Forget online websites and tools— Only an expert agent can give you an accurate value of your home.
In today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated tools for everything. But while tools like Zillow’s Zestimate might be easy to use, those automated estimates you’re seeing often miss key details that affect the true market value of your home. Relying on this skewed data can hurt you later done the road, especially if you are currently looking to sell your home in 2025.
Before you toss up a for sale sign in your yard, it’s vital to understand why these tools generally aren’t spot-on and why working with an expert real estate agent is the best way to get an accurate picture of what your house is really worth.
The Myth: Online Home Value Estimates Are Accurate
Online home valuation tools give you an approximate value for your house based on the data that’s publicly available for your home. While this can give you a rough starting point, the keyword here is rough. According to Zillow’s own website, their Zestimate accuracy can vary based on the location and type of sale:
The nationwide median error rate for the Zestimate for on-market homes is 2.4%, while the Zestimate for off-market homes has a median error rate of 7.49%.
When selling your home, relying on an inaccurate home value is a trap many sellers fall into that can impede the selling process. A home priced too high may turn away potential buyers, while a home priced too low will leave
The Reality: Online Estimates Miss Key Factors
Here’s the biggest issue with online estimates: they don’t take into account the unique aspects of your home or your local market. And that’s why an agent’s expertise can make such a difference when figuring out what your house is really worth. When performing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), your real estate agent will factor in:
- The Home’s Condition: Online tools can’t tell whether your home has been well-maintained or if it needs significant repairs. The condition of your house plays a huge role in its value, and only an in-person walk-through and home inspections can account for that.
- The Latest Neighborhood Trends: Is your neighborhood up-and-coming? Are there new developments, amenities, or award-winning schools nearby that make your home more desirable? Automated tools often overlook local trends that can significantly affect the value of your home.
- Accurate Comparable Sales: While online estimates may use past sales data as a baseline, they don’t always reflect the most recent or most relevant comparable sales. Real estate agents, on the other hand, have access to up-to-date market data and can give you a much more accurate estimate based on real-time sales in your area.
And one of the most important factors that separates Zillow and Redwin from an agent? Agents have a deep understanding of the local market and years of experience selling other homes in the area, meaning they can provide personalized insights that automated tools simply can’t match. As Bankrate writer TJ Porter explains:
“Automated home value estimators are useful, but they can’t replace the human expertise of a real estate agent or professional appraiser. Whether you’re looking to buy a new home or sell your current home, work with an agent who knows your local market well to get a better understanding of the home’s value.”
Bottom Line
While online home value estimates can be a helpful tool to get a rough idea of what your home is worth, they aren’t foolproof. The true value of your home depends on a range of factors that automated tools just can’t account for.
To get the most accurate estimate, connect with your local Seven Gables agent to determine the value of your home before you sell. That way you have expert guidance and up-to-date market insights to set the best possible price for your home.
