Inman

Big real estate firm doubles down on Zillow reviews

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As part of a relaunch of its website, Windermere Real Estate is now letting agents show Zillow reviews on their agent profile pages on windermere.com.

Windermere Real Estate claims to be the second-largest regional real estate brand in the U.S. The company says it was the first real estate firm to partner with Zillow to enable its 7,000 agents to display Zillow reviews on agent websites powered by Windermere.

OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate, said displaying the reviews “adds a level of transparency that our clients expect.”

Windermere Real Estate imports Zillow reviews through an API (application programming interface) called Zillow Tech Connect.

Windermere’s agents are not required to display the reviews on their profiles or Windermere-powered agent websites.

But if an agent chooses to publish their Zillow reviews to their agent website, they will now also automatically appear on their agent profile on windermere.com, said Shelly Rossi, vice president of communications at Windermere.

Another notable feature Windermere has added to its website is a new “Join Us” page designed to give potential agents and franchisees a fuller picture of what it means to be a part of the Windermere brand.

The page links to windermereu.com, a professional website the firm recently launched in conjunction with opening a “prelicense real estate school.”

Windermere says it’s one of the only real estate companies to offer such a program, which Jacobi called a “very holistic approach to education” in a statement.

Through Windermere’s professional development department, the firm offers prelicense education in seven states, career-plan coaching, office placement and continuing education, he said.

Email Teke Wiggin.