Zillow Request Blocked Crawler Detected

Zillow Request Blocked Crawler Detected - Meaning & Fix

Zillow request flagged, crawler detected is a common error users receive when they can't access public data from Zillow. Below, let’s take a look at possible reasons and workable solutions to handle this error, including Oxylabs’ Zillow Scraper API.

Possible reasons for the error

Rate limiting

Websites tend to control the frequency of incoming requests and flag those users and IP addresses that send requests too quickly or exceed the established limits.

IP bans and CAPTCHAs

Two of the most common methods of preventing scrapers from collecting public data. Often happen due to sending too many requests or having a suspicious browser configuration.

Region-exclusivity

This error reason refers to having a specific geographical location that is chosen by Zillow for data separation. Localization are usually enforced by detecting the users’ IP address.

No header control

Headers contain important data about the request and without proper control, web scrapers can appear suspicious or malicious, potentially leading to flagging.

JavaScript

JavaScript is used by websites to generate content dynamically. Simple web scrapers often fail to render JavaScript, resulting in inaccurate data extraction and other errors.

Overloading the website

Sending too many requests is another reason for failed scraping tasks. Targets often have a limited number of actions that can be done and exceeding this number can lead to IP flagging.

Solution

Solutions for Zillow Request Blocked Crawler Detected

Use proxies

Using an intermediary between your device and the Zillow website reduces the possibility of flagging as well as helps to access public data that might be unavailable in your region. Pick a reliable proxy provider like Oxylabs and choose between several proxy types to perfectly fit your project requirements.

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Optimize your headers

Since servers can easily identify suspicious HTTP headers, make sure to customize them to look organic and mirror authentic browser behaviour. Additionally, you have to switch header sets frequently to avoid errors when scraping data from Zillow.

Set your fingerprint right

Setting the right fingerprint is another crucial step to act like an organic user. It allows you to reduce the risk of getting flagged and enhances your ability to collect public data without interruptions.

Use a ready-to-use solution – Zillow Data API

In case you don’t have an in-house web scraper and want to save your resources for more strategic tasks, such as data analysis, you can always leverage Oxylabs’ Zillow Scraper API to retrieve property data from one of the largest real-estate websites hassle-free. It offers a ready-to-use infrastructure, which means almost no effort is required from your side.