What You Need to Know About Zillow’s 7-Day Touring Agreement

Maybe you’re asking yourself:

• Do I really have to sign something just to tour a house?
• Wait does this lock me into using their agents forever?
• Is this going to cost me anything?

Sound familiar? Cool, let’s get into it.

What Is Zillow’s 7-Day Touring Policy?

Zillow’s 7-day touring policy is their way of streamlining the process of scheduling house tours. It’s designed to make things faster and easier—especially if you’re someone who’s trying to see multiple homes in one week (which, let’s be real, most buyers are).

When you sign the agreement, you’re essentially agreeing to work with Zillow’s partner agents for any tours you book through their platform in that 7-day period. Yep, just one week. After that, you’re free to work with any agent you want.

But what does that actually mean for you?

Do You HAVE to Sign It?

Technically, yes—if you’re scheduling a tour through Zillow. Without it, the system won’t let you pick a time or confirm a showing. It’s not optional, but it’s also not some shady, lifetime contract designed to trap you.

Think of it like setting up a temporary agreement with the agent showing you the house. It’s their way of making sure everyone’s on the same page.

What Happens If You Don’t Like the Agent?

Here’s the deal: You’re only tied to that agent for tours during the 7-day window. If you’re just not feeling the vibe or the agent isn’t meeting your expectations, call it quits after the week. You’re not locked in for anything beyond that timeframe.

And hey, if you’ve got questions about how good the agent is, Zillow Reviews can give you some quick insight before you commit.

Do You Have to Pay for This?

Short answer: No. Scheduling a tour won’t cost you a dime. The 7-day touring agreement is a free tool to help streamline the scheduling process. Remember, agents make their money from commissions on closed deals—not charging you for tours. So nope, no hidden fees, no surprise charges.

Does the Agreement Cover Every House You Tour?

Here’s a pro tip: The 7-day touring policy applies only to homes you book through Zillow with one of their partner agents. If you’ve already got your own agent, you can use them for homes outside of the platform, no problem.

And if you’re juggling multiple options? Just keep track of which tours you’ve booked through Zillow and which ones you’re doing independently.

Why People Are Talking About Zillow’s Touring Policy

This isn’t a random policy they threw out there to be annoying. It’s a solution to a messy problem in the real estate world: confusion over representation.

Here’s what I mean:

• In the past, buyers would bounce around from agent to agent, not knowing someone was technically supposed to represent them after one showing.
• Agents were wasting time with buyers who left them hanging or never planned to commit.
• There was just… a lot of miscommunication happening.

The 7-day touring agreement helps clean up the process by clearly defining that for this one week, this specific agent is “your person” when touring homes through Zillow.

Tips for Working with Zillow’s Touring System

Want to make the most of it? Here’s how:

• Use the week wisely. Book as many showings as you want in that 7-day window to get a full picture of what’s on the market.
• Talk to the agent upfront. Take 5 minutes to let them know what you’re looking for so they can prep properly.
• Be upfront about your plans. If you’ve got a family friend who’s an agent, just let the Zillow rep know that you’re exploring options during the week.

It’s all about communication and setting clear expectations—kind of like managing any relationship, really.

FAQs

1. Can I back out of the agreement before the 7 days are up?

Yes. You’re not handcuffed to this agent. If something changes, you can always reach out and let the agent know directly.

2. Do I need to use the same agent for buying a home?

Nope. The agreement is for touring homes only. Once that week is up, you’re free to choose whoever you want for the buying process.

3. Can I have multiple agents within the 7-day period?

No. The agreement locks you into working with one partner agent for tours during the week—it’s part of the deal to reduce overlap and keep things simple.

4. Is it worth it if I already have an agent I like?

If you’re happy with your current agent and don’t plan on booking tours through Zillow, it might not make sense for you to sign the agreement.

5. What happens if I don’t find a home within the 7 days?

No worries. Once the agreement is up, you can extend another one if needed—or move on and try something else.