Zillow has become more than just a real estate website; it’s a comprehensive "housing super app" that has defined a generation of home searching. As the most-visited real estate platform in the U.S., it’s the go-to destination for millions of renters and landlords every month. Whether you’re searching for your next home or looking to fill a vacancy, understanding how to navigate this powerful ecosystem is key to a successful rental journey.
This guide provides a detailed walkthrough for both renters and landlords. We’ll explore how to find the perfect rental, the ins and outs of using zillow to rent your home, and how to leverage the platform’s robust set of tools to streamline the entire process, from listing to lease signing.
Table of Contents
- For Renters: Your Path to a New Home
- For Landlords: Mastering Zillow Rental Manager
- Key Zillow Tools: Pricing and Management
- Frequently Asked Questions
For Renters: Your Path to a New Home
For those on the hunt for a new place to live, Zillow offers an unparalleled selection of listings. From apartments to single-family homes, the platform is designed to make your search as simple and efficient as possible.
How to Search for Rentals
Getting started is easy. You can search for zillow rentals near me by entering a city, zip code, or neighborhood into the search bar. Zillow aggregates a massive inventory, including apartments for rent on zillow and zillow homes for rent by private owners, giving you a complete view of the market.
To narrow your results, use the extensive filter options. You can set a specific price range, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and home type. Under the "More" filter, you’ll find options for pet policies, in-unit laundry, parking, and other specific amenities. You can even filter for listings that accept Zillow’s universal application to save time and money. For those looking for specialized housing, you can use zillow keywords in the search bar, like "Section 8," to find relevant listings.
Understanding Your Search Results
As you browse, you’ll notice a few key features that provide helpful context:
- Verified Source: This badge indicates the listing comes from a known and established property manager or their representative, adding a layer of trust.
- Building Pages: For larger apartment complexes, Zillow often creates a "building page" that shows all available units, various floor plans, and building-wide amenities. This is a great way to use the zillow apartment finder feature to compare options within the same community.
- 3D Home Tours: Many listings feature immersive 3D tours and interactive floor plans, allowing you to virtually walk through a space before scheduling an in-person visit.
The Application and Leasing Process
Renting on zillow is designed to be a streamlined experience. When you find a property you love, you can typically "Request a Tour" or "Request to Apply" directly from the listing.
The platform offers a portable application that simplifies the process. For a one-time fee of $35, you can submit an application to an unlimited number of participating properties for 30 days. We’ll cover what does the zillow rental application include in more detail in the FAQ section, but it contains a credit report from Experian and a background check from CIC. This feature is a core part of how does the zillow rental application work to save renters from paying multiple application fees.
Once your application is accepted, many landlords use Zillow’s tools to create and sign a lease agreement digitally, making the final steps of securing your new home seamless.
For Landlords: Mastering Zillow Rental Manager
For property owners, Zillow offers a powerful, centralized platform called Zillow Rental Manager. This suite of tools is designed to help you find and screen tenants, sign leases, and collect payments—all in one place. Best of all, a zillow free rental listing is the standard, with optional premium services available.
Step-by-Step: How to List a Rental on Zillow
Creating your rental listing is a straightforward process. If you’ve been wondering how do i list a rental on zillow, here’s a simple breakdown of the steps:
- Create an Account: If you don’t already have one, sign up for a free account on Zillow.
- Add Your Property: In my zillow rental manager, click "Add a property" and enter the full address.
- Fill in the Details: Provide comprehensive information about your rental, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, monthly rent, and security deposit amount.
- Write a Compelling Description: Detail what makes your property special. Be sure to highlight key features and amenities.
- Upload High-Quality Photos: Photos are crucial. Upload clear, well-lit pictures of every room and the exterior. Listings with more photos tend to get more interest.
- Set Your Contact Info and Policies: Specify your pet policy, lease terms, and how you want to be contacted by prospective renters. You can also decide whether to accept online applications through Zillow.
- Publish: Once you’re satisfied, you can list home for rent on zillow. Your listing will be distributed across Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads, reaching millions of potential tenants. The process for how to list an apartment on zillow or a house is exactly the same.
This is how to list rental on zillow for free. There is also an option to upgrade to a premium listing for increased visibility.
