Zillow, Realtor.com and Apartments.com: how rental inquiries really work (and where yours goes)
By Zach Curtis, licensed agent, Realty Hub, SL3664129. Updated October 26, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
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Written by Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, licensed Florida real estate sales associate (license SL3664129) with Realty Hub, and the person behind RentedFirst. About Zach.
You find a place you like, type your name, email and phone, and hit send. Then what? Here is how three well-known rental sites describe it on their own help pages, terms and privacy notices. I've quoted them so you can check every line yourself (links at the bottom).
The short version
- These sites are built to connect you with whoever is answering for the listing: a landlord, a property manager, a leasing office or an agent.
- The site itself is usually not the one renting you the home.
- Your contact details, and sometimes your search activity, can be shared with those people so they can answer you.
All three sites have lots of listings and good search tools. That's why so many people use them. It just helps to know who is on the other end.
Zillow
- Who lists: Zillow says listings are provided "by agents, property managers, landlords and homeowners," and that Zillow "is not involved in the communication or transactional process between listing owners and home shoppers."
- Where your message goes: for listings posted through Zillow Rental Manager, Zillow says leads go to the contact email on the listing and show up in the manager's inbox. Zillow's agent help center also says Premier Agent partners "may receive rental leads from Zillow."
- What gets shared: Zillow's privacy notice says that if you ask to contact an agent, tour a home or make other requests, it may share your contact information and your property search history, including homes you saved or liked, with a real estate professional to respond to your request.
- Email privacy: Zillow says messages between renters and property managers can come from an anonymized Zillow address, so you decide when to share your own email.
- Homes for sale are different: Zillow's agent support page says shoppers on Zillow and Trulia who "contact an agent or request a tour" are connected with a Zillow Premier Agent advertising in their ZIP code. That page talks about home shoppers in general, so it matters most if you're also looking to buy.
Realtor.com
- Who runs it: Realtor.com is run by Move, Inc. Its terms say Move "is not a real estate broker."
- What gets collected: its privacy notice lists information you give through features like "Request Tour" and "Contact Agent."
- What gets shared: the same notice says Move shares some personal data "with our third-party clients or business partners, such as realtors, landlords, and other Professionals to facilitate your transactions."
Apartments.com
- What it is: its terms call it "an online advertising, searching and information service" and say Apartments.com does not broker or lease apartments and "is not a party to any transaction between landlords" and renters.
- Who may contact you: the terms say that by submitting information, including through a lead form, you agree that "Apartments.com, a landlord, a property manager or other similar individual or entity may contact you via email, text message, phone or autodialer for any purpose."
Where your inquiry goes on RentedFirst
To me, Zach Curtis. When you ask about a unit, send the form or text me, it comes to me and I follow up myself. I use it to help with your search: checking the unit with the listing agent, setting up tours and keeping your file in one place. Your documents are shared with a landlord or listing agent only when you apply for that home.
- You tell me what you need: budget, size, move-in date, pets, the areas you like. Text me, fill in the form, or search and tap the ones you like.
- I check before you spend anything. I contact the listing agent to confirm the unit is still available and ask about pet rules, condo association approval and the full move-in total.
- I set up your tours, in person or by video, and line them up so you can see several places in one trip.
- I help you apply and make your offer: the owner's application, your documents, and a clear written offer on price, move-in date or lease length when it makes sense.
- I stay with you through the lease and move-in: approval, lease review, where the move-in money goes, and keys.
Tips for any site
- Ask who you're talking to: the landlord, a property manager, or an agent, and who they work for.
- Check any Florida agent's license on the state's DBPR license search. Mine is SL3664129.
- Don't send money before you've seen the unit and have a lease or written approval. See how to spot rental scams.
- Read the privacy notice on any site before you hit send, and use its privacy settings if you want fewer messages.
Start where you want to live: Hallandale Beach apartments, Sunny Isles Beach apartments, Aventura, Hollywood and Dania Beach. Or read a building guide: The Wave, Beach Club Two, Parker Plaza and The Hemispheres.
Want one person handling your search? Text or call me, Zach, at 754-332-7529, or start your search and I'll follow up myself.
This series: RentedFirst vs Zillow · RentedFirst vs Realtor.com · Why one personal agent beats a listing portal
Sources
Statements about other websites come from their own public pages, checked October 26, 2026. Their policies can change, so read the current version before you rely on it:
- Zillow Help Center: How do I contact a property manager about a listing I'm interested in?
- Zillow Help Center: Zillow Rental Leads in the app (for agents)
- Zillow Group Website Privacy Notice (effective Nov 15, 2025), "Our disclosure of personal data"
- Zillow Help Center: Emailing through Zillow
- Zillow agent support page: "What does it mean to be a Zillow Premier Agent?"
- Realtor.com (Move, Inc.) Terms of Use
- Realtor.com (Move, Inc.) Privacy Notice (last modified July 30, 2026), "Data we share"
- Apartments.com Terms of Service
Zillow, Realtor.com and Apartments.com are trademarks of their owners. RentedFirst is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Fair housing: every listing is open to everyone. We describe buildings, prices and processes, never who lives where.
Frequently asked questions
Who answers when I contact a rental on Zillow?
It depends on the listing. Zillow says listings come from agents, property managers, landlords and homeowners, that rental leads go to the listing's contact, and that Premier Agent partners may also receive rental leads.
Does Realtor.com share my information?
Realtor.com's privacy notice says Move, Inc. shares some personal data with business partners such as realtors, landlords and other professionals to facilitate your transactions. Read the current notice for details.
Who can contact me after I use an Apartments.com form?
Apartments.com's terms say that by submitting information, you agree that Apartments.com, a landlord, a property manager or a similar entity may contact you by email, text, phone or autodialer.
Where does my inquiry go on RentedFirst?
To Zach Curtis, a licensed agent with Realty Hub (SL3664129). He follows up himself and stays your one contact through the move-in.
How do I check if a Florida agent is licensed?
Use the Florida DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com. Zach Curtis's license number is SL3664129.
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