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I Am A Local Real Estate Expert - Zillow Is Not

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Keller Willliams - 1033 Hamilton Place,Johnson City TN 37604

This advice from an associate in Wake Forest, NC, is worth your reading before you decide on the price you want to ask or what you want to offer.   There's a lot of useful information on Zillow, well presented, but Leesa is right - Zillow doesn't "know" as much as the local expert about details of condition and improvements, area amenities, etc.   Use it if you like, but let me back it up with details and listen to me when my detailed analysis differs from what you got there.

I can't even generalize about the accuracy, because I've seen some Zestimates that are way high and others that are much too low.   Even when condition is fairly comparable, there are other aspects to consider, not the least of which is that the low one down the street may have been sold to a family member or may have been a foreclosure.   

By the way, when you know someone who needs a real estate agent elsewhere than in Johnson City, my many acquaintances through Active Rain and professional organizations help me know that the one I tell you about will be really special.    In Wake Forest, NC, here's a good one.  

Original content by Leesa Finley NC #129285

I Am A Local Real Estate Expert - Zillow is Not

Wake Forest NC Real Estate AgentWhether you are thinking of buying a home or possibly selling your home you more than likely have stumbled upon Zillow and thought you hit the mother-load of real estate information!  It's a fancy site with Zestimates, has homes marked on a map that are either currently listed or have recently sold, and you can spy on your best friends home on the other side of town to see what it's worth and that's cool, right?  Wrong!  Well, if spying on your neighbor is cool to you then that's your business BUT if you are thinking of buying or selling a home then you want to steer clear of Zillow.

You see, I cringe when I speak with a buyer or seller and they come at me with all their research from Zillow.  They already have a predetermined listprice based on what they learned from Zillow or they think they already know if a home is over or under priced with information they received from Zillow.  Well, let me set the record straight - more often then not, Zillow is inaccurate.

Zillow is a computer generated program that acquires information from various sources and then runs it through a program to give you information based on a mathematical equation.  Trust me, there is no human sitting at a desk inputting data about all of the homes throughout the country.  What Zillow can not replicate and therefore will never be able to accurately price real estate is the human touch and the ability to physically see into other properties.

Zillow does not take into account upgrades and/or updates to a home or lack thereof.  It doesn't know:

  • While your home may have Formica countertops your neighbors have all upgraded to solid surface counter tops.
  • You have replaced your carpet, vinyl in the kitchen and bathrooms and updated the appliances while your neighbors have carpets that are worn thin, 15 year old outdated vinyl and brass fixtures from the 80s
  • ZILLOW DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE HOME NEXT TO YOURS WAS A FORECLOSURE ANDWake Forest NC Real Estate Agent THE PREVIOUS OWNER RIPPED OUT ALL THE CABINETS, TOILETS AND MADE OFF WITH THE COMPRESSOR UNIT TO THE HVAC.

All Zillow knows is what is found on other public sites - statistics.  There is no room for the human touch.

So, please, if you are thinking of buying or selling a home don't consider Zillow as your source for pricing.  It's a fun site - lot's of bells and whistles - cool tools and great graphics but that's about it.  If you are serious about buying or selling real estate then you want to rely on a real estate professional that can add the human element and knows your neighborhood and the local real estate market. 

Wake Forest NC House Chick QR Code

 

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Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Wake Forest NC it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Wake Forest NC home!  For more information regarding homes for sale in Wake Forest NC be sure to visit my websites:

  • Leesa Finley- Homes for Sale in Wake Forest NC, Wake Forest NC schools, restaurants, shops, entertainment and MORE....
  • Wake Forest NC House Chick - My company website with information for the entire Raleigh NC area including Cary, Apex, Garner, Franklinton, Youngsville, Holly Springs and MORE....
I AM your Wake Forest NC Real Estate Agent of Choice......

Don't forget to check out Discover Wake Forest NC for all the latest new listings in Wake Forest, Home Buyers and Home Sellers Tips and the most up to date calendar of events in Wake Forest NC!

 

 

 

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Posted by

Mary Sheridan, KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

Mary Sheridan423-943-7655  Direct
Mary@TNTriCitiesHomes.com
www.TNTriCitiesHomes.com

Johnson City, TN area -including
Jonesborough, Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton.   
(Washington, Carter and Sullivan Counties)

Let's talk about what you want and how I can help
.

Comments (1)

Suzie Mills
Century 21 Wildwood Properties - Twain Harte, CA

At least they have these avenues to look at and eventually find you to educate them way beyond the Zillow experience.  Modern technology is a good thing.

Nov 20, 2010 06:30 AM