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- Caveat Emptor
- Contributions:500
for 300,000,000 homes?
why yes they are!
you can update your home's info if you like, however.
why yes they are!
you can update your home's info if you like, however.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
Zillow doesn't have access to the MLS information... the Realtors provide their syndications to media sites like this from other sources. Most of the incorrect data or missing data on listings is directly the fault of the Realtor.
If you want MLS data instead, contact your favorite Realtor in the specified area to access it from the MLS. But if Realtors are posting it wrong, you still have no guarantees of any kind, and they all put disclaimers on their advertisements so that you know that you will have to measure it yourself if you want any "useful" numbers.
As for laziness, the word "too" meaning "excessively", as in "too lazy" is spelled with two O's.
You cannot expect any website to have any more accuracy than the people posting on it and working for it, or working for the data providers. All people still make mistakes, and will always continue to make mistakes.
As for stopping something that is the primary "mission statement" and "purpose" of a company? The better solution is to find a company you like instead, as there are hundreds that provide similar services in a similar price range.
If you want MLS data instead, contact your favorite Realtor in the specified area to access it from the MLS. But if Realtors are posting it wrong, you still have no guarantees of any kind, and they all put disclaimers on their advertisements so that you know that you will have to measure it yourself if you want any "useful" numbers.
As for laziness, the word "too" meaning "excessively", as in "too lazy" is spelled with two O's.
You cannot expect any website to have any more accuracy than the people posting on it and working for it, or working for the data providers. All people still make mistakes, and will always continue to make mistakes.
As for stopping something that is the primary "mission statement" and "purpose" of a company? The better solution is to find a company you like instead, as there are hundreds that provide similar services in a similar price range.
" As for stopping something that is the primary "mission statement" and "purpose" of a company? The better solution is to find a company you like instead, as there are hundreds that provide similar services in a similar price range"
What a joke - Zillow peddles it BS valuations and you tell the homeowner to go find another company. Beyond belief is the 'good neighbor policy' words that come to mind. Why the heck should the poster not complain to zillow to get an inaccurate valuation corrected? And the last thing the OP needs is patronizing advise from Zillow supporters, but a response from Zillow itself.
What a joke - Zillow peddles it BS valuations and you tell the homeowner to go find another company. Beyond belief is the 'good neighbor policy' words that come to mind. Why the heck should the poster not complain to zillow to get an inaccurate valuation corrected? And the last thing the OP needs is patronizing advise from Zillow supporters, but a response from Zillow itself.
- Vince Curtis, "SoCal Appraiser"
- Contributions:4701
are you to lazy to type square footage and home details ?
I thought they did...
I thought they did...
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2736
well, the zestimate is like the holy grail on zillow......it's here to stay.............do what I, and most agents, do.....ignore it
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
"Why the heck should the poster... to get an inaccurate valuation corrected?" -
Because the estimates are 100% accurate within the stated tolerance range for the stated purpose with the stated assumptions and available data. The modeling method used is a "valid" method, even if it doesn't conform to a given user's objectives or standards.
As for who the responses are from, the "forum" is intended for "discussion and Q&A" posts by the "site users", not the Zillow staff. If people needed or wanted a response from Zillow staff, they would have used the "report a problem" button, or would have used the "customer service" E-mail form, or would have E-mailed one of the Zillow staff people, or would have called Zillow: (212)661-4552
And if they wanted to know why Zillow's policies are the way they are, they would ask one of the two founders that still have majority control of the private company.
Because the estimates are 100% accurate within the stated tolerance range for the stated purpose with the stated assumptions and available data. The modeling method used is a "valid" method, even if it doesn't conform to a given user's objectives or standards.
As for who the responses are from, the "forum" is intended for "discussion and Q&A" posts by the "site users", not the Zillow staff. If people needed or wanted a response from Zillow staff, they would have used the "report a problem" button, or would have used the "customer service" E-mail form, or would have E-mailed one of the Zillow staff people, or would have called Zillow: (212)661-4552
And if they wanted to know why Zillow's policies are the way they are, they would ask one of the two founders that still have majority control of the private company.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
BS Pasa..
