Free Directory Listing vs. Sponsored ZIP: Which Is Right for You?
There are two ways to show up for homeowners on Nationwide Home Values, and they're not the same product at two price points. Here's exactly what each one gets you, so you can pick the one that fits where your business is right now.
The two paths, in plain terms
A free directory listing puts your profile in front of any homeowner who searches for an agent in your service area. It costs nothing, takes a few minutes to set up, and stays up as long as you want it to. You're listed alongside every other approved agent who also serves that ZIP.
A sponsored ZIP is exclusive. You're the only agent that ZIP's home value requests route to, full stop. No other agent, free or paid, shows up ahead of you for that ZIP's leads. It's a paid, flat-rate subscription you can cancel anytime.
Both are real products, not a bait-and-switch. Plenty of agents run a free profile indefinitely and never sponsor anything. Plenty of others go straight to sponsoring. Neither path is the "correct" one, they solve different problems.
Side-by-side comparison
Can you do both?
Yes, and most agents who sponsor a ZIP also keep their free directory profile active, they're not mutually exclusive. Your directory profile is a general, searchable listing. A sponsored ZIP is additional, exclusive routing on top of that for a specific area. Sponsoring a ZIP doesn't remove or replace your free listing, and canceling a sponsored ZIP doesn't touch your free listing either.
Which one should you start with?
If you're new to the platform, or just want to see how it works before spending anything, start with the free directory. There's no card required and no deadline to decide on more. If you already know which ZIP you want to own, and you'd rather not share visibility with any other agent there, sponsoring that ZIP directly is the more direct path. It's a reasonable move to start free, see how leads and inquiries come in, and sponsor a ZIP later once you have a specific market in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Does the free directory listing ever start costing money?
No. The free directory is free permanently, not a trial. There's no card on file and no automatic upgrade.
If I sponsor a ZIP, do I lose my free directory listing?
No. They're separate. Your free directory profile stays active regardless of whether you also sponsor a ZIP.
If I cancel a sponsored ZIP, do I still show up anywhere?
Yes, as long as your free directory profile is approved and active, you'll still show up in directory search results, just without exclusive routing for that ZIP.
Can multiple agents have a free listing for the same ZIP?
Yes. The free directory is shared visibility, any approved agent who lists that ZIP as a service area can appear there. A sponsored ZIP is the only way to make that routing exclusive to you.
How do I upgrade from a free listing to a sponsored ZIP?
Search ZIP availability and sponsor the one you want. Your existing free profile information carries over automatically, there's nothing to redo.
Ready to get started, either way?
Create a free profile in a couple minutes, or search ZIP availability if you already know you want exclusive routing.