Online estimates can't capture your upgrades, your views, or a market that shifts by price point. Here's why true value takes a human, not an algorithm.

How accurate are the home valuations you find online? It's a question we're getting asked a lot right now, and for good reason. If you've been paying attention, you've noticed there's been quite a shift in the numbers those websites are showing. Sometimes you just get the itch to check, or a home sells down the road and it makes you wonder what your own place is worth. The key thing to understand is that while those online valuations are certainly convenient and instant, they aren't always accurate.

Online tools run on a zip-code algorithm. These estimates are automated, based on an algorithm tied to your zip code, and as you probably know, your zip code is anything but uniform. It holds all sorts of different neighborhoods, different calibers of build, different updates, and different price points. Right now we're in a very dynamic market where there's practically a different market for every price point, and an automated tool simply can't capture that when it hands you a quick number. It's the same reason these online home value tools are only as reliable as the broad data behind them, and if you've ever wondered how accurate a Zillow Zestimate really is, the answer comes down to exactly this.

“An algorithm has never walked through your home the way a buyer would.”

An algorithm can't see inside your home. The other thing these tools miss is everything that makes your home yours. They can't pick up the upgrades and improvements you've made along the way, and they can't account for the nuances of your yard, your views, and your vistas. The algorithm is only working off your zip code and the area around you. It's somewhat smart and pulls data, but it isn't as accurate as human intelligence because it has never experienced the home the way a buyer would. This is a big part of why we always talk through what your home is really worth rather than trusting a screen.

True value takes a licensed professional. If you want real market value, the experience of a licensed professional is the way to get there. We come in and look at all the features and benefits an online website can't capture: the views, the vistas, the updates, and then we apply that to the current market dynamics for your specific property. That's the same careful read that goes into the factors that actually determine a home's value, and it's something no algorithm can replicate. 

So if you're curious what your home is worth in today's market, reach out. We'd be honored to do a complimentary, no-cost analysis of your value. Call or text us at (651) 998-9829, email us at info@holzgroup.com, or visit holzlifestylehomes.com. We'd love to give you a number you can actually count on.