Can You Get Zillow to Change Zestimate?

It is now very common for a home buyer to check home prices online before contacting a real estate agent. The internet has clearly changed the real estate market significantly. One of the most popular websites where home buyers get price information about property is Zillow.

Zillow gets information from public records and adds it to data submitted by users to appraise a house and come up with an estimate of the property's value. The appraisal is what is called a Zestimate. As per its definition, it is clear to see that a Zestimate is an approximation at best and can include significant margins of error. However, the average Zestimate margin of error is about 5%. A proper appraisal is vital to know what your home is truly worth.

Much of the information used to come up with a Zestimate is outdated with some of it being plainly wrong. Therefore, if you add more data to your property's Zillow profile, you can change the Zestimate. Up until recently it took a substantial amount of time for Zillow to evaluate the data and make a change to your Zestimate. That is no longer the case. Home owners can input new data and their Zestimate will change immediately.

Not every bit of data will affect the Zestimate but the more data about your home you add to Zillow, the higher the accuracy of its Zestimate. The algorithm that Zillow uses to come up with the Zestimate is only as good as the information the homeowners submit.

It should be very clear that the estimate is a starting point to evaluating a property's value and is not an accurate appraisal. It is also paramount to note that any information you add about your home on Zillow should be made before your house is listed for sale. The listing presentation is an opportune time to make home fact changes.

You can change your Zestimate on Zillow by following these steps:

1. Log on to Zillow's website or app
2. Find your home and claim it. Use the "More" dropdown to locate the "Verify your ownership" tab. Ensure that you are indeed the home's owner. Even if the home is owned by multiple people, only one name should appear on under 'homeowner'
3. Select your home type
4. Edit the facts about your home. Changes you can make may involve:

• Home type (single family, multi-family, etc.)
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of baths
• Lot size
• Year built
• Remodel year
• Basement and garage square footage
• HOA dues
• Room details (like appliances, flooring, or specific amenities)

1. Type a description of your home which should answer the question "What do I love about my home?" Photos and videos are also recommended. The more detail you add the easier it will be to find your property in subsequent searches.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and save the changes you have made
3. You will be able to see your new and improved Zestimate immediately. You should also receive a confirmation email from Zillow notifying you of the change to your Zestimate.

As stated earlier, not all data will lead to a change in your Zestimate so do not be alarmed if the change does not meet your expectations. It is also advised to be realistic and not exaggerate information about your home to have a larger Zestimate. A more accurate and realistic process will undoubtedly ease the process of selling your property when the time is nigh.

If you have any problems with your Zestimate after following the process above, you can notify Zillow's customer service department. Their contact information can be acquired from GetHuman.