Zillow is a billion-dollar Internet marketer that "gives" "z-estimates" which claim to calculate the market value of each and every residence in the United States. Zillow tries to accomplish this task by using a complicated program which compares factors which affect real estate values, but here's a story I have heard from property 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 research the Internet for the phrase "Can I trust Zillow?" or "Can I trust Z-Estimates" you'll discover many testimonials by angry homeowners and skeptical home purchasers who have discovered the hard way just out inaccurate Zillow's pricing can be. Many people in The Townes At Tasker 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 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 real estate shoppers. Real estate sellers and real estate shoppers should understand that there is not a single neighborhood in The Townes At Tasker where either a bank or tax collector uses Zillow for tax assessment or appraisals. Our expert advice is to take estimates from any website at arm’s length. Putting too much reliance into a computer logarithm can cause a great deal of disappointment.

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