As many of you may have seen, we recently launched our ‘Client Ratings’ feature, where ZipRealty users have a chance to share their comments and rate homes that are currently available for sale. While we encourage all of our customers to submit reviews for any home they have seen or are interested in, all of our reviews are moderated and reviewed by human editors so that we don’t inadvertently post reviews that are offensive, violate any of our guidelines, or are based on personal attacks. Furthermore, we are hoping that these reviews actually provide some new insight or value to our customers about the home. So far, the majority of the reviews have been very informative – from customer observations on the pros and cons of a house based on their own visit, to the sharing of public information about the property or neighborhood.
However, there are the occasional reviews that have been rejected since they did not meet our posting guidelines. Reading through these rejected reviews, I got a good laugh – enough so that I thought it would fun to share a few in our blog. I can safely post these rejected reviews because they are not linked to any particular home.
Here are the highlights:
“Not a very clean home! Maybe the realtor should get a dictionary, as he can't spell!”
“are the drug users who drink in this bar included in the price”
“Wow! what idiot would buy this at this price???”
“This listing is a joke, right?”
“The photos listed on this donot(sic) show anything of the CONDIMium(sic), just the TREES and PLANTS looks like a JUNGLE HOME Advertisment(sic) for Tarzan and Jane”
“…Unless you want to pay for his retirement, otherwise, "lowball" him an offer or move on to other house…”
“There has(sic) been 2 deaths in this home.”
Myron Lo
Director, Product Strategy
The client review tool is a great idea. It gives home shoppers a lot more information about a listing. I am also very glad your group is editing the feedback to minimize abuse.
BN
4MySales.com
Posted by: Randal Wilson | September 14, 2006 at 05:33 PM
If there have been two confirmed deaths (like murder) in the house, isn't factual information that should be included?
I have seen reviews that indicated previous MLS numbers (when they both showed together, mind you) and prices get pulled. Isn't that unethical? The listing should show the price reduction if the house hasn't been pulled from the market. The new listing incorrectly spelled the street name I think to avoid the previous MLS listing.
Viewers who point out these shenanigans shouldn't have their comments pulled since the ethical listing would have had all this information present.
Posted by: Chuck Staples | December 19, 2006 at 07:11 PM