The Truth About Zillow’s Zestimate and Your Real Home Value

If you’re thinking about selling your home, chances are you’ve already checked your Zillow Zestimate. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can also be wildly inaccurate.

Here’s why:

1️⃣ No Local Expertise
Zillow uses algorithms that don’t account for Charlotte’s neighborhood-by-neighborhood differences. Ballantyne, Marvin, Indian Land, and Myers Park homes may be just a few miles apart, but they command very different prices.

2️⃣ Condition Blindness
Zillow doesn’t know if you’ve renovated your kitchen, updated your HVAC, or finished your basement. Two homes may look the same on paper, but sell for very different amounts in reality.

3️⃣ Lagging Data
Zestimates rely on public records, which are often outdated. In a fast moving market like ours, even a 30 day lag can throw off your home’s true value.

4️⃣ Appraisal vs. Algorithm
Buyers, lenders, and appraisers look at actual comparable sales. Zillow looks at a formula. And that’s a big difference.

✅ How I Help Sellers Get It Right

When you work with me:

• You get a custom Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) using the latest MLS data.

• I factor in your home’s unique upgrades and condition.

• I track trends in South Charlotte, Ballantyne, Fort Mill, Marvin, and Indian Land to price your home competitively, and strategically.

Bottom line: A Zestimate might give you a ballpark, but if you’re serious about selling, you need a trusted local professional who knows the market on the ground.