Manipulating Zillow Values?

Manipulating Zillow Values?

Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 283 votes
Is there a way to "manipulate" Zillow values? I'm under contract on a triplex and have noticed the Zestimate value swing from $164k-$200k back and forth over the course of several weeks. My hunch is that the owner or realtor is doing something to manipulate the estimate. I know that Zestimates tend to be less than accurate, so it doesn't really matter BUT if there are tips or tricks to help home values look better online, I'd like to know them ;) Any thoughts on this?
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Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, MN · Member since 2017 · 518 posts · 354 votes
9y

I've really lost any faith in Zillow values in the last year. My own houses have bounced up and down constantly. My neighbor has a house for sale for $499,000 and zillow says it's worth $295,000.  https://www.zillow.com/savedhomes/for_sale/1159609...

It says that my house that I just paid $220,000 for is worth $186,000. Then there are horrible repo houses that I wouldn't pay more than $10,000 grand for that they say are worth $65,000.

I messed around with my listing some when I was selling to see if I could change it for the better and it really didn't make a difference. It will be interesting to see if anyone has any more insight into how they price them.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, MN · Member since 2017 · 518 posts · 354 votes
    9y

    I've really lost any faith in Zillow values in the last year. My own houses have bounced up and down constantly. My neighbor has a house for sale for $499,000 and zillow says it's worth $295,000.  https://www.zillow.com/savedhomes/for_sale/1159609...

    It says that my house that I just paid $220,000 for is worth $186,000. Then there are horrible repo houses that I wouldn't pay more than $10,000 grand for that they say are worth $65,000.

    I messed around with my listing some when I was selling to see if I could change it for the better and it really didn't make a difference. It will be interesting to see if anyone has any more insight into how they price them.

  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    9y

    Yes you can manipulate Zillow values. I make edits to a property every time I sell a property to bring the Zestimate up.

  • Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 283 votes
    9y
    Russell Brazil can you share a bit more detail on what you add to impact the Zestimate?
  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Ericka G.:

    Russell Brazil can you share a bit more detail on what you add to impact the Zestimate?

     I'd be curious to hear about this as well. Great question Ericka!

  • Rental Property Investor · Charlevoix, MI · Member since 2016 · 51 posts · 13 votes
    9y

    @Ericka G. go sign into your Zillow and claim a house that you own, basically tell Zillow you own the home. Then update all the info, such as; barbecue pit, sun porch. You can also add items like dishwasher, garbage disposal, central air, the type of flooring, if you have a laundry room. The more info Zillow has to go off or items you update it with usually increases your zestimate

  • Curtis BidwellPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Olympia, WA · Member since 2014 · 781 posts · 744 votes
    9y

    @Ericka G. I just updated one of my properties that we will be selling in May and increased the Zestimate by $68,000!  I wanted it to show the updated value before listing (preferably more than 30 days so it doesn't show a huge 1 month change). 

    As @Adam Daneff said, you need an account and then claim the home as owner. Then you will have the option to update square footage, lot size, home style, features, add pictures, give a description, etc.   Definitely worth checking each of your properties to make sure the info they have is accurate. 

  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Curtis Bidwell:

    @Ericka G. I just updated one of my properties that we will be selling in May and increased the Zestimate by $68,000!  I wanted it to show the updated value before listing (preferably more than 30 days so it doesn't show a huge 1 month change). 

    As @Adam Daneff said, you need an account and then claim the home as owner. Then you will have the option to update square footage, lot size, home style, features, add pictures, give a description, etc.   Definitely worth checking each of your properties to make sure the info they have is accurate. 

     This is great information. Thank you for sharing!

  • Real Estate Broker · Manchester, NH · Member since 2014 · 630 posts · 420 votes
    9y

    In May, Zillow will be disabling the manual input of any information for real estate agents.  Owners will still have the ability to put information into Zillow, but I suspect that process will become less effective as time goes on.  To your original point @Ericka G., it is not something that you should be concerned about.  If its already under contract, you're good to go!  No appraiser is going to go onto Zillow to find out how much the property is worth :)

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