Investopedia: What to Do About Inaccurate Redfin and Zillow Home Value Estimates

They may be using outdated data to put a price on your home


Many homebuyers rely on real estate apps like Zillow and Redfin to focus their searches based on price, location, and time on the market. Many sellers also rely on the apps’ home value estimators to help them set a price.


However, the Redfin Estimate and the Zillow Zestimate aren’t always accurate. Here is what you can do about it as a homeowner...

June 14, 2026
Can I Trust the ‘Zestimate’ for My Home on Zillow? | New York Times Real Estate Q&A Pretty remarkable statement in the middle of this short article: A Sotheby's agent is quoted as saying, "He has never heard of a tax assessor relying on a Zestimate." Don't rely on algorithmic valuations for your property's value. These estimates are interesting, but anything but the final word. Read the paywalled article on NYTimes.com >
3 reasons online home value estimates fail
April 13, 2026
Why Your Zillow Estimate is Wrong | What Your Home is Actually Worth | Pauly Campanaro Discover the 3 reasons online home value estimates fail: they can't account for condition (your $40K kitchen remodel), they lag behind the market (using 60-90 day old data), and they don't know your competition (what's hitting the market this week). Learn why pricing right matters: homes priced correctly sell 19 days faster and for 3.8% more ($15K+ on a $400K home). Excerpted from this video posted by Pauly Campanaro:
Screenshot of a Twitter post by Ryan Lundquist, discussing a property's Zestimate history and price changes.
September 15, 2023
@SacAppraiser | Ryan Lundquist Zestimate history. This property in Roseville listed at $349K, and the Zestimate matched the list price at $349K despite comps being above $600K. After 11 days the price went to $699K (sold $638K). Today's Zestimate shows no history of $349K. Maybe a brief Zestimate gets erased?
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