Understanding the Zillow Reviews API

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 100 views

Introduction

As a developer, integrating the Zillow Reviews API into your application can be a great way to provide valuable insights to your users. However, when using this API, you may encounter issues where you're not getting all the reviews you expect. In this article, we'll delve into the possible causes of this problem and provide you with solutions to ensure you're retrieving all the reviews you need.

Understanding the Zillow Reviews API

Before we dive into troubleshooting, let's quickly review how the Zillow Reviews API works. The API allows you to retrieve reviews for a specific reviewee (e.g., a real estate agent or a property). To use the API, you need to have the proper access and permissions, which you've already confirmed.

The Problem: Not Getting All Reviews

When you use the URL to get the reviewee key and number of reviews, you might encounter issues where you're not getting all the reviews you expect. This can be frustrating, especially if you're relying on the API to provide accurate and comprehensive data.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

1. Pagination

The Zillow Reviews API uses pagination to limit the number of reviews returned in a single response. By default, the API returns 10 reviews per page. If you're not specifying the limit parameter or setting it to a value less than the total number of reviews, you might not get all the reviews you need.

2. Sorting and Filtering

The API allows you to sort and filter reviews based on various criteria, such as date, rating, and more. If you're not specifying the correct sorting and filtering parameters, you might not get all the reviews you expect.

3. Reviewee Key

The reviewee key is a unique identifier for the reviewee. If the reviewee key is incorrect or outdated, you might not get all the reviews for that reviewee.

4. API Rate Limiting

The Zillow Reviews API has rate limiting in place to prevent abuse. If you're making too many requests within a short period, you might encounter issues where you're not getting all the reviews you need.

5. Network Issues

Network issues, such as connectivity problems or server errors, can also cause issues where you're not getting all the reviews you expect.

Solutions

Now that we've identified the possible causes, let's explore some solutions to ensure you're retrieving all the reviews you need:

1. Specify the `limit` Parameter

To get all the reviews for a reviewee, you need to specify the limit parameter and set it to a value greater than or equal to the total number of reviews. For example:

GET https://api.zillow.com/v1/reviews/reviewee/{reviewee_key}?limit=100

2. Use the `offset` Parameter

If you're using pagination, you can use the offset parameter to retrieve the next page of reviews. For example:

GET https://api.zillow.com/v1/reviews/reviewee/{reviewee_key}?offset=10

3. Specify the Correct Sorting and Filtering Parameters

Make sure you're specifying the correct sorting and filtering parameters to get the reviews you need. For example:

GET https://api.zillow.com/v1/reviews/reviewee/{reviewee_key}?sort_by=date&sort_order=desc

4. Verify the Reviewee Key

Double-check that the reviewee key is correct and up-to-date. You can use the GET /reviews/reviewee/{reviewee_key} endpoint to retrieve the reviewee's details and verify the key.

5. Check API Rate Limiting

Make sure you're not exceeding the API rate limit. You can use the GET /reviews/reviewee/{reviewee_key}?limit=1 endpoint to test the API rate limiting.

6. Troubleshoot Network Issues

If you're experiencing network issues, try troubleshooting the problem by checking your internet connection, server errors, and other potential causes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, not getting all reviews from the Zillow Reviews API can be a frustrating issue. By understanding the possible causes and implementing the solutions outlined in this article, you can ensure you're retrieving all the reviews you need. Remember to specify the limit parameter, use the offset parameter, specify the correct sorting and filtering parameters, verify the reviewee key, check API rate limiting, and troubleshoot network issues.

Additional Resources

For more information on the Zillow Reviews API, please refer to the official documentation:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why am I not getting all reviews from the Zillow Reviews API? A: There are several possible causes, including pagination, sorting and filtering, reviewee key, API rate limiting, and network issues.

Q: How can I get all reviews for a reviewee? A: You need to specify the limit parameter and set it to a value greater than or equal to the total number of reviews.

Q: What is the offset parameter used for? A: The offset parameter is used to retrieve the next page of reviews when using pagination.

Q: How can I troubleshoot network issues? A: You can troubleshoot network issues by checking your internet connection, server errors, and other potential causes.

Introduction

As a developer, integrating the Zillow Reviews API into your application can be a great way to provide valuable insights to your users. However, with any API, there are often questions and concerns that arise. In this article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions about the Zillow Reviews API.

Q&A

Q: What is the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API is a web service that allows developers to retrieve reviews for properties and professionals listed on Zillow.

Q: How do I get started with the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To get started with the Zillow Reviews API, you'll need to sign up for a Zillow API key. You can do this by creating a developer account on the Zillow website.

Q: What are the benefits of using the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API provides several benefits, including:

Access to a large dataset of reviews: The Zillow Reviews API provides access to a large dataset of reviews for properties and professionals listed on Zillow.
Easy integration: The Zillow Reviews API is easy to integrate into your application, with a simple and intuitive API.
Real-time data: The Zillow Reviews API provides real-time data, so you can ensure that your application is always up-to-date.

Q: What are the limitations of the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API has several limitations, including:

Rate limiting: The Zillow Reviews API has rate limiting in place to prevent abuse.
Data restrictions: The Zillow Reviews API has data restrictions in place to protect user data.
API key restrictions: The Zillow Reviews API has API key restrictions in place to prevent unauthorized access.

Q: How do I authenticate with the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To authenticate with the Zillow Reviews API, you'll need to provide your API key with each request. You can do this by including the Authorization header in your request.

Q: What are the different types of reviews available through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API provides several types of reviews, including:

Property reviews: Property reviews are reviews for specific properties listed on Zillow.
Professional reviews: Professional reviews are reviews for professionals listed on Zillow, such as real estate agents and mortgage brokers.
Community reviews: Community reviews are reviews from the Zillow community, including user-generated content.

Q: How do I filter reviews through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To filter reviews through the Zillow Reviews API, you can use the filter parameter in your request. This parameter allows you to specify criteria such as date range, rating, and more.

Q: How do I sort reviews through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To sort reviews through the Zillow Reviews API, you can use the sort parameter in your request. This parameter allows you to specify the order in which reviews are returned, such as by date or rating.

Q: What are the different endpoints available through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API provides several endpoints, including:

GET /reviews: Retrieves a list of reviews for a specific property or professional.
GET /reviews/{review_id}: Retrieves a specific review by ID.
POST /reviews: Creates a new review.
PUT /reviews/{review_id}: Updates a specific review.
DELETE /reviews/{review_id}: Deletes a specific review.

Q: How do I handle errors through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To handle errors through the Zillow Reviews API, you can use the error parameter in your response. This parameter provides information about the error, including the error code and message.

Q: What are the different error codes available through the Zillow Reviews API?

A: The Zillow Reviews API provides several error codes, including:

400: Bad request.
401: Unauthorized.
403: Forbidden.
404: Not found.
500: Internal server error.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the Zillow Reviews API?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the Zillow Reviews API, you can use the following steps:

Check your API key: Make sure your API key is correct and up-to-date.
Check your request: Make sure your request is correct and formatted properly.
Check the Zillow Reviews API documentation: Make sure you're using the correct endpoint and parameters.
Contact Zillow support: If you're still having issues, contact Zillow support for assistance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Zillow Reviews API is a powerful tool for developers who want to access a large dataset of reviews for properties and professionals listed on Zillow. By understanding the benefits and limitations of the API, as well as how to authenticate, filter, and sort reviews, you can ensure that your application is always up-to-date and accurate. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Zillow support for assistance.