Zillow is a popular Internet marketer that provides automated estimates which purport to calculate the sales value of each residence in the United States. Zillow tries to reach this goal this task by using a sophisticated algorithm which compares factors which affect real estate values, but here's a typical story I have heard from home sellers in Northern Virginia:

Our home was recently appraised for 650K. Zillow estimates the value at 521K. The estimate makes us one of the lowest priced homes in the subdivision. We have all upgrades in our home and it is the largest of the homes that were originally built in this subdivision. It was appraised at 750K before 2009. Our home has a basement. Neighbors do not have basement on one side and you appraised higher. Really? -- James E. - Fort Hunt

If you search the web for the phrase "Can I trust Zillow?" or "Can I trust Z-Estimates" you'll discover countless testimonials by upset property owners and leery real estate buyers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Janneys_lane claim that Zillow's estimates have a margin of error of approximately 20%. Even if we assume the margin of error is only 10%, in Northern Virginia that means a "z-estimate" is only within $50,000 of the actual ideal price. If the margin of error is an astounding 5% that means that a z-estimate is only within $25,000 of the asking price.

Yet Zillow still remains popular with some real estate shoppers. Home sellers and home buyers should understand that there is not a single community in Janneys_lane where either a bank or tax collector uses Zillow for tax assessment or appraisals. Our professional advice is to take estimates from any website at arm’s length. Putting too much reliance into a computer can cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

Call Nesbitt Realty today for a free comparative market analysis of your property's value. We promise that a website won't set the sales value. Instead, your friendly neighborhood Nesbitt Realty Realtor will take into account the unique variables which make up your real estate's sales value.