Long time broker here. I was stunned a few years ago when Zillow/Trulia got hold of MLS data.
Zillow/Trulia was and remains a dishonest, deceptive business model.
I have a hard time accepting what you say.
Zillow has been to the advantage of the buyers and sellers. Here are the reasons:
1) Let’s you research the price previously sold at, when and the taxes. Very good way to avoid flippers or over priced properties.
2) lets you as the owner of a house go in and edit the house for any improvements.
3) Lets you see the days on market, was it pulled off and then put on again and any price adjustments over the listing period(s). Great tool for someone who is a non conditional buyer.
4) Eliminates the need for a buyers agent. I can search the listings and contact the sellers agent when I want to. I note in the last year or so the amount of pictures put up has increased, as those that do not get less traffic. No more crap sent to me or going to see houses that are not what I want, no wasting anyone’s time.
5) Now what you do is contact the selling agent and since they want to get both the buyers and sellers 3% , they will work a bit harder for your sale. Easy way to get their commission reduced by 1 % off the top, friend of mine got the commission reduced to 4.5 %, both he and the seller benefited.
Let’s you as a seller set a price which you know is correct for the market. Much easier to do comps for buyers.
Overall Zillow is a very good tool for the market: it gives you more information. I do not see a down side to it, and I have been involved in 4 house sales/purchases in my life.