How to List a Property on Zillow Like a Pro: A Simple Guide for Homeowners 2025

Here’s The Break Down On How to List a Property on Zillow

Wondering if you can really list your home on Zillow yourself—and do it right? You’re asking the perfect question, and you’re in the right place. By the end of this article DealMate has made sure you’ll know EXACTLY how to list a property on Zillow.

Let’s kick things off with a jaw-dropping fact: nearly 82 million unique users browse Zillow every month. That’s people viewing about 179 properties every second. Talk about exposure for your home!

The best part? Listing on Zillow costs exactly zero dollars. But here’s the twist: there’s a massive difference between throwing up a basic listing and creating one that actually sells.

The numbers tell the story: In 2023, FSBO homes sold for $380,000 (median price), while agent-assisted sales fetched $435,000. That’s a $55,000 gap that boils down to one thing—presentation matters.

Surprisingly, only about 6% of homeowners go the FSBO route. And get this—38% of those sellers only did it because they already knew their buyer (like selling to family or friends).

But don’t worry. You don’t need a real estate license to create a listing that competes with the pros. I’m going to walk you through the whole process step by step:

• Setting up your account the right way
• Creating a listing that stands out
• Maximizing your visibility to potential buyers
• Exploring DealMate as a faster alternative if you’re looking for a quick cash sale

Whether you’re trying to save on those hefty agent commissions or just want more control over your selling process, this guide will help you navigate Zillow like you’ve been doing it for years.

Let’s dive in and get your home sold!

Step 1: Create Your Zillow Account

First things first—you need a Zillow account to reach those 82 million potential buyers we talked about before listing on Zillow. Don’t worry, this part’s easy.

Setting Up Your Profile

Creating your account takes literally 5 minutes and costs exactly $0. Here’s the quick rundown:

🖥️ 1.1. The Basic Setup

• Head to Zillow.com
• Click “Sign in” (top right corner)
• Select “New account”
• Enter your email and create a password
• Hit “Submit” and you’re in

Already have a Zillow account from house hunting? You’ve got a jump start on listing a property on Zillow. Just log in with those credentials instead—no need for duplicates.

📸 1.2. Complete Your Profile Add a profile photo and your contact details. This isn’t just fluff—it builds major credibility with buyers who view your listing.

Real estate pro tip: If you’re also an agent or broker, there’s a checkbox during signup labeled “I am a landlord or industry professional” that unlocks extra features when listing on Zillow.

Why Your Profile Actually Matters When Listing On Zillow

You might be thinking, “Can’t I just list my house without all this account stuff?”

Here’s the truth: your Zillow profile does way more than you realize.

First, it proves you’re legit. Zillow needs to verify you’re actually authorized to sell the property (makes sense—they don’t want random people listing homes they don’t own). It’s the foundational step to list a property on Zillow.

But the bigger benefit? You get top placement as the listing agent on your own property. Without a profile, buyers would have zero way to contact you directly. As real estate pros know, “Listing agents are always displayed on the right-hand side of the listing page along with a ‘Listing Agent’ badge next to their photo – but this only happens if agents created a FREE profile on Zillow”1. This same principle applies to you as a FSBO seller.

Think of your profile as your digital business card. It lets you:

• Showcase your property with your direct contact info
• Keep control of all listing details and updates
• Track who’s viewing your home and how often
• Get buyer questions straight to your inbox—no middleman

Work with a brokerage? You might already have a profile through your office’s feed to Zillow. Search for yourself before creating a new one to avoid confusion1.

Remember: your Zillow profile is the foundation for everything else. It might seem basic, but it’s absolutely essential if you want to look professional and get your home sold.

Once you’ve got this squared away, we’ll move to the next step: claiming your property on Zillow’s database.

Step 2: Claim or Add Your Property

Got your Zillow account set up? Great! Now comes an important step many sellers miss: claiming your home in Zillow’s database.

Think of this as planting your flag on your digital property. It tells Zillow “this is mine” and gives you control over what buyers see. (A necessary step to list a property on Zillow.)

