Since its founding in 2006, Zillow has become one of the most popular places to search for a home. Whether you’re a recent retiree who is serious about finding the perfect place to spend time with your grandkids or a daydreamer who idly scrolls through properties for personal enjoyment, you’re likely to be familiar with Zillow’s listings. Yet, for people who are determined to find their perfect home at the right price, Zillow is not the most reliable way to navigate the twists and turns of today’s complicated housing market. So, let’s learn a little bit more about the best ways to begin your search for a new home by keeping tabs on why Zillow may not be the right option for you.
Zillow limits your options
As agents who have worked in the real estate market for a long time will tell you, many homes are sold before they ever officially hit the market. For people searching for homes for a long time, you may be familiar with houses listed as “coming soon to market,” which often means they are still unavailable for viewings and tours. Even when homes are listed this way, people with market savvy, including knowledgeable real estate agents, know that these houses are often available to be purchased sight unseen before they are listed on sites like Zillow. This means that if you exclusively scroll websites like Zillow, you’re likely to miss out on huge portions of houses in incredible neighborhoods that might meet your needs just because of the limitations of the website.
When homes are on the market for a very short time, they’re also not likely to make it to Zillow, so many of the most remarkable homes that are snatched up quickly by informed buyers will be missed by those who are conducting their search exclusively through websites like Zillow. If you are hoping to get the inside edge on an exceptional property in Denver, the best way to proceed is to contact a skilled real estate agent like Anne Dresser Kocur. Talking to agents who have specific knowledge of local real estate is always better than depending on websites that deal with real estate on a national scale.
Zillow’s facts and figures can be misleading
Zillow features a tool known as the “Zestimate,” which promises that most estimates on the value of the home that you’re considering on their website will fall within a 10% margin of error. As real estate agents who have worked with luxury homes will tell you, this margin of error can mean a great sum of money. Why risk burning so much more money than is necessary when a knowledgeable local professional can help you to understand the area’s market trends with their years of experience working in the region?
Whether you are searching for new homes in Greenwood Village or you hope to find Castle Pines Village real estate, it’s essential to realize that you cannot trust Zillow’s facts and figures when it comes to estimates on home values. It’s crucial to consider other ways to determine the value of a home than using the “Zestimate” alone. If you’re using “Zestimates” to consider how much you should be offering on your next home, you risk doing yourself the disservice of not having the most up-to-date information on the house and getting a worse deal than what you’re hoping for.
Zillow’s tools are just guiding principles that are best taken as comprehensive guidelines if they are to be used. Instead, a much safer way to ensure that you are getting the most value out of the home you’re considering purchasing is to work with a local real estate agent who knows specific details about the property and comparable homes in the area.
Local agents have contacts with local sellers
It’s easy to see why so many people are drawn to Zillow when they first begin their search. It’s a seemingly user-friendly website that allows new buyers to imagine their lives in various nationally-listed properties in their desired location. Yet, this emphasis on national sales makes it so that Zillow lacks the personal care that a dedicated local agent can offer as you continue your search. That’s why Zillow ultimately isn’t user-friendly: it can’t provide you with the in-depth information and personalized care that helps you guarantee that you get the right home for you.
Beyond the lack of personalization, Zillow also can’t guarantee the accuracy of information of an agent who lives in the community and is more likely to have an ongoing rapport with the sellers. Crucially, working with a local agent allows you to understand in the clearest way possible if the price that the home is being sold at is fair for what is being offered — Zillow can not accurately offer you this information. If you’re considering buying a home in the greater Denver area, it’s also worth noting the lived experiences that Denver area realtors can speak to you about. It’s a notable quality difference when someone has spent a lifetime of care dedicated to building a fair, high-quality business in one area than working with a primarily automated company that has its concerns spread across the entire country. That’s why organizations that take the time to carefully tell you about Denver neighborhoods will be much better avenues for beginning your home search than websites like Zillow.
Buying a new home is a process that is equal parts intimidating and invigorating. To ensure that you have the best homebuying experience that you can have, there is no agent better suited to helping you meet your needs than Anne Dresser Kocur. To learn more about her valuable services, browse her website and consider contacting her today to get started on finding your ideal Denver oasis.
