Before You Click "Contact Agent" on Zillow: 3 Things Buyers Should Know

You find the house. You love the house. You click the big blue button that says Contact Agent.

Seems simple enough.

The only problem? You may not be contacting the listing agent.

You may be raising your hand and asking Zillow to introduce you to an agent who advertises on the platform. That agent may be wonderful. They may be exactly who you need. They also may be a complete stranger you never intended to hire.

Here are three things to understand before you click.

1. The agent Zillow connects you with may not be the listing agent

Zillow is a home-search platform, but it is also an advertising and lead-generation business.

According to Zillow, when a buyer clicks Contact Agent or Request a Tour, Zillow may verify the inquiry and connect the buyer with a Premier Agent partner. Zillow describes that agent as becoming the buyer’s “go-to” agent across listings on the platform.

In normal-human English: the button is not necessarily a direct line to the person representing the seller.

This is not some secret Zillow conspiracy. Zillow explains the process. The trouble is that many buyers do not stop to think about who is on the other end of the button.

They just want to see the kitchen.

Before sharing your information, look for the actual listing brokerage and listing agent. Then decide who you intend to contact.

2. Touring with an agent may come with an agreement

Since the industry changes that took effect in August 2024, buyers are generally asked to sign a written agreement before touring a home with a real estate professional. Going to an open house on your own is different. You generally do not need a buyer agreement simply to walk through an open house hosted for the seller.

The agreement you sign before a private tour may cover:

That particular property
A group of properties
A geographic area
A short period
Several months
The brokerage’s compensation
What happens if the seller does not pay it

Read it.

This is not an iTunes update. Do not scroll to the bottom, hit accept, and hope for the best.

Depending on its terms, a buyer agreement could create a compensation obligation if you purchase the property. That does not mean opening the front door magically earns someone 3%. It does mean the document matters.

Ask:

Is this agreement limited to today’s showing?
Does it cover only this address?
How long does it last?
What would I owe?
What happens if I decide to remain unrepresented?
How can the agreement be ended?

Get the answer before you tour, not when you are trying to write an offer at 9:47 on a Sunday night.

3. Do not use an agent’s time if you know you will not hire them

Let’s be clear: agents do not exist solely to unlock doors.

A showing can involve driving across town, rearranging appointments, coordinating with the seller, researching the property, confirming access, answering questions and following up afterward.

If you are considering hiring an agent, great. Use the showing as an opportunity to see whether the agent is a fit.

If you already know you want to buy without traditional buyer representation, tell them.

Do not let someone spend three Saturdays showing you homes while you quietly plan to cut them out once you find the winner. That is a waste of their time, and it is not cool.

It also creates confusion. They may believe they are helping a potential client while you believe they are providing a free door-opening service.

That is how everyone winds up irritated.

What should an unrepresented buyer do instead?

You have options.

Attend an open house

You can generally attend a public open house without signing a buyer agreement. The person hosting it may represent the seller, so remember that they are not your private adviser.

Contact the listing agent

Ask whether the listing side can provide access and accommodate an unrepresented buyer.

Be upfront. Tell them you are not seeking buyer representation and intend to communicate directly.

Use a limited-service brokerage

BuyUnrepped is built for buyers who have already found the property and do not need someone to search for homes or speak on their behalf.

You communicate directly with the listing side. We provide licensed guidance, property analysis, Tennessee REALTOR® documents, offer preparation, strategy support and optional transaction guidance for a flat fee.

No roulette wheel. No mystery match. No pretending a stranger is suddenly “your agent” because you wanted to see whether the primary bedroom would fit a king-size bed.

The bottom line

Zillow can be a useful home-search tool. We use it too.

Just understand what the button does before you click it.

You are not necessarily contacting the listing agent. You may be starting a professional relationship with a buyer-side agent, and that relationship may involve a written compensation agreement.

Ask who you are contacting. Read what you sign. Be respectful of everyone’s time.

Then go see the kitchen.