Zillow is a popular website that "gives" "z-estimates" that purport to calculate the market value of each and every property in the United States. Zillow tries to accomplish this feat by using a complicated program which crossreferences factors which impact property 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 find many complaints by upset homeowners and skeptical property buyers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in Deerfield_ridge say 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 sales 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 still remains popular with some buyers and sellers. Home sellers and property shoppers should understand that there is not a single community in Deerfield_ridge where either a bank or tax collector uses Internet for tax assessment or appraisals. Our professional advice is to take "valuations" from any online site at arm’s length. Putting too much trust into a computer can cause a great deal of disappointment.

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