Zillow is a billion-dollar website that provides computerized estimates which claim to figure the market value of each and every residence in the United States. Zillow tries to achieve this this task by using a sophisticated logarithm that compares factors which impact home values, but here's a typical story I have heard from real estate 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 find many testimonials by angry property owners and skeptical home purchasers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Captains_landing report that Zillow's estimates have a margin of error of around 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 market 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 (for now) remains popular with some buyers and sellers. Real estate sellers and home purchasers should know that there is not a single neighborhood in Captains_landing where either a mortgage lender or tax collector uses Internet for tax assessment or appraisals. Our expert advice is to take "valuations" from any computer at arm’s length. Putting too much trust into a computer can cause a lot of disappointment.

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. Rather, your friendly neighborhood Nesbitt Realty Realtor will measure the complicated variables which make up your property's market value.