How to find and claim your home on Zillow

Now while you’re learning how to list a property on Zillow, you’ll want to claim your property. The process is pretty straightforward, but it’s absolutely essential if you want to control your listing. Here’s what to do:

1. Log into your Zillow profile
2. Type your address in the search bar at the top of the page
3. Click on your property when it pops up
4. Look for the “More” dropdown tab on your property page
5. Select “Claim ownership” from the dropdown menu
6. Answer Zillow’s verification questions (these prove you’re really the owner)
7. Check the box to accept Zillow’s Terms of Use
8. Click to complete—your home will now appear in your “My Zillow” profile

Why does this matter so much? Because without claiming ownership, anyone could potentially make changes to how your property appears. Plus, claiming unlocks the “Owner View” with special options regular users don’t see.

🏠 Pro Tip: Already sold your home? You can unclaim it too. Just go to your home’s page, click “More,” select “Release Ownership Claim,” tell Zillow why, and submit.

What if your home isn’t on Zillow yet?

Don’t panic if your property search comes up empty. This happens more often than you’d think, especially with newer constructions or homes in certain rural areas.

Here’s how to add your home from scratch:

1. Sign in to your Zillow account
2. Hover over the “Sell” tab in the navigation menu
3. Click “Post For Sale By Owner”
4. Enter your full property address when prompted
5. Click “Continue” to start building your listing

From there, you’ll follow pretty much the same steps as someone who claimed an existing property.

Troubleshooting common claiming issues

Can’t find your name during verification? Double-check your address first—sometimes a tiny typo can cause big problems. If you co-own the property, look for the other owner’s name. Still stuck? Look for “Don’t see your name? Go here” to manually enter your information.

Someone else already claimed your home? This happens occasionally, especially with previous owners who never released their claim. Don’t worry—contact Zillow’s customer support to dispute the claim.

Once you’ve successfully claimed or added your property, you’re ready for the fun part—creating a listing on Zillow that gets noticed. That’s exactly what we’ll cover next.

Remember, claiming is just laying the foundation. The real magic happens when you craft a listing that makes buyers stop scrolling!

Step 3: Post Your FSBO Listing

“Buyers want to know the details of your home, and those extra words can give them the additional information they need to decide if your home is one they’re interested in seeing in person.” — Zillow Research Team, Real Estate Data Analysts at Zillow

You’re well on your way to listing on Zillow! Now that you’ve claimed your property, it’s time for the real work—creating a listing that actually sells. Let’s break down the key elements that make buyers click (and eventually make offers).

💰 Setting Your Asking Price

This is the big one, folks. Price it wrong, and you’re either leaving money on the table or watching your house sit unsold for months. This just might be the number one no-no when listing a property on Zillow because it could put you in a silo..

Here’s how to nail your pricing:

• Pull at least five comparable properties in your neighborhood
• Check what’s actively listed, pending, and recently sold
• Use Zillow’s map feature to draw your search area
• Calculate the average price-per-square-foot (this is what the pros do)
• Add or subtract value for your home’s unique features

Pro tip: Most FSBO sellers go wrong by pricing based on emotion rather than data. The market doesn’t care what you paid for your kitchen renovation—it only cares what buyers are willing to pay today.

📸 Photos That Actually Sell

Let’s be honest—buyers are scrolling through dozens of listings, and your photos will make or break that crucial first impression.

Zillow has specific requirements:

• Use JPG, GIF, PNG, or TIF formats
• Keep files under 10MB (though they’ll accept up to 50MB)
• Minimum size: 330 x 220 pixels
• Best size for quality: 1536 x 1152 pixels

Adding photos is simple—just click the blue “add new photo” button. You can drag and drop to rearrange, add captions by clicking on individual photos, or remove any duds.

Orientation issues? No problem. You can rotate directly on Zillow or use free online tools to resize before uploading.

