Zillow introduces Calendly-like instant booking for rental property viewings TechCrunch

Real estate marketplace Zillow has introduced an instant viewing booking feature for tenants on its platform. The company now allows users to book an in-person viewing directly at an appropriate time without having to contact an agent or property manager.

Until now, when someone needed to view a rental property, they either had to rely on a virtual tour on the platform or request a viewing, which connected them with a property manager, making the process heavy. Now users can book appointments instantly – it works just like the Calendly meeting booking platform.

The company said an instant tour booking feature is available on 2,600 rental properties with more being added at regular intervals. The proptech startup said it also plans to add a feature that will allow users to choose the type of tour they want – in-person, self-guided or a live virtual tour – when scheduling.

According to a survey conducted by Zillow last year, 71% of users made up to four visits to properties before deciding to rent one. The platform therefore believes that it is useful to facilitate the planning process by eliminating the middleman like an agent.

“The tour is a major step in the journey of finding a rental, and it’s driven by innovation,” said Michael Sherman, vice president of Zillow Rentals in a written statement.

“Allowing tenants to instantly book a viewing removes barriers and provides a more seamless and convenient experience for tenants and property managers. Freeing up time to coordinate schedules allows tenants to focus on finding their ideal home without worry about when they’ll get to see it, and gives property managers valuable time for other important tasks.

Zillow laid off 300 employees last October, impacting teams such as Zillow Offer advisors, sales and core staff at Zillow Home Loans and Zillow Closing Services.