Thinking Outside of the Zillow Box

by Brandon Cornett

I've heard a lot of agents discussing Zillow.com lately. My s advice is to view Zillow.com in the proper perspective.

A Closer Look at Zillow.com

The data Zillow provides is nothing new. The way they interpret and present the data is new, but the data itself has always been publicly available. Zillow has just simplified the data acquisition process and created clever phrases like the "Zestimate," fancy talk for their own best guess.

They say it themselves on their website: "We've done the legwork by getting huge amounts of data...and creating something unique that the public sources don't provide - a Zestimate..."

Why I'm Not a Mechanic

Let's imagine there was a website where I could enter a description of car trouble I was having: engine lags when accelerating, blue smoke comes from exhaust pipes, etc.

That website might give me a rough idea of what the problem is. It might even give me detailed instructions on repairing these potential problems, and an estimate of how long it might take. But that doesn't make me a mechanic. And it doesn't make me any more inclined to perform the repairs myself. That's what a professional mechanic is for.

Sure, I might take this diagnosis to a mechanic and say, "Here's what I think the problem is." But I'll still need the mechanic's help.

Now consider the fact that houses cost 10, 20, or 30 times more than a car (Rolls Royce aside), and you'll see my point.

Just because I know how much a house might be worth doesn't mean I'm ready to write up a contract and steer the sales process myself. That's a big undertaking that requires professional help.

Zillow is a number cruncher. It can't listen to clients. It can't look out for their interests and respect their needs. It can't offer them unique advice for unique situations. And it can't help them adapt to unforeseen challenges.

In short, it's no replacement for a real estate agent.