🏠 Home Facts That Matter

Buyers are scanning for specific details to decide if your home matches their needs. Make sure you:

• Double-check the basics (bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage)
• Highlight recent renovations or improvements
• Mention special features (garage, water view, boat dock)
• Include details on utilities, appliances, and flooring
• Don’t forget community amenities that add value

Remember, this isn’t just about facts—it’s about painting a picture. What do you love about living there? That personal touch can create an emotional connection with potential buyers.

📱 Your Contact Info

How do you want buyers to reach you? Zillow requires a valid phone number for verification, and this will show on your listing.

When someone clicks “Property Owner” in your listing’s Overview section, they’ll see a contact form that forwards inquiries to your email. Make sure that email address is one you check regularly—quick responses keep buyers interested.

✅ Submit and Wait for Approval

The final step is simple but crucial:

1. Review and check the box accepting Zillow’s Terms of Use
2. Click the blue “Post For Sale By Owner” button
3. Wait for Zillow’s verification (up to 72 hours)
4. Be ready to answer their verification call

Your listing won’t go live immediately—Zillow’s team reviews everything first. They might call to verify your information, so keep your phone handy.

Once approved, your property will be visible to those 82 million monthly Zillow users. And the best part? You can update your listing anytime if something changes or you want to refresh it.

Next up: Understanding how Zillow verifies listings and where exactly your property will appear in searches. This matters more than you might think!

Step 4: Understand the Review and Visibility Process

You’ve built your listing on Zillow and hit submit—but don’t pop the champagne just yet. Your listing doesn’t go live instantly.

Let’s talk about what happens next and set some realistic expectations about where buyers will actually see your home.

How long does Zillow take to verify your listing?

After hitting that submit button, Zillow’s team starts reviewing everything you’ve shared. This typically takes up to 72 hours—yes, three full days of waiting.

During this verification window:

1. Zillow checks all your information for accuracy
2. They’ll call the phone number you provided (don’t miss this call!)
3. The team confirms you’re actually authorized to sell the property

Here’s the critical part: if you miss their verification call, your listing might get removed entirely. That means starting the whole process over again. Not fun.

If 72 hours pass and your listing still isn’t showing up, it’s usually because:

• You missed that all-important verification call
• Your listing is stuck in processing limbo
• Something you provided didn’t match their records

Where your FSBO listing actually appears

Now for the slightly frustrating part. Once verified, your home doesn’t appear in the same place as agent listings.

Zillow separates listings into two categories:

• Agent Listings tab: Where professionally-listed properties appear
• Other Listings tab: Where your FSBO listing gets placed

This means potential buyers have to specifically click the “Other Listings” tab to find your home. It’s like being placed in the back room of a store while the agent listings get the front window display.

There is some good news though—recent reports suggest Zillow has stopped hiding FSBO homes on separate tabs in some interfaces. This could mean your listing might appear alongside agent properties for some users.

Still, Zillow clearly states they can’t move FSBO listings to the Agent Listings tab, so this visibility challenge is something to keep in mind.

Will buyers see your home on Trulia too?

Yes! Here’s a nice bonus: Since Zillow owns Trulia, your listing automatically appears there within 24 hours after going live on Zillow.

You’re essentially getting double exposure without lifting a finger. Like on Zillow, your Trulia listing will sit in the “Other Listings” section rather than with agent listings.

One thing to watch for: these big national sites sometimes lag when updating status changes. If your home goes under contract, it might still show as available for a while—something you’ll need to monitor.

The verification wait and visibility limitations explain why some sellers eventually look for alternatives like DealMate. But if you’re patient and your home is priced right, Zillow can still connect you with millions of potential buyers—completely free.

Step 5: Boost Your Listing’s Reach

You made it! You officially know how to list a property on Zillow! Your listing is live on Zillow—great! But wait…why isn’t it getting the same attention as agent listings? This visibility gap isn’t your imagination.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: FSBO listings and professional listings play by completely different rules.

🚫 The MLS Problem: Why Your FSBO Listing Is Flying Under the Radar

Here’s a tough truth: Your Zillow FSBO listing isn’t connected to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).