Screening Applicants and Managing Leases
Zillow for landlords provides tools that go far beyond just listing your property. You can manage all incoming inquiries and applications directly from your dashboard.
The online application service delivers a comprehensive report for each applicant, including their credit score, background check, and eviction history, helping you make an informed decision. After choosing a tenant, you can use the platform to build and digitally sign a state-specific zillow lease or upload your own. This feature is available in many states and covers local rental policies in numerous cities.
Finally, you can zillow collect rent and other payments like security deposits or pet fees directly through the platform. Renters can pay for free with ACH transfers, and the funds are deposited directly into your account. This is one of the most valued of all the zillow landlord tools.
Key Zillow Tools: Pricing and Management
To help both renters and landlords make smarter decisions, Zillow has developed several data-driven tools.
The Rent Zestimate: Pricing Your Rental
One of the most common questions from landlords is, "How should I zillow price my rental?" The Rent Zestimate is Zillow’s estimated monthly rent price, calculated using a proprietary formula. It analyzes public property data and comparable local rentals to provide a starting point.
While it’s a powerful tool, it’s important to ask, is zillow rent estimate accurate? Zillow itself notes that the accuracy depends on the data available in a specific area. The zillow rent estimate should be used as a guide, supplemented with your own market research. For renters, the zillow rent calculator can help determine an affordable budget based on income and expenses.
The Zillow Rental Manager App: Management on the Go
The zillow rental manager app puts all the power of the desktop platform into your pocket. Available for both iOS and Android, the zillow landlord app allows you to create and edit listings, respond to inquiries, review applications, and manage payments from anywhere. This mobile accessibility is a key reason why renting through zillow is so convenient for modern landlords. The app, often found when people search for +zillow +rent +app, is essential for managing my zillow rentals efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost to list rental on zillow?
No, creating a listing on Zillow Rental Manager is free. Zillow rental manager free includes syndication to Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads, as well as access to online applications, screening, lease signing, and rent payments. Landlords have the option to pay for a premium listing to get increased exposure.
How accurate is zillow rental estimate?
The accuracy of the Zillow rental estimate, or Rent Zestimate, depends on the amount and quality of public and user-submitted data available for a home and its surrounding area. It’s designed to be a helpful starting point for determining rent, but should be combined with other research, like comparing prices of similar nearby rentals. The more data available, the more accurate it tends to be.
What does the Zillow rental application include?
The comprehensive Zillow application includes a credit report from Experian (which is a soft pull that doesn’t affect the applicant’s credit score), a background check from CIC that includes national criminal and sex offender searches, and a search of eviction records. Applicants can also provide income verification documents.
Is Zillow free for landlords?
Yes, the core services of Zillow Rental Manager are free for landlords. This includes listing a property, receiving applications, screening tenants, creating leases, and collecting rent payments via ACH. Is zillow safe for renters is another common concern, and Zillow employs various safety measures, including account verification for landlords and tools to report suspicious listings, to protect users.
How long does it take for a listing to show up on Zillow?
After you publish a new listing or make edits to an existing one, it can take up to 24 hours for the changes to appear on Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads. Typically, it happens much faster.
How do I find recently rented homes on Zillow?
To how to find recently rented homes on zillow, you can adjust your search filters. On the search results page, change the filter from "For Rent" to "Recently Rented." This allows you to see what properties have recently been leased in your area, which can be useful for market comparison.
What is Zillow Premium rental listing?
A what is zillow premium rental listing is an optional paid upgrade that gives your property increased exposure. Premium listings are placed higher in search results, ensuring more renters see them. They also come with customized insights and priority support.
Can I list short-term or vacation rentals?
No, zillow short term rentals and zillow vacation rentals are not permitted. The platform is focused exclusively on residential real estate for longer-term leases.
How does Zillow work for landlords?
How does zillow work for landlords is a question about its comprehensive service. It provides a free, all-in-one platform to list rental property on zillow, screen applicants with detailed background and credit checks, create and sign legally binding leases, and collect rent online. It simplifies the entire rental management process.
How does Zillow work for renters?
For renters, Zillow is a powerful search engine to find available rentals. How does zillow work for renters involves using detailed filters to find properties that meet their criteria, taking virtual tours, and applying to multiple properties with a single, portable application, which streamlines the search for a new home.