They would use if...you know the mail form is not easily located (You've posted that needs to be improved multiple times) and the entire time I've been around Zillow has always told people to use the Forum for questions to THEM
When the "Improvement" was made they Specifically told people in the Media and here that those with Zestimate questions should post here/ask here then went into hiding
So THEM has seemed to become you & you pump out BS like this in response to pretty much everything anymore..
You use to be a good contributor imo & I had respect for you but now you just seem more like the House Troll
They would call the 2 founders if..what a joke you've become and not the amusing or funny kind
They would use if...you know the mail form is not easily located (You've posted that needs to be improved multiple times) and the entire time I've been around Zillow has always told people to use the Forum for questions to THEM
When the "Improvement" was made they Specifically told people in the Media and here that those with Zestimate questions should post here/ask here then went into hiding
So THEM has seemed to become you & you pump out BS like this in response to pretty much everything anymore..
You use to be a good contributor imo & I had respect for you but now you just seem more like the House Troll
They would call the 2 founders if..what a joke you've become and not the amusing or funny kind
- Michael Dugan, "Michael Dugan"
- Contributions:3
Much of that information comes from a 3rd party a real estate company uses to promote the listings. Zillow doesn't capture information from a local MLS and upload it. Our MLS for example would require Zillow to purchase a membership and I'm not sure if they can then advertise those listings. After 20 plus years in the real estate industry, I don't rely on information from others. It is part of my fiduciary duty to my clients to do so. Only exception is information gathered from a government entitity. Like the P & Z or country assessor. Even agents I have known for years and trust, I still verify anything others tell me if it has a impact on my clients.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
I've never agreed with Zillow calling their forum "advice", and I still don't as people don't give "advice" on the forum, and most of the insurance companies will not let them.
But Zillow staff has never read all the threads or posts, and has always made that 100% clear, and they state that people should post to get input from "the Zillow community", which is the site users, not the Zillow staff.
Zillow staff has not reduced the amount of posting nor reading on the forum, no matter what anyone's impressions on that might be. Zillow's postings on Saturday through Monday is always lower than other days of the week.
But Zillow staff has never read all the threads or posts, and has always made that 100% clear, and they state that people should post to get input from "the Zillow community", which is the site users, not the Zillow staff.
Zillow staff has not reduced the amount of posting nor reading on the forum, no matter what anyone's impressions on that might be. Zillow's postings on Saturday through Monday is always lower than other days of the week.
- Russ Hatfield, "RussHatfield"
- Contributions:336
Hi Dblyelo,
The vast majority of our home information(eg square footage) is not received directly from MLSes. We get this from public records(eg County Assessor's Office) either directly or through third-party data providers, and from homeowners and agents who might update a property record on our site directly(eg by claiming a home and manually updating facts or by submitting/updating a listing to us by a feed).
You can update your home information directly by claiming your home(if you haven't already) and selecting "Edit home facts" under the Edit menu on your property's page. Here's a video with more information on this procedure: Editing Your Home Information. Also, feel free to contact me if you need any other help at all.
Thanks for using Zillow!
Russ
Zillow Customer Care
The vast majority of our home information(eg square footage) is not received directly from MLSes. We get this from public records(eg County Assessor's Office) either directly or through third-party data providers, and from homeowners and agents who might update a property record on our site directly(eg by claiming a home and manually updating facts or by submitting/updating a listing to us by a feed).
You can update your home information directly by claiming your home(if you haven't already) and selecting "Edit home facts" under the Edit menu on your property's page. Here's a video with more information on this procedure: Editing Your Home Information. Also, feel free to contact me if you need any other help at all.
Thanks for using Zillow!
