Zillow is a popular Internet marketer that "gives" automated estimates which claim to figure the value of each property in the United States. Zillow tries to reach this goal this task by using a complicated program that crossreferences factors which affect property 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 find countless testimonials by upset homeowners and leery home buyers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Knox_condominiums_of_ballston report that Zillow's estimates have a margin of error of about 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 unlikley 5% that means that a z-estimate is only within $25,000 of the asking price.

Yet Zillow (for now) remains popular with some real estate shoppers. Home sellers and home buyers should understand that there is not a single community in Knox_condominiums_of_ballston where either a bank or tax collector uses Internet for tax assessment or appraisals. Our professional advice is to take estimates from any website with a grain of salt. Putting too much stock into a computer can cause a lot of confusion.

Phone one of our local experts today for a free comparative market analysis of your property's value. We promise that a computer won't set the sales value. Rather, your friendly neighborhood Nesbitt Realty real estate agent will account for the complicated variables which make up your real estate's ideal price.