What’s the big deal? The MLS is the mothership—the private database that feeds listings to thousands of websites and agent databases. It’s where buyer’s agents go first when searching for homes for their clients.

And here’s the catch: You can’t access it without a license. It’s agents-only territory.

This means your beautiful listing misses out on massive exposure to the very people who bring most buyers to the table—buyer’s agents.

💼 The Smart Middle Ground: Flat Fee MLS Services

Not ready to pay full agent commission but want MLS exposure? There’s a clever workaround.

Flat fee MLS services charge a one-time payment (usually $299-$399) to get your home on the MLS while you still run the show. Here’s the breakdown:

• You pay once instead of that big percentage commission
• A licensed broker puts your listing on the MLS
• Your home appears everywhere MLS listings go
• You handle showings and negotiations yourself

One thing to know upfront: These services typically require you to offer a buyer’s agent commission (around 2-3%). Why? Because without it, agents have zero incentive to show your home to their clients.

🔍 Visibility Boosters Without Spending a Dime

Don’t want to pay for MLS access? No problem. Try these Zillow visibility hacks:

• Make tiny edits regularly to refresh your listing in search results
• Pack your description with keywords buyers actually search for
• Respond lightning-fast to inquiries (Zillow’s algorithm loves this)
• Cross-post everywhere – Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, NextDoor
• Create a simple property website and link to it from your description

Many FSBO sellers eventually find these visibility challenges exhausting. If you’re starting to feel the same way, there’s another option worth considering.

⚡ When You’re Ready for Plan B

For sellers who value simplicity and speed over maximum exposure, DealMate offers a completely different approach. Instead of chasing buyers, it connects you directly with pre-qualified cash buyers who are ready to move.

The next section will show you exactly how DealMate works as a faster alternative when your priority is getting the deal done without the listing headaches.

Step 6: DealMate – A Smarter Way to Sell for Cash

Fed up with the Zillow FSBO hassle? Now that you know how to list a property on Zillow, it’s worth mentioning—There’s another path that might be perfect for your situation.

DealMate – a totally different approach for homeowners who value speed and certainty over maximum exposure. If you’re nodding your head right now, this might be exactly what you need.

🔍 What is DealMate and how does it actually work?

Unlike listing a property on Zillow (where you post one listing and hope the right buyer finds you), DealMate flips the script completely. It’s a nationwide marketplace that connects you directly with multiple pre-vetted cash buyers who compete for your property.

The process couldn’t be simpler:

1. Submit your property details through DealMate’s quick online form
2. Receive multiple no-obligation cash offers within 24 hours (yes, just one day!)
3. Pick the offer you like best and choose when you want to close (as fast as 7 days or up to 90 days)

The best part? A DealMate Home Offer Strategist guides you through everything—helping you understand all your options without any of those pushy sales tactics we all hate.

⚖️ DealMate vs. Zillow FSBO: The honest comparison

Why might you choose DealMate instead of going the Zillow DIY route?

• 👥 Multiple competing offers instead of waiting for individual buyers to find you
• 🏚️ Sell completely “as-is” – forget about making repairs or renovations
• 💰 Zero seller fees – the buyers in the network pay to participate
• ✅ Only verified, pre-screened buyers – no time wasted on tire-kickers
• 📅 Choose your own closing timeline based on what works for you
• 🚫 No showings or open houses needed – say goodbye to strangers walking through your home
• 🔍 Everything upfront and transparent – no surprises or hidden catches

For many sellers, the biggest advantage is eliminating uncertainty. The entire process—from getting your first offer to closing—can happen in as little as 7-10 days. That’s a game-changer if you’re in a time crunch.

🤔 When does DealMate make the most sense for you?

DealMate isn’t for everyone. But it’s particularly valuable if you’re in one of these situations:

• You need to sell quickly because of relocation, financial pressure, or health issues
• Your home needs repairs that you don’t want to deal with
• You’ve inherited a property you don’t want to maintain
• You’re tired of managing a difficult rental property
• You’re just not interested in the whole showing/negotiation dance
• You’ve tried traditional listing methods and they haven’t worked

While your Zillow FSBO listing might sit on the “Other Listings” tab waiting for the right buyer, DealMate actively connects you with motivated buyers who are ready to move forward immediately.

