RentedFirst vs Zillow for South Florida renters: what's actually different
By Zach Curtis, licensed agent, Realty Hub, SL3664129. Updated October 26, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
See apartments for rent in Hallandale Beach, FL.
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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.
I'm Zach Curtis, and I help people rent in Hallandale Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, Hollywood and the cities around them. Renters ask me all the time: "Why would I use RentedFirst instead of Zillow?" Fair question. I use Zillow too. Here is a plain look at how each one works, so you can pick what fits you.
What Zillow does well
- Lots of inventory. Zillow says its listings come from agents, property managers, landlords and homeowners, so you see a wide mix in one place.
- Good search tools. Map search, filters, saved searches and alerts make it easy to browse.
- Tools for landlords. Zillow Rental Manager gives landlords and property managers a place to manage renter conversations and applications.
If you like to browse on your own, Zillow is a great place to look around.
How a rental inquiry works on Zillow
This is the part that's easy to miss. Based on Zillow's own help pages and privacy notice:
- When you message about a rental, your inquiry goes to the contact on that listing. For listings posted through Zillow Rental Manager, Zillow says leads are sent to the contact email on the listing and also appear in the manager's inbox.
- Zillow's help center says Zillow "is not involved in the communication or transactional process between listing owners and home shoppers."
- Zillow's agent help center also says Zillow Premier Agent partners "may receive rental leads from Zillow."
- Zillow's privacy notice says that when you ask to contact an agent, tour a home or make other requests, it may share your contact details and your property search history, including homes you saved or liked, with a real estate professional to respond to your request.
None of that is bad. It just means the person who answers depends on the listing. If you message five listings, you may hear back from five different people, each working for a different landlord or company.
What's different at RentedFirst
RentedFirst is me. When you ask about a unit here, it comes to me, and I'm the one who follows up. Right now my search shows 2,243 live long-term rentals from the MLS in Hallandale Beach and the cities around it. Every card shows who listed it ("Listing courtesy of" the listing office).
- 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.
You deal with one person from the first text to the day you get your keys. You don't have to repeat your story to a new person at every listing.
Side by side
| Zillow | RentedFirst | |
|---|---|---|
| Where listings come from | Agents, property managers, landlords and homeowners (per Zillow) | Long-term rentals from BeachesMLS in my area |
| Who answers your message | Depends on the listing: its contact, and Zillow says Premier Agent partners may receive rental leads | Zach Curtis, every time |
| Tours | Requested listing by listing | I book them with the listing agents and group them for you |
| Application and condo approval | Between you and each landlord or manager | I check the owner's criteria and the association timeline with you before you pay to apply |
| Size of search | Nationwide | Smaller: South Florida, the cities I work in |
Where Zillow may be the better fit
If you want to search the whole country, or you're set on a building that only advertises on its own or on rental apps, Zillow has more reach than my site. My search covers MLS rentals in the cities I work in. Found something on Zillow? Text me the link and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help with it.
Use both
You don't have to pick one. Browse Zillow whenever you like and text me the links. Let one person do the calling, touring and paperwork.
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 Realtor.com · Why one personal agent beats a listing portal · Where your rental inquiry goes on Zillow, Realtor.com and Apartments.com
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 Rental Manager
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
Is RentedFirst part of Zillow?
No. RentedFirst is run by Zach Curtis, a licensed Florida real estate sales associate (SL3664129) with Realty Hub. It is not affiliated with Zillow.
Can I send Zach a rental I found on Zillow?
Yes. Text the link to 754-332-7529 and Zach will tell you whether he can help with that listing and what he knows about it.
Who answers when I ask about a rental on RentedFirst?
Zach Curtis does. He follows up himself and stays your contact through tours, the application, the lease and move-in.
Does RentedFirst show every rental Zillow has?
No. RentedFirst shows long-term rentals from BeachesMLS in Hallandale Beach and nearby cities. Zillow covers far more areas and listing sources.
Which areas does RentedFirst cover?
Hallandale Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, Hollywood and Dania Beach, plus nearby cities such as Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale.
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