Why You Shouldn't Rely on Zillow

Okay, here’s the deal. We all love Zillow. Even I love Zillow. As a realtor who works for both buyers and sellers, I have a love/hate relationship with Zillow. We all have the app on our phone and search it daily with our other social media accounts to see what has come on the market overnight or what homes have had price reductions in our desirable areas. But that doesn’t mean I would ever recommend buying a house with only Zillow as your guide. Zillow, while easy to use and fun to browse, is not up to date when it comes to available listings. You can waste a lot of time trying to act as your own realtor with Zillow as your main resource.

I’ve listed out some of the major pitfalls I’ve seen buyers run in to when they’re using Zillow, so hopefully this helps you avoid wasting precious time in our already competitive housing market. Happy house hunting!

Are the Zillow Estimates Accurate: Not Always

Zillow is definitely a good starting point if you’re interested in a house, but you have to remember that Zillow’s estimates are based on automated algorithms. They don’t take into account the condition or finish of a home or even its curb appeal. That’s part of why it’s helpful to have a realtor who can be honest and objective about what they think is a fair asking price on a home.

But also, Missouri is a non-disclosure state. That means while Zillow will show you the accurate price of what the home is listed for, it has no idea what it sold for and if there were closing costs or other figures involved in the final sale. This is where your realtor can provide ample support because we have access to that information. If you’re the buyer, we know if you’re getting ripped off, and if you’re the seller, we can help determine the best list price for your home based on the final numbers of what comparable homes have sold for within the past six months to a year. 

Ultimately, a home is only worth what the market will bear and what a buyer will give.

Can Your Home’s Value Be Less Than What’s Listed on Zillow: Yes

From a listing agent perspective, it is disheartening when I am meeting with a seller and my valuation of their home is very different from the Zestimate they had been counting on. It is a big bummer, but it does happen. A client I met with last year was saddened to realize their home was not worth the $300,000+ Zillow said it was worth but rather only $225,000. But that is what I am here for—to provide an accurate evaluation of their home, so we can sell it quickly and for the best price. My goal is to not only educate my sellers but to also help them sell their house. I always say I’m not in this business to help clients keep their homes, so that means listing the house for the right price.

Are Homes Listed on Zillow Still Active Listings: Sometimes

This is my biggest complaint about sites like Zillow and Trulia. I’ve seen so many buyers find their “dream” home only to discover that the Zillow listing hasn’t been updated, and the home is already under contract.

Is it Okay to Send Your Realtor a Zillow Listing You Like: Always

I do not mind at all when a client sends me a home they are interested in on Zillow. It gives me a glimpse of what they are interested in and allows me the opportunity to go and preview that home and report back to them.

It is also helpful because sometimes it is hard for a buyer to tell me exactly what they are looking for, and sometimes, the Zillow listing might contradict what they have told me they’re interested in and what their budget is. Sharing a Zillow listing is a way to get a better visual of what a buyer likes.