and they buy. It's MARVELOUS!
Michelle G.

On opening a new ZipRealty district:
It's absolutely been incredible. Before I meet with my clients, they have already spent hours on the computer, checking out houses, researching the neighborhood. They've done their homework and I just reinforce it. It's so much more convenient for them. They're in control of everything. After my first couple weeks, I had an accepted offer. I've written 7 accepted offers now and I've got another one that was put in online. He hasn't even seen the house - he knows what he wants!
Ann D.