Zillow is a popular Internet marketer that "gives" computerized estimates which purport to figure the value of each home in the United States. Zillow tries to reach this goal this feat by using a complicated program which compares factors which alter real estate values, but here's a 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 Google the web for the phrase "Can I trust Zillow?" or "Can I trust Z-Estimates" you'll discover many complaints by upset homeowners and leery property shoppers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Stoneridge_knoll 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 ideal price. 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 still remains popular with some people. Real estate sellers and real estate purchasers should know that there is not a single neighborhood in Stoneridge_knoll where either a mortgage lender or tax collector uses Internet for tax assessment or appraisals. Our professional advice is to take estimates from any computer at arm’s length. Putting too much trust into a computer logarithm can cause a lot 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 sales value. Instead, your friendly neighborhood Nesbitt Realty Realtor will account for the many variables which make up your property's ideal price.