Zillow’s Touring Agreement Instead Of A Buyer Broker Agreement?
When the new home-buying rules took effect in late 2024 requiring written 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 before touring, Zillow seemed to have the perfect fix — a short, simple Touring A
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What’s On My Mind This Week: Consumers Are Being Duped By Zillow’s Touring Agreement
In a recent Tracy Talks Real video, I continued my series called Buyer Broker Agreements - Navigate Them Like A Boss, with a look at Zillow’s Touring Agreement as a replacement for Buyer Broker Agreements
ZTA’s Looked Like A Stroke Of Brilliance
When the new home-buying rules took effect in late 2024 requiring written 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 before touring properties, Zillow seemed to have the perfect fix — a short, simple Touring Agreement that let buyers start house hunting without commitment or cost.
But was it really a brilliant consumer move ... or a strategic play simply to keep Zillow’s touring business alive?
In a recent blog post, I unpacked what the Zillow Touring Agreement actually is, why Zillow launched it, and whether it’s a win for buyers.
I covered:
✅ Why the “free tour” idea isn’t what it seems
✅ What the Zillow Touring Agreement really says
✅ Why listing agents and sellers view ZTAs with suspicion
✅ How Zillow agents get matched with buyers
✅ What to use instead of a ZTA
Your home tours should come with clarity, not confusion. Let’s take a look at what is in these agreements.
About Those Zillow Touring Agreements
When the home-buying rules changed after the 2024 NAR Settlement, buyer broker agreements were required whenever a buyer wanted to tour an MLS-listed property, even virtually.
And along with those buyer broker agreements came a commitment clause to pay a defined amount of compensation to the buyer’s agent. Buyers and agents everywhere went into freak mode.
This new agreement requirement also became a major source of friction for Zillow’s #1 source of revenue — matching buyers with agents for home tours.
Zillow immediately introduced their own agreement, the Zillow Touring Agreement. On its face, it was a short-term, no-cost, non-exclusive document that pretty much continued practices from before the litigation settlement.
Consumers loved the idea of free services and no commitment. Unfortunately, these agreements were not adequate under the new rules.
The new rules expressly require a compensation clause. Without such a clause, no professional relationship is formed and no duties are owed to the buyer by the agent. There were other problems with these agreements, as discussed in my post.
Worse for consumers, Zillow agents never intended to work for free, and often showed up at the touring appointment with a 10-20 page “real” buyer broker agreement, which they expected buyers to sign on the spot, with no chance to review or negotiate the agreement.
No, Zillow’s agreements were good for buyers in the least.
A Smarter Alternative To Zillow Touring Agreements
I completely understand the appeal of browsing properties on Zillow and clicking a button to see some homes.
It feels efficient — and hey, you’re only going to be committed for a few days anyway, right? Not when that Zillow agent shows up with a 10- to 20-page Buyer Broker Agreement that commits you for a lot longer — and you don’t even know that agent yet.
As efficient as the Zillow process feels, there is a better way, a way that let’s you bring the efficiencies and still protect yourself with agent services on your terms.
Build yourself a simple touring agreement, but with a compensation clause. This means hiring a professional agent who is then contractually bound to protect your interests.
I don’t hear many agents talking about this, but buyer broker agreements are 100% negotiable. They are not some form you have to sign as is, just because an agent handed it to you.
This means you are free to build your agreement from scratch. Use it with Zillow agents or agents you find, vet and hire yourself.
I talk more about building your own lightweight Buyer Broker Agreement in my post.
Still have questions about Zillow Touring Agreements? Don’t miss my FAQ section in the post - What Buyers Are Asking Right Now About Zillow Touring Agreements.
Still want to go the Zillow route? Bring your own one-day Touring Agreement and tell the agent that is what you’ll sign, not the mystery agreement they turned up with.
Building Your Own Buyer Broker Agreement
I recently introduced a course named Agency Agreement Decoder™ designed to walk homebuyers through these agreements, pointing out ways to negotiate provisions that focus on protecting the buyer. The coursework is offered as on demand, self-paced video lessons.
I also recently introduced a consulting offer where I review your agreement before you sign it. I don’t provide legal advice or agency advice, but I will help you identify the core 5 contract terms that protect buyers, and provide personalized strategies for putting the rest of the agreement back to your agent for changes and/or explanations.
Buyer Broker Agreements can be as lightweight as you want. Super lightweight agreements can be used even to audition an agent or tour for a day. Use my Agency Agreement Decoder™ course to design an agreement that serves your specific needs.
