Home Valuation

If you’re using a Zillow Zestimate to get an accurate home valuation, you may get a skewed result, which could then affect your home’s listing price. While Zillow has historically provided relatively accurate estimates based on the year the home was built, the number of bedrooms, square footage, and other quantitative data, they’ve recently changed their algorithm. Even when Zillow was fairly accurate, it still provided only an estimate as opposed to a true valuation done by an appraiser or Comparative Market Analysis. Here’s how to get an accurate home valuation and why relying on Zillow or similar sites is usually a bad idea. Outstanding client service, experienced business practices, and ingenious marketing strategies are what make our team the most trusted team in the area.Outstanding client service, experienced business practices, and ingenious marketing strategies is what makes our team the most trusted team in the area.

What is a Home Valuation?

A home valuation is just a fancy way of saying what the value of your home is. They are used during real estate transactions such as buy-sell or refinances to ensure homeowners or buyers are not overborrowing for a property. The home is used for collateral in a mortgage, and if the borrower defaults on his or her loan, the lender will sell the home to recoup the money lent to buy it. If the home was overvalued and they lent too much, they could lose money. The home valuation ensures they will be able to recoup costs should the mortgage not be paid in full.

What is a Zillow Zestimate?

A Zillow Zestimate is an automated home valuation tool and is recommended as a starting point when determining the value of your home. It incorporates user-submitted and public data and takes into account home facts, location, and market conditions. Zestimates are done entirely online, and no representative of Zillow will visit your home to perform an appraisal. Banks and lenders do not use Zillow or similar services to estimate property and instead rely on the expertise of a licensed appraiser. A Zestimate can be off by nearly 5% nearly 40% of the time in some markets, which amounts to around $15,000 on a $300,000 home.

What is the Main Difference Between a Zillow Zestimate and a Valuation Performed by an Agent?

The main difference between the two is that a Zillow Zestimate is simply an algorithm. You punch in data, and a value pops out. There is no actual human involved who views your home, compares it against others on the market, and produces a detailed report. When an agent conducts a valuation, they are actively involved in the process and create a valuation that is personalized and in-depth.

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Dave is the foremost expert on downtown real estate in Austin Texas. In fact, throughout the entire city. He is always incredibly professional and courteous. He is a "go-getter" and really strives to make sure his clients are s...

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Amid the recent residential metamorphosis of downtown Austin, I've had the pleasure of working alongside Dave and his team at Van Heuven Properties. Through it all Dave has worked with seemingly endless energy to stay ten steps...

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Dave was there throughout every step of the process. He was incredibly knowledgeable and patient and worked hard to support us in making the best decision for our family. Dave was available 24/7 for whatever we needed - we put ...

Sail T.

Dave was absolutely incredible. He helped throughout the entire sales process and was even there at closing. He patiently answered all of my questions as a first-time home seller. He always returned calls quickly. To the point ...

Bev S.

Dave was incredible. I was new to the Austin downtown condo market and Dave made sure I had all of the information I needed to make the best decision. When I found the condo I fell in love with, Dave then negotiated a fantastic...

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Karen made our home buying process smooth and stress-free. She did a remarkable job of locating properties before they hit the market, negotiating offers on our behalf, and ensuring we made it to closing day as quickly as possi...

Tim

We highly recommend Dave! He took care of everything and was extremely detail-oriented. With every hiccup that inevitably comes with selling a condo, he was able to easily handle it in a timely manner. Thank you, Dave. You are ...

Seller

Dave was highly professional throughout the process of selling my condominium under challenging circumstances. I would highly recommend him and definitely use him again on both sides of my next real estate transaction.

Chris C.

Karen has the greatest skill that you can have in real estate. She has the ability to get things done. When others give up, Karen will find a way to make it happen. I would highly recommend her to anyone.

Courtney J.

Dave was very quick to respond to any questions we had. We sold our property in a timely manner and closed the property with ease. Dave was a pleasure to have represented our property.

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How is a Valuation Performed?

There are two accurate ways to perform home valuations: with a Comparative Market Analysis and an appraisal. Here is how the two differ:

Comparative Market Analysis.

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is a tool used by real estate agents to value a home. It evaluates similar homes that have recently sold in the same area. Agents find comparable sales and use them to conduct a sales comparison. In most cases, an agent will find three homes that have recently sold and are as similar to and located as close to the home being valued as possible. Each one is then analyzed to pinpoint differences between it and the home being valued. Once these differences are priced out, the price of each comp is adjusted to see what it would cost if it was identical to the home being valued were it to be sold in the current market.
Appraisals.

An appraisal is an unbiased valuation of a home based on a professional’s opinion. They are usually what mortgage companies use for home purchases and refinances. A lender usually orders a home appraisal and the cost of the appraisal, sometimes up to $500, is paid by the homeowner. An appraiser does a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the home as well as taking into consideration recent sales of similar properties and market trends. The appraiser then compiles a detailed report on the home, including an exterior building sketch, a street map showing the home and any comparable sales, photos of the home and street, an explanation of how the square footage was calculated, and any other relevant information.

Why is a Valuation Important?

Though getting a valuation in order to sell your home is the most common reason to get a home valuation, it’s not the only one. Here are some more situations when a home valuation may be necessary:

Refinancing.

Lenders base the amount of their loans on the value of your property and usually allow you to borrow a maximum of 75% to 96.5% against your property. Knowing what your home is worth allows lenders to calculate your equity in the home. The more equity you have, the better terms you will receive on your refinance.
Home Improvements.

If you’re doing home improvement projects to increase the resale value, you want to make sure you’re not pricing it out of the market. If your home is already priced on the high-end for your neighborhood, making too many improvements could make it more difficult to sell. When you get a valuation, you can see how your home compares with others in the neighborhood and let this guide your home improvement decisions.
Qualifying for Lines of Credit.

If you want to borrow cash against your home, getting a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) could be a good option. To qualify, you must have a certain level of equity in your home. Most lenders require at least 20%. Getting a home valuation will help you determine if you qualify and will be used by the lender to make a decision on your loan.
Planning.

Though it’s not a necessity, simply knowing the value of your home is good information to have. It will help you plan for the future and deal with unforeseen circumstances when you might be in a position that requires extra money or a quick relocation. Knowing how much equity you have in your home and how much you may be able to borrow against it or sell it for will help you respond to any financial curveballs that life throws at you.

What is a Home Valuation?

What is a Zillow Zestimate?

What is the Main Difference Between a Zillow Zestimate and a Valuation Performed by an Agent?

My Testimonials

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Tracey O.

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Elsa D.

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Buyer

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Sail T.

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Bev S.

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Buyer

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Tim

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Seller

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Chris C.

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Courtney J.

What's your property worth?

Almost there! You're one step away from knowing the value of your property.

We're gathering your property information to generate a custom home valuation report and will send it to your inbox as soon it's ready.

How is a Valuation Performed?

There are two accurate ways to perform home valuations: with a Comparative Market Analysis and an appraisal. ​​​​​​​Here is how the two differ:

Comparative Market Analysis.

Appraisals.

Why is a Valuation Important?

Though getting a valuation in order to sell your home is the most common reason to get a home valuation, it’s not the only one. ​​​​​​​Here are some more situations when a home valuation may be necessary:

Refinancing.

Home Improvements.

Qualifying for Lines of Credit.

Planning.

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There are two accurate ways to perform home valuations: with a Comparative Market Analysis and an appraisal. Here is how the two differ:

Though getting a valuation in order to sell your home is the most common reason to get a home valuation, it’s not the only one. Here are some more situations when a home valuation may be necessary: