Zillow is a billion-dollar website that "gives" automated estimates which purport to figure the value of every home in the United States. Zillow tries to accomplish this feat by using a complicated algorithm which compares factors which impact home 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 Google the Internet for the phrase "Can I trust Zillow?" or "Can I trust Z-Estimates" you'll discover countless testimonials by angry homeowners and leery property purchasers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Residences_at_sullivan say 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 value. 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 people. Property owners and real estate buyers should know that there is not a single neighborhood in Residences_at_sullivan where either a mortgage lender or tax collector uses Zillow for tax assessment or appraisals. Our professional advice is to take estimates from any website with a grain of salt. Putting too much reliance into a computer can cause a great deal of disappointment.

Phone one of our agents today for a free comparative market analysis of your property's value. We promise that a computer won't set the market value. Instead, your friendly neighborhood Nesbitt Realty expert will account for the complicated variables which make up your home's sales value.