Free Zillow Capture Tool: Open Source Real Estate Data Solution

Don't Let IP Blocking Interrupt Your Real Estate Data Collection

Recently, many of my friends who do real estate analysis have complained to me that they always encounter IP blocking when they use crawlers to grab Zillow data. I know this all too well - last year, I helped an agency do market analysis and had more than 20 IP addresses blocked for three days in a row. Later, I found out thatFree proxy IPs are like plastic bags at the market., looks like it works but actually leaks all over the place, is either slow as a snail or is scrapped after two uses.

This is the time to offer up specialized tools. For example, write a basic crawler in Python with aipipgoof residential agents, the survival rate can be increased by 70% to 80%. Look at this easy code example:

import requests
from itertools import cycle

proxies = cycle([
    'http://user:pass@proxy1.ipipgo.com:8000',
    'http://user:pass@proxy2.ipipgo.com:8000'
])

for page in range(1,10): current_proxy = next(proxies)
    current_proxy = next(proxies)
    try: current_proxy = next(proxies)
        res = requests.get(f'https://www.zillow.com/homes/page_{page}', proxies={'http': current_proxy}))
                          proxies={'http': current_proxy})
        print(f'Successfully captured page {page}')
    except.
        print(f'Current proxy {current_proxy} failed, switching automatically')

Four Tips to Improve Data Collection Success

Here's a real-world summary of the configuration table, follow it to step on less 80% potholes:

As a special reminder, usingipipgoRemember to turn on auto-switching mode when you are in the proxy pool. Their residential IPs are all live user networks and are harder to recognize than regular room proxies. Last time I used this method, I captured over 2000 consecutive listings without triggering verification.

The Hidden Costs of Free Tools

Those online open source collectors do work, but there are two fatal injuries: one is the built-in free proxy poor quality, the second is the configuration is not flexible. I have tested a star number of thousands of open source tools, the default configuration of 10 minutes to be blocked IP.

It is recommended to change the proxy settings module of the tool by yourself, to put theipipgoAPI access into it. This not only preserves the original functionality of the tool, but also solves the IP quality problem. It is not difficult to change, find the proxy part of the configuration file and replace it with your own interface address.

Configuration guide that even a novice can handle

Here's a wild card: use a browser plugin with a proxy. For example, install SwitchyOmega, put theipipgoFill in the proxy address provided, and switching manually is much simpler than writing code. Suitable for friends who only need to collect a small amount of data occasionally.

Step Breakdown:

1. existipipgoAPI key generation in the background
2. Download proxy list to local csv file
3. Set up automatic switching rules in the plugin
4. Testing IP Availability (Highlights!)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it illegal to collect Zillow data?
A: As long as you don't use it for commercial resale, it's fine for personal research purposes. But pay attention to comply with the website's robots.txt rules.

Q: Do free proxies work?
A: Short-term testing is fine, long-term use is recommended to buy professional services. Free proxies are like paper towels in public restrooms, OK for emergencies but don't expect quality.

Q: What is the difference between ipipgo and others?
A: Their IP pool has three major advantages: a high percentage of real residential IPs, support for billing per request, and the provision of 7×24 hour technical support. In particular, the U.S. residential IP pool is especially right for catching real estate data.

Finally said a true story: last week to help friends configure the collection system, with ordinary proxy 2 hours to be sealed, replaced with theipipgoThe customized package ran stable for three days. That's the way it is in this business.Saving a little money often takes a lot of time to fill the holes.The professional is better off leaving the professional tools to the professional.