Tips from Real Estate Professionals on Boosting Your Home's Zillow Value: Insights on Achieving High Zestimates
Going Green, Getting Zest: The Insider's Guide to Boosting Your Zestimate
For many Americans, peeping their home's value on Zillow has become a digital-age tradition - part curiosity, part self-aggrandizement. The Zestimate, available for both on and off-market homes, serves as a solid reference for buyers, sellers, and the neighborhood gossips.
With the real estate landscape rocky these days, knowing the Zestimate's ins and outs, as well as the secrets to manipulate it, is crucial for sellers. Zillow, a property valuation titan, generates estimates for properties in the US and Canada by munching through countless data points, providing a timely approximate of your home's worth.
But fret not, dear sellers, with the right information, you can nudge that Zestimate upward.
Zillow's algorithm finds shelter under the umbrella of public records, recent sales, tax data, and user-submitted details. It factors in square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, location, and, if necessary, the number of days on the market to estimate a home's value.
In cities like Atlanta, San Diego, and Cincinnati, the Zestimate nail-bitingly toes the line of accuracy, typically getting within 20 percent of the actual sale price for more than 99 percent of listed homes.
Yet, many homeowners blissfully unaware, they've got the power to update their property's info on Zillow themselves. This little act can sometimes lead to a higher Zestimate.
Chief economist at Redfin, Daryl Fairweather, adds that including buyer demand to the equation is also paramount.
Now, let us spill some insights, because homeowners can't always count on Zillow to catch their renovations or upgrades:
Reveal the Hidden Value
When homeowners take their properties for a face-lift, like kitchen makeovers or the addition of another bedroom, that added value may go unnoticed by Zillow.
Those amazing upgrades can only show up in the final figure if you bring 'em to your local tax assessor's attention and make the update on Zillow.
Sell High, Sell Smart
Savvy sellers know the trick: manipulate the Zestimate to maximize their home's value. With a little effort, you too can join the league of smart sellers who elevate their homes' price tags.
The tool isn't infallible; it's only as accurate as the data it feasts on. Claim your property on Zillow and, with some strategic moves, you can trick the system into handing you the highest price tag you can wrangle.
Claiming your home on Zillow means confirming you're the homeowner, granting you access to insights and tools to manage your property.
When you update your home's details, the Zestimate adjusts, and you'll see a rise in your estimated value.
Zillow's got a home sale proceeds calculator, too. It'll crunch the numbers and tell you the final profits after you cough up fees like repairs, closing costs, and the realtor's fee.
Selling is imminent? Zillow offers its own directory of local estate agents. These pros know your specific 'hood like the back of their hand, and they'll help you grab the highest possible price.
So, there you have it, folks - the lowdown on manipulating your Zestimate for maximum gain. Happy selling!
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
- As a homeowner, updating your property's details on Zillow can sometimes lead to a higher Zestimate, enabling you to potentially sell your home at a higher price.
- Sellers can manipulate the Zestimate to maximize their home's value by claiming their property on Zillow, confirming they're the homeowners, and using strategic moves to trick the system into handing a higher estimated value.
- By carefully updating your home's details and using Zillow's tools, such as the home sale proceeds calculator and its directory of local estate agents, you can increase your chances of selling your property at the highest possible price.
