Zillow Under Fire by Vermont-based For-Sale-By-Owner Platform, Picket Fence

January 21, 2021

Zillow is on the hot seat again, this time with a real estate website based out of Vermont. Picket Fence is suing the real estate giant, claiming it violated antitrust law. The lawsuit states that Picket Fence accuses Zillow’s Vermont operations is costing millions in lost revenue. 

Picket Fence is a for-sale-by-owner platform looking to cut out the need for an agent when it comes to the home hunting journey. 

The court document claims Zillow’s competition in the state has taken away key attention from Picket Fence, costing the company millions in lost revenue. The lawsuit alleges that Zillow violated “state and federal consumer and antitrust laws” along with a number of Vermont-centric laws. The document also claims that Zillow’s operation in Vermont damages FSBO services like Picket Fence. 

Zillow has been accused of various legalities within the last year, most notably, accusations against its Zestimates and copyright infringement accusations pertaining to its Trulia brand

Being on top comes with downsides. Experts are predicting this isn’t the last time a smaller real estate company will aim its ire at a company like Zillow and the aggressive competition it brings. 

January 21, 2021
Victoria has been writing about property portals and marketplace sites for Online Marketplaces for over 3 years. She is also our resident artist and is responsible for all of the infographic content on the site.

Subscribe to our mailing list to get the famous, free Friday newsletter!

News and analysis to help build better online marketplace businesses, in your inbox, every Friday

Related News

Rightmove Share Price
Rightmove Shares Tumble 12% After AI Investment Announcement

Rightmove's shares tumbled nearly 30% before settling at a 12.3% decline last week after the British portal operator announced that...

Read More
zillow dark courtoom 1
Zillow Named as Defendant in Sixth Lawsuit In As Many Months

Zillow has been named as a defendant in a new class action lawsuit—the sixth time the company has been sued...

Read More
People Roundup 07 November 2
People Roundup: OpenLot, OhMyHome, AVIV Group

Here are the biggest people movements we've spotted in the last week or so...   Oceania: OpenLot.com.au appoints proptech veteran...

Read More
zilow 3
Zillow Throws Jabs at CoStar and Compass As War of Words Continues

Zillow has asked a federal judge to move CoStar Group’s copyright infringement lawsuit from New York to Washington state, and...

Read More

Editor's Pick