The Truth about Zillow
“Zillow says my home is worth a million dollars!”
Zillow is a wonderful and powerful tool and has changed the way people buy and sell houses, for many reasons I like Zillow. One reason I dislike Zillow is when I am contacted to sell a house and at my first meeting I’m greeted with the happy seller’s Zestimate as their listing price. Zillow can not see inside your house. If you have not updated the avocado green bathroom and still have the 1970’s paneling — Zillow doesn’t know this! If all of the houses in a mile radius that have recently sold have granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, finished basements, new roofs, and maintenance-free decks while your home is still stuck in the 1970s, it is more likely not worth what Zillow’s Zestimate is stating. The same case can be made if all the houses in your neighborhood that have recently sold have not been updated and your house has just undergone 50K in renovations. This means your house could be worth more than Zillow’s Zestimate. WIN!
A Realtor’s Perspective
A Realtor takes the time to pull similar home sales within your area and adjust the price up or down based on:
- style of home
- square footage
- lot size
- general overall condition
Your Realtor then can provide you with a solid price range to list your house. The listing price is your decision.
Advice to keep in mind.
Look at your Zestimate but keep an open mind when meeting with your Realtor as to where to price your home. The goal is to sell for the highest price in the shortest amount of time!
