Zillow has been extremely flexible with me. You can close faster, but if you’re in an HOA (like I am), they have to put the closing date 30–45 days out for their own processes. In my case, they said 45. I made it clear that I was closing on my next home much sooner, and they’ve been working with me on that.
The biggest key is communication. Make sure your agent is talking with theirs and that your request to close sooner is documented in writing. Also, make sure the whole team—closing, title, everyone—knows about your situation. I regret using a friend as my agent since I’m losing 3%, but at this point I’m just making sure my agent stays on top of things. I’ve heard their title and closing side can be disorganized, so I’m not leaving it to chance.
That said, they’ve moved quickly so far. Within two days I had all my documents to sign, way ahead of schedule. They’re also getting the HOA form delivered in person and the HOA fee paid, which is a good sign that things will move along.
Overall, Zillow has been great to work with so far. My advice: do your due diligence, stay on top of them, and don’t assume delays are personal—it’s just that they’re busy and handling a lot of deals at once. As long as you and your agent stay proactive, you should be fine.