Zillow announced Tuesday morning that it would resume buying homes via Zillow Offers in five more markets, making 20 out of its 24 markets operational again since pausing the service due to COVID-19.
Home sellers in Los Angeles; Riverside, California; Minneapolis; Cincinnati; and Orlando, Florida can once again sell their homes directly to Zillow Offers.
About a month ago, iBuying resumed in Atlanta; Dallas; San Antonio; Austin, San Diego and Sacramento, California.
“Home sellers want a more convenient, seamless and safe way to sell their home, and we’re excited to bring Zillow Offers back to more sellers around the country,” said Zillow President Jeremy Wacksman.
“The rapid adoption of technology and virtual tools is creating a new and safer landscape for the entire real estate experience,” Wacksman continued. “With Zillow Offers, a homeowner can sell their house without any of the traditional hassles of open houses, home showings or prepping a house for sale, and can have more certainty and control than ever before — all on their own timeline. ”
Zillow said that new pending sales and new for-sale listings are higher than they were last month, and web traffic to for-sale listings is up 41% from the previous year. Homes are selling at their fastest pace since June 2018.
As Zillow re-enters the market during the pandemic, it said it is also launching a health-safety initiative to protect its customers, employees and partners.
Zillow said for-sale homes will undergo an additional cleaning regimen, and personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, will be recommended for all people entering the properties. Also, the number of in-person tours will be limited to allow for healthy distancing.
Last month, Zillow partnered with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, who is advising the company on its health and safety protocols.
Prospective homebuyers can virtually walk through homes with Zillow’s 3D home tours, request a virtual tour or consultation, and in some markets, can use self-tour technology to visit a home unassisted.
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