Where Zillow Zestimates Fall Short

Zillow’s Algorithm is not all bad, but where it works best is in areas with cookie-cutter homes and consistent sales data. In a diverse, neighborhood driven market like Chattanooga, it can get complicated and is not always reliable. Here is why Zillow Zestimates can be off by tens of thousands:

• Unique Homes: Many areas in Chattanooga such as North Shore, Red Bank, and St. Elmo, have homes with wildly different styles, layouts, or ages even on the same street.
• Outdated Info: If recent renovations have not been recorded in public data, they will not show up, or be accounted for in your home’s Zestimate.
• Neighborhood Nuance: Zillow can’t always account for school zones, traffic patterns, or views from different sides of the road, all of which can affect your home’s value.  
• Market Movement: In fast changing markets, Zestimates can lag behind what buyers are actually paying.

So, How Do You Find Out What Your Home Is Worth? If you are seriously thinking about selling, refinancing, or just want a clear picture of your equity, you will need A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This is a detailed, hyper-local review of Recent comparable sales, Active competition on the market, Current buyer demand, and Adjustments for your home’s features. It is not automated, it’s created by a real person (hi, that’s us 👋) who knows your neighborhood inside and out.  Sometimes, it takes walking through your home, or at least seeing detailed photos, to factor in condition, upgrades, and layout that all may affect marketability and value.

Bottom Line, Zestimates are like checking WebMD; they might point you in the right direction, but they are no substitute for a professional. If you're making any financial decisions around your home, get a real opinion based on real data.