Here’s something most sellers don’t realize: DealMate offers multiple selling strategies beyond basic cash offers. Their platform includes novation partnerships and creative financing options that can potentially get you 80-110% of market value.

The bottom line? If speed, convenience, and certainty matter more to you than squeezing out every last dollar, DealMate is worth serious consideration. It’s not about getting the absolute highest offer—it’s about getting the right offer for your specific situation.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap this up. You now have everything you need to list a property on Zillow that actually competes with agent-posted properties.

Posting on Zillow gives you access to those 82 million monthly visitors we talked about earlier—completely free. But as you’ve seen, there’s a bit more to it than just throwing up some photos and hoping for the best.

The truth? FSBO listings face real challenges. They’re tucked away in that “Other Listings” tab, cut off from the MLS network, and often don’t get the same eyeballs as agent listings. That $55,000 price gap between FSBO and agent-assisted sales isn’t just a random number—it reflects these visibility hurdles.

So where does this leave you? You’ve got two solid paths forward:

1. Follow the Zillow strategy I’ve outlined if you value control, have time on your side, and want to save on commissions

2. Consider DealMate if you’re thinking “I just want this done quickly without the hassle”

DealMate solves the biggest FSBO headaches by connecting you directly with cash buyers who are already verified and ready to make offers. Instead of waiting weeks hoping someone finds your listing, you get multiple competing offers within 24 hours.

This matters most if you’ve inherited a property you don’t want to deal with, need to sell quickly due to life changes, or have a home that needs work you’d rather not handle yourself.

The choice really comes down to what matters most to you: maximum sale price or maximum convenience?

Remember, selling your home yourself doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Whether you choose the Zillow DIY route or DealMate’s faster approach, both give you alternatives to paying full agent commissions while keeping you in the driver’s seat.

Ready to compare your options? Head over to DealMate today and see what cash offers your property might attract—it’s completely free, and there’s zero obligation to accept.

FAQs

Q1. How can I make my Zillow listing stand out? To optimize your Zillow listing, ensure you address any necessary repairs, use high-quality photos, declutter and depersonalize your space, and craft a compelling listing description. Working with an agent who uses Zillow Showcase can also help increase visibility.

Q2. Is there a fee to list a property on Zillow? Basic listing options on Zillow are typically free. However, there may be charges for premium features like highlighting your listing or boosting its visibility. The cost depends on the advertising package you choose.

Q3. Can I list my house on Zillow without hiring a real estate agent? Yes, you can list your home on Zillow as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property without a realtor. Zillow allows homeowners to create FSBO listings free of charge.

Q4. What is DealMate and how does it differ from listing on Zillow? DealMate is a marketplace that connects homeowners with pre-vetted cash buyers. Unlike Zillow, where you wait for individual buyers, DealMate provides multiple competing cash offers within 24 hours, offering a faster and more convenient selling process.

Q5. How long does it take for my Zillow listing to go live? After submitting your listing, Zillow’s verification team reviews it. This process typically takes up to 72 hours. During this time, Zillow may call you to verify your information. Once approved, your listing will appear on the platform.

Sources

1. https://www.hauseit.com/how-do-i-set-my-for-sale-by-owner-fsbo-listing-price/

2. https://zillow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204023310-Photo-uploading-tips

3. https://zillow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/32837812512531-Managing-Your-Listings

4. https://www.gaar.com/blog/article/why-do-i-need-a-zillow-profile

5. https://zillow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/215452027-How-do-I-receive-contacts-from-my-for-sale-by-owner-listing

6. https://zillow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360057436374-How-do-I-post-my-home-For-Sale-by-Owner

7. https://anytimeestimate.com/home-selling/fsbo-made-easy-how-to-list-your-home-on-zillow-for-sale-by-owner/

8. https://zillow.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/215448047-How-do-I-edit-or-manage-my-For-Sale-By-Owner-listing