Zillow is one of the most popular real estate websites out there, but the home values it provides can be extremely unreliable. Here's why.
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Zillow has become one of the largest active real estate websites that people interact with online. So why are the home values determined by Zillow so unreliable? There are a number of reasons.
First and foremost, Zillow uses algorithms that take millions and millions of pieces of information and funnels them through a generic system. Many times, it's based on tax roles and generic information about homes, so Zillow doesn't have any information about a home's interior. It can't account for whether a home has been cared for or if it was used as a meth lab.
Additionally, Zillow can't take home upgrades into account, so it doesn't know if the kitchen was recently renovated or the basement is finished. All these details can add or subtract tens of thousands of dollars from the home depending on its condition.
Zillow can't take home upgrades into account.
Zillow's home value calculators are a guideline. You don't want to stake your hope in the value of a home based on Zillow's potentially false set of hypotheses. If you really want an accurate value of your home, one way is to hire a successful real estate agent to assess the property from the inside out and compare it to recent area sales. You could also hire an appraiser for a benchmark value for your home.
If you have any questions about your home's value or you're thinking about selling it, give me a call today. I'd be happy to help!
If you have any questions about your home's value or you're thinking about selling it, give me a call today. I'd be happy to help!
