Home Values are Not Plug and Play
Whereas a computer might pick out parameters from a data set to determine that house ’ s value , real estate agents are the ones actually stepping foot in those houses . And what they find isn ’ t always caught by the algorithms . It takes an inperson inspection to truly determine the state of a home . There are factors such as the mold smell inside a house , or poor plumbing that can only be found through the eyes “ and nose ” of someone with experience .
In fact , this is where Zillow Offers truly set itself up for failure . It ’ s no secret the housing market has exploded as of late , but that doesn ’ t mean the houses going up for sale are perfect specimens . Zillow ’ s algorithm assumed that the repairs necessary to prepare these houses for market were ( a ) quick , ( b ) cheap , or ( c ) easily identified and addressed .
As time went on , Zillow ’ s software soon learned how hard it is to flip a large number of houses , especially with the rise in building materials prices and the aftereffects of a global pandemic . The get in , fix up quick , get out approach may work for reality TV stars , but real life isn ’ t so predictable . It takes expert eyes to gather the information about a home and come up with a wellresearched estimate that goes beyond the facts to consider reality .
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
RealWorld Warning Signs to Look For
● Water damage : rust , leaks , mold , etc .
● Warped walls
● Vintage fixtures
● Doors that stick
● Misshapen insulation
● Uncodumented work with no building permit ( s )
● Water flow issues
● Cracks in walls , ceiling , foundation
● Damage otherwise ( poorly ) covered up
As you can see , there ’ s much more to buying and selling a house than just what shows up in the pictures . If you want to make a house your home , choose wisely . It could end up saving you thousands , both in terms of dollars and hours lost to headaches and frustration .
The Value of a Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents know the home better than almost anyone else . They know what to look for when it comes to pushing past the staging to seek out the
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay cracks . When you hire a real estate agent , you ’ re setting yourself up for success by choosing experience .
As Zillow found out , it ’ s realworld experience that separates the computer algorithm from reality . A computer might just see the three bedroom , two bath home as a prime buy for the area in which it ’ s located . The experienced real estate agent , however , knows that this particular house , so close to a school , may appeal more to young families than anyone else .
Hiring a real estate agent might seem unnecessary for some folks . But when you enter into a relationship with a real person , you ’ re gaining their experience and their connection to a world you may not know a lot about . Think of them more as a guide and you may begin to see the value of a real estate agent , no matter if you ’ re looking for a property to buy or wanting to sell the one you ’ re in .
Take it From Zillow
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