Sometimes The Most Powerful Thing I Do Is NothingI have a challenge for you. Do nothing for a minute. How about five? Could you make it to fifteen? Turns out doing nothing at all is harder than it
You Are For Sale
Dated: December 16 2025
Views: 277
We all understand that if it feels like we’re getting something for free, somewhere, someone is paying for it. Ad revenue is usually the culprit - social media and broadcast TV don’t cost anything because advertisers are footing the bill. I watch the Vikings lose on Sunday for free while Pizza Hut and State Farm shell out the cash.
But sometimes it’s a little harder to figure out who is paying. If you’ve been on the big websites shopping for houses - even just taking a peek - you’re not looking at properties, you are the product that is being sold.
All the big platforms (Zillow, Redfin, Rocket Mortgage, Realtor.com…) make huge amounts of money each year - not by helping you buy or sell a home, but by collecting your information and selling it to real estate agents. That’s why your phone suddenly blows up the moment you click “See Home Details.” You didn’t ask for three agents, a lender, and someone named “Travis” to call you, but here they come.
Zillow gets over 200 million visitors per month and turns a huge chunk of that traffic into leads they sell. Your data becomes a commodity. And now they are in a legal fight. Zillow is facing allegations that it steered consumers toward preferred agents and lenders, hid extra fees inside its ‘Premier Agent’ system, and used deceptive home valuation practices, all designed to boost their revenue, not protect you.
Their business model depends on volume - not relationships. The more your information is shared, the more money they make.
My entire approach is the opposite. If you’ve worked with me or even just talked with me for a few minutes, you know I’m not chasing or pushing you. My goal is not to “convert” you. My approach is simple: I want to be your guide, your partner, your coach. Let’s work together to make sure you have the best experience possible.
You’re a real person going through a major transition, and you should be treated with respect, not sold to the highest bidder. When you work with me, you get honest, straightforward answers to your questions, a low-pressure approach, and someone who actually listens. My goal is to give you a concierge-style experience that is calm, clear, and focused on the best outcome for you. Because you aren’t a “lead” to be bought and sold or just a phone number and email address. You’re my client. One of my people.
One more thing: If you have parents, friends, coworkers, or neighbors who are dipping their toes into the housing market, please don’t let them get sucked into the big-tech real estate machine. Give them my name instead. Encourage them to work with someone who’s genuinely trustworthy, calm, and not trying to sell them anything they’re not ready for. They will be thankful you did.
Clint Kuipers
Clint Kuipers
Clint Kuipers specializes in complex and emotionally significant real estate transitions in the Twin Cities, including divorce, estate sales, downsizing, and buying and selling at the same time. With ....
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