Zillow's an interesting breed. It's a great tool for a seller's agent to use because if people are referring to neighborhoods using Zillow, they'll see the "for sale" sign. However, can you accurately identify your home's value?
In older Sacramento neighborhoods, where houses are not the same, it's virtually impossible for algorithms to create formulas where a property's details are unknown. Sure, if you're living in a tract home, it's a lot closer. But for stable neighborhoods where homes haven't sold, it doesn't seem to work.
Why do I believe this? Because my neighborhood in South Land Park is entirely custom built. And our neighbor is an original owner. They have a double lot, pool, and a HUGE house that I have never seen, let alone Zillow. It's a highly desirable school area and an elegant property. Yet Zillow thinks $805K. They may be right, but what if they have unpermitted/unreferenced add-ons? Or their pool is wrought with issues? Or the house itself is a wreck?
To get a home selling estimate in Sacramento, I need to view the house, compare the neighbors, learn the community details and look at MLS to see where competitive properties are listed and selling today.
