Zillow Now Has Private Messages, and They Can Actually Be Helpful.
Let me put it this way: there are too many messaging apps. There’s WhatsApp, Messenger, Snapchat, Discord, Signal, Telegram, and iMessage (for iPhone), and those are just the dedicated chat apps. You might have to keep track of new messages on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and even Spotify. If I install another messaging app, I’ll lose my internet connection.
Incidentally, another non-chat app has joined this list. On Tuesday, Zillow—yes, Zillow — announced that its app now supports messaging . Starting today, you can send messages within the app you use to view homes you’ll likely never buy. We’re living in truly interesting times.
Of course, Zillow isn’t aiming to be the next WhatsApp. In fact, you can only chat with one person at a time on Zillow—at least for now. The idea behind messaging on Zillow is to solely discuss listings found through the app, without having to leave Zillow. The goal of most app developers is to keep users on the platform for as long as possible, so one could cynically argue that Zillow has locked users into the app. If you don’t switch to another chat to discuss a listing, you’ll likely be chatting with other homeowners within the app.
But I do see the logic here: if you’re in the real estate market with a large number of listings, you’re likely sending out several daily to interested parties, specifically those you’re buying a home with. Storing these messages in the same app as your listings could be a smart way to keep track of all those homes, instead of the usual routine of, “Wait, which house was that? I can’t find the message you sent me.” And the fact that Zillow currently limits this process to one person means you won’t be sending private messages to multiple people about homes in your area. This seems designed to make it more convenient for those looking to buy a home together.
How to try Zillow messaging
This feature is available at the time of writing. To get started, open Zillow on your smartphone or web browser. In the app, tap “Inbox.” On the website, tap your profile in the upper right corner and select “Inbox.”
To start a chat, you need to invite another person. To do this, select “Invite Now,” which will prompt a pop-up window with information about this feature. This screen explains that the invitation link is valid for 24 hours and that you can currently only invite one person.
Select “Share Invite,” and Zillow will let you share it anywhere. You can copy the link and paste it into another chat app, or choose where Zillow will send the link directly.