How Your Contact Information Appears on Consumer Real Estate Websites
When you list your home with Listed Simply, your property is added to the MLS, which syndicates your listing to popular consumer sites like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Homes.com, and over 100 others. While this widespread exposure helps attract more potential buyers, it’s important to understand how your contact information is displayed on these sites and how inquiries are routed.
Why Isn’t My Contact Information Shown?
Your contact information is listed directly in the MLS showing instructions for agents to see. Most consumer real estate websites don’t include seller contact information because they’re for-profit companies that prioritize displaying their own agents or paid advertisers. Instead, they display the brokerage information of the listing agent— in this case, Listed Simply’s brokerage information. Our MLS-only listing service is designed to give you exposure on these sites while allowing you to manage your showings and buyer interactions directly.
How Each Site Handles Inquiries
• Zillow and Trulia: The “Contact Agent” button on these sites typically connects buyers with real estate agents who pay to advertise on the platform. This means when someone clicks the button, they’ll be connected to an agent not affiliated with Listed Simply. Buyers who want to avoid this often scroll down to find the “Listing Agent” information where they can see our 1-800-995-5879 number. Calls made to this number are automatically forwarded to you through our automated system, so you don’t miss out on any potential leads. Buyers without agents will know not to click these buttons and search for the listing company information instead.
• Redfin: Redfin usually features its own agents prominently on property listings, even if another brokerage, like Listed Simply, is the actual listing agent. Our contact information is often displayed at the bottom in small font, making it less visible. Redfin aims to direct all inquiries to their own agents.
• Realtor.com: When a buyer fills out the inquiry form on Realtor.com, the information is sent to agents who pay Realtor.com for buyer leads, not to the seller or the listing agent. A disclaimer near the form explains that the information will be used for marketing purposes. If a buyer scrolls further down the page, they’ll find the “Listing Agent” details, where our 1-800 number will be listed.
• Brokerage Sites (e.g., Century 21, Coldwell Banker): Brokerage websites often pull listings from the MLS and display their agents’ contact information, even if another brokerage listed the property. This is another way brokerages use your listing to capture buyer leads.
FREE automatic call forwarding through Listed Simply
To ensure you receive all inquiries related to your property, Listed Simply offers a free automated call-forwarding service. If someone calls our main 1-800 number listed on your MLS listing, it’s routed directly to you. This means any calls from buyers or agents go straight to your phone, helping you control the conversation and efficiently manage your sale. Click Here, to learn more.
Final Thoughts
Being featured on numerous real estate sites is beneficial because it maximizes exposure and attracts more buyers. However, it’s important to note that these sites may prioritize their own agents’ information over yours. Most buyers use a buyer’s agent, who will reference the MLS for your contact details, ensuring that they can reach out to you directly.