Updates it can't see
A new roof, impact windows, or a remodeled kitchen often isn't in public records.
AI VS. LOCAL EXPERTISE
How Accurate Is
Zillow's Zestimate?
AI gives you a guess. We give you a number you can sell at.
The short answer
It depends on the house. For a typical home in a busy subdivision, the Zestimate can land close. For anything unusual, it can miss by tens of thousands of dollars. The Zestimate is a computer model. It knows what's in public records and what nearby homes sold for. It has never walked through your house.
Why Zestimates miss on the Treasure Coast
Waterfront and views
Two homes on the same street can be worth very different amounts if one is on the water.
Flood zone and insurance
Insurance cost changes what buyers will pay, and the model doesn't weigh it the way buyers do.
55+ and land-lease communities
These sell differently than standard homes, and the model often struggles with them.
Condition
A home that needs work and one that's move-in ready can look the same in the data.
HOA fees and amenities
A gated community with a golf course and a high monthly fee is hard to price by formula.
What we see in our own sales
One thing surprises most homeowners: after a home sells, Zillow updates the Zestimate to almost match the sale price. One Vero Beach home we sold for $228,000 now shows a Zestimate of $228,100. So if you check the Zestimate on a recently sold home, it's matching the result, not predicting it. The number that matters is what Zillow said before the home went on the market.
Frequently asked questions
Sometimes close, sometimes not. An appraiser visits the home, checks its condition, and picks comparable sales by hand. A Zestimate does none of that.
Zillow updates it as new sales and public records come in. A nearby sale can move your number up or down even if nothing changed at your house.
You can claim your home on Zillow and update details like bedrooms or upgrades. That can shift the estimate, but it still won't account for everything a buyer sees in person.
We don't recommend it. Pricing too high costs you time on the market. Pricing too low leaves money on the table. A local market analysis uses the actual homes your buyers are comparing yours to.
Want a real number?
We'll look at your home, pull the right comparable sales, and give you a price range you can actually list at. No cost, no pressure.
Peter White 772-284-1419 | Kate Ward 772-342-4006 | RE/MAX Gold
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