Home Valuation

Why Knowing The Value Of Your Home Is Important-And Why A Zillow Zestimate Is Not An Accurate Tool.

If you’re using a Zillow Zestimate to get an accurate home valuation, you may get a skewed result, which could then affect your home’s listing price. While Zillow has historically provided relatively accurate estimates based on the year the home was built, the number of bedrooms, square footage, and other quantitative data, they’ve recently changed their algorithm. Even when Zillow was fairly accurate, it still provided only an estimate as opposed to a true valuation done by an appraiser or Comparative Market Analysis. Here’s how to get an accurate home valuation and why relying on Zillow or similar sites is usually a bad idea. Outstanding client service, experienced business practices, and ingenious marketing strategies are what make our team the most trusted team in the area.Outstanding client service, experienced business practices, and ingenious marketing strategies is what makes our team the most trusted team in the area.

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What is a Home Valuation?

A home valuation is just a fancy way of saying what the value of your home is. They are used during real estate transactions such as buy-sell or refinances to ensure homeowners or buyers are not overborrowing for a property. The home is used for collateral in a mortgage, and if the borrower defaults on his or her loan, the lender will sell the home to recoup the money lent to buy it. If the home was overvalued and they lent too much, they could lose money. The home valuation ensures they will be able to recoup costs should the mortgage not be paid in full.

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What is a Zillow Zestimate?

A Zillow Zestimate is an automated home valuation tool and is recommended as a starting point when determining the value of your home. It incorporates user-submitted and public data and takes into account home facts, location, and market conditions. Zestimates are done entirely online, and no representative of Zillow will visit your home to perform an appraisal. Banks and lenders do not use Zillow or similar services to estimate property and instead rely on the expertise of a licensed appraiser. A Zestimate can be off by nearly 5% nearly 40% of the time in some markets, which amounts to around $15,000 on a $300,000 home.

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What is the Main Difference Between a Zillow Zestimate and a Valuation Performed by an Agent?

The main difference between the two is that a Zillow Zestimate is simply an algorithm. You punch in data, and a value pops out. There is no actual human involved who views your home, compares it against others on the market, and produces a detailed report. When an agent conducts a valuation, they are actively involved in the process and create a valuation that is personalized and in-depth.

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MICHELLE C.

MICHELLE C.

Words cannot express our gratitude to Kristen for securing us our first home. We found her by chance, referred to us by another agent we randomly contacted from an advertisement on another real estate app. Said the agent did no...
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SHELLY M.

SHELLY M.

Kristin changed our lives. My husband and I had become exhausted from looking at countless homes that weren’t right for our family. Then covid hit and we hit the brakes on our new home dreams because we didn’t think we would be...
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ZACK R.

ZACK R.

Kristen is a joy to work with. We found Kristen by accident, but we are so thankful we met her. From showing homes to answering calls and questions, she always made time for us. I was amazed at how quickly Kristen responded to ...
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GENE T.

GENE T.

Kristen is very responsive, very knowledgeable, and has a good sense of humor to go along with her many skills. She very quickly understood our need to acquire a condo in the Monterey area and helped us focus. She is very quick...
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MELISSA M.

MELISSA M.

We were so lucky to find Kristen as our real estate agent to find a home in Carmel! She was referred by a friend who she also helped find a home. We appreciated Kristen's excellent knowledge of the Carmel area and the entire Mo...
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GARRETT K.

GARRETT K.

Kristin helped us buy our current home and sell our previous home. She was great, on top of her stuff, and coordinated every detail for us. The home we were selling was one we had poured our whole heart into, but our family had...
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TAHNEE J.

TAHNEE J.

My husband and I were relatively new to the Monterey area and unsure about neighborhoods. Kristen is a local who helped with any questions regarding our concerns. This was our first time purchasing a home. She was very clear an...
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KAREN L.

KAREN L.

Kristen did a phenomenal job helping us find and buy the right home for us in Monterey. So glad that Zillow connected us. Kristen carefully listened to our needs and showed us condos that she thought best suited us. When a home...
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BUYER

BUYER

My husband and I have bought and sold properties from our own to the estates of our parents! Kristen was amazing. In the middle of the process of our loan, the lender gave us an unreasonable interest rate. Kristen was able to t...
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BIANCA N.

BIANCA N.

Kristen makes the buying/selling process so much easier than I could've imagined. I've used her for both and wouldn't want anyone one else in the area. She's super knowledgeable and always made herself available for any questio...
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BUYER

BUYER

Kristen is an incredibly driven, resourceful, and talented REALTOR. I cannot recommend her enough. If given the opportunity, you will not be disappointed in your experience with having her buy or sell you your home. She knows t...
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BIANCA N.

BIANCA N.

As first-time home buyers, my husband and I could not have gotten any luckier to have gotten to work with Kristen. She was extremely knowledgeable about the market and area we were looking to buy into and she was always sweet a...
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BUYER

BUYER

Kristen went above and beyond throughout the home-buying process. I was a first-time home buyer and due to Covid, I could not travel to Monterey. She helped me find a house and took care of everything including arranging inspec...
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BUYER

BUYER

Top-notch service from start to finish in helping me find the right home. A dedicated professional who treated my home purchase as if I was a VIP client. Gave great referrals for assistance with finance and shared her expertise...
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BUYER

BUYER

Kristen our REALTOR was a gem. Polite, approachable, extremely helpful, and knowledgeable. Assisted us through a change of lenders halfway through our purchase. She responded within minutes to calls and texts. Not pushy at all ...
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DAVID G.

DAVID G.

Superlative agent who guided me through the purchase of my new home. Faced with some complexity in the purchase of our new home she was up to the challenge. Outstanding and friendly service who was a pleasure to deal with on al...
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BUYER

BUYER

Thoroughly familiar with the Carmel and Monterey area. Always on top of things and available. Her cheerful personality made it a pleasure to work with her. Thanks to her alertness, diligence, and negotiating skills we were able...
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JOY A.

JOY A.

She is so nice to work with. As first-time buyers, we needed an agent that is willing to explain to us everything. She is very patient. Listened to her her buyer’s need, and gave us inputs and suggestions. She advocated for us ...
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TAWNI T.

TAWNI T.

Very helpful in buying our home. Christina offered a great deal of knowledge about the process and kept me from being overwhelmed with all that is normal in-house buying. I’m so grateful to have her as our agent. Honestly could...
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JEOVANNI ALICEA A.

JEOVANNI ALICEA A.

Kristen is a professional agent with vast knowledge and expertise, who will work diligently to find a perfect fit for her clients. Kristen helped me and my wife in both buying and selling our home, and I can’t be any happier th...
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How is a Valuation Performed?

There are two accurate ways to perform home valuations: with a Comparative Market Analysis and an appraisal. ​​​​​​​Here is how the two differ:

Why is a Valuation Important?

Though getting a valuation in order to sell your home is the most common reason to get a home valuation, it’s not the only one. ​​​​​​​Here are some more situations when a home valuation may be necessary:

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