Final Thoughts
Buyer Broker Agreements might feel scary or limiting, but I’ve got all the insider tips to help you understand these rather simple agreements and strategies to make them work for you. Subscribe to this newsletter and my youtube channel and follow along as I roll out the rest of my series on negotiating these agreements.
Related to this article:
Introducing Buyer Agent Game Plan™
Buyer Agent Game Plan™ was born in very early 2025 and has since grown into the Home Buyer Success Series™, along with Home Buyer Prep Plan™, Agency Agreement Decoder™ and Agent Accountability Playbook™.
The entire series is designed for today's homebuyers to help them optimize for their highest and best homebuying outcome, that is, buying homes for the price and terms they want, guided by skilled negotiators.
I created Buyer Agent Game Plan™ because I 100% believe that your agent choice can absolutely make or break the success of your purchase. There are no returns on that home once you close. You will want to get it right and your unicorn agent will be indispensable.
Smart buyers don't wing it. They interview. They ask hard questions. They evaluate unemotionally. They know the agent they hire can either protect their investment ... or walk them into a trap.
In Buyer Agent Game Plan™, you'll learn
what type of agent makes the most sense for your specific situation
who pays for your agent and a strategy for shifting the out of pocket cost to the seller
the roles Zillow and discounted brokers can play in home buying
why having your personal ducks in a row before picking an agent matters
what questions to ask to uncover undesirable agent attributes, including commission bias
a ridiculously simple strategy for conducting multiple interviews
and a framework for comparing multiple agent candidates "apples to apples"
I also offer a corollary service called Find Me Agents to provide qualified agents in your local area for you to interview.
Buyer Agent Game Plan™ helps you buy your next home with confidence, knowing you have the right agent in your corner giving you smart advice on a topic you will seldom encounter in your lifetime - the purchase of a huge asset.
If you're getting ready to buy, and you want your agent decision to work for you, not against you, grab my Buyer Agent Game Plan™. It's the step-by-step blueprint I created so buyers like you don't have to guess, gamble or make big mistakes.
Smart buyers don't wait until it's too late -- they hire with a game plan because the best way to avoid buyer remorse is to spot the traps before you step in one.
Fast Start Guide: Getting Started Under The New Homebuying Rules
I’ve been watching the commission reform lawsuits closely since the beginning. One year later, I’ve summarized everything you need to know to get started if you’re buying a home in the post-lawsuit era. Find this fast start guide in my Learning Center.
I’m also busy putting the final touches on my forthcoming book - The Secret Handshake (Play The Home Buyer & Home Seller Game Smarter). This has been an exciting project.
I find myself increasingly obsessed with helping consumers understand residential real estate on a deeper level and how to make more lucrative choices, including how to find, hire and vet agents. Join me on this journey? Hop over to the Learning Center and click the follow button under my bio. You’ll be notified when new offerings are added to the Center.
Do You Need Help Finding Agents?
Whether you are in my backyard here in Los Angeles or someplace farther away, I am available to help you find agents to interview. There is a nominal fee for this service, but I will find and vet three agents for you to interview in your local market, as well as provide a list of interview questions and my proprietary strategy for interviewing and comparing multiple agents with ease.
Complimentary Home Buyer Resources
Please enjoy these resources:
Ignore These 5 Things On A Home Tour - Don't let cosmetic bells and whistles distract you from things you cannot change about a property.
Buying In A Low-Inventory Market - Buyers have to be very strategic and ready to go when competing with other buyers in a seller's market. Don't miss these tips!
Don't Fall Prey To Wire Fraud - wire fraud is real. Be ready to recognize it and know your best practices to avoid it.
Follow Local Trends - Long time readers know I like me some trends! 🤓 This resource explains how market trends impact your home buying and home selling choices and strategies.
Benefits Of A Buyer CMA - Wondering how much to offer when buying a home or how much to list for when selling a home? Learn about Comparative Market Analyses (“CMAs”). They aren't just for sellers!
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Content Authenticity Statement
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Legal Stuff
You are not my client unless we have a written agreement in place. This post is offered for informational and/or entertainment purposes only. Neither I nor Silicon Beach Properties nor eXp Realty, Inc. is responsible for the consequences of how you implement the content of this publication and nothing herein is intended to address your specific situation. Additionally, the information contained herein may be outdated (legally and/or factually) by the time you consume this content, so consult a professional licensed in your jurisdiction for advice.
My CalDRE license number is 01712960. Silicon Beach Properties is my real estate DBA brokered by eXp Realty of California, as am I.
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