Russ
Zillow Customer Care
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
Thank you Russ
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
dblyelo,
Most of the MLS boards don't provide information to Zillow, the last time I saw a count it was 2. The base records on Zillow come from public records (usually tax assessor records) that can vary greatly as to what is included and what gets transmitted to Zillow through the 3rd party data providers. The base public records can be updated by owners if they claim their property, or through non-MLS syndicated listing ads or directly entered by an agent on a Featured Zillow listing. If you or your agent did not list it and update the data or syndicate it through a non-MLS (unless you happen to live in one of the 2 MLS areas that syndicate) ad it is not going to get updated.
Zillow needs to do a better job providing customer service in generally explaining Zestimates and where the data provided is coming from.
Agents need to do a better job, than suggesting that people just ignore AVM's. They are here to stay, and explaining the general workings and their areas specific limitations should be a lot more productive, than telling everyone to ignore them and to just "trust" their CMA's. As imperfect as the AVM's are they are shedding light on the market, and have in my opinion had a limiting effect on the scope of the market contraction. I personally think transaction volumes and prices would have fallen even more given how skittish (with good reason) buyers have become without these 3rd party media sources of information.
Whether an erroneous Zestimate influences the ability to complete a transaction on an individual property, in my opinion, is a topic for discussion. I have yet to see any actual evidence that either supports that it is a problem or that it is a moot point, so far the discussion gets treated by too many agents that feel threatened by AVM's as podium to suggest that buyers and sellers should ignore all AVM data, rather than actually show even anecdotal evidence where problems may exist. Personally I suspect that erroneous Zestimates on individual properties are a moot point to actual transactions, since buyers and sellers that actually complete a transaction do become informed about their market, whether they have an agent helping them or not.
Most of the MLS boards don't provide information to Zillow, the last time I saw a count it was 2. The base records on Zillow come from public records (usually tax assessor records) that can vary greatly as to what is included and what gets transmitted to Zillow through the 3rd party data providers. The base public records can be updated by owners if they claim their property, or through non-MLS syndicated listing ads or directly entered by an agent on a Featured Zillow listing. If you or your agent did not list it and update the data or syndicate it through a non-MLS (unless you happen to live in one of the 2 MLS areas that syndicate) ad it is not going to get updated.
Zillow needs to do a better job providing customer service in generally explaining Zestimates and where the data provided is coming from.
Agents need to do a better job, than suggesting that people just ignore AVM's. They are here to stay, and explaining the general workings and their areas specific limitations should be a lot more productive, than telling everyone to ignore them and to just "trust" their CMA's. As imperfect as the AVM's are they are shedding light on the market, and have in my opinion had a limiting effect on the scope of the market contraction. I personally think transaction volumes and prices would have fallen even more given how skittish (with good reason) buyers have become without these 3rd party media sources of information.
Whether an erroneous Zestimate influences the ability to complete a transaction on an individual property, in my opinion, is a topic for discussion. I have yet to see any actual evidence that either supports that it is a problem or that it is a moot point, so far the discussion gets treated by too many agents that feel threatened by AVM's as podium to suggest that buyers and sellers should ignore all AVM data, rather than actually show even anecdotal evidence where problems may exist. Personally I suspect that erroneous Zestimates on individual properties are a moot point to actual transactions, since buyers and sellers that actually complete a transaction do become informed about their market, whether they have an agent helping them or not.
- David Efird, "separk"
- Contributions:5
I am just curious...why would one feel that AVM date would " be here to stay" if the date, in my opinion is so erroneous most of the time. It's, like one advertising goods and services that are not reliable most of the time in my opinion, and expect no one to ever " catch on". Sounds crazy to me. If the mechanic I go to messes up my car and doesn't know what he or she is doing, or why they did what they did, why would I go back again. I believe, as an advertiser, I would want my reputation and reliability to go hand and hand. Does Zillow really even care about this? de
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
"I am just curious...why would one feel that AVM date would " be here to stay..."
I think that they are here to stay because consumers want information that does not come directly from the RE industry itself. Zestimates aside, Zillow has a lot of information that a certain percentage of agents still are slow to provide when asked everything from historic median trends to price per square by neighborhood.
People looking to buy or sell or qualify need to know those trends for their area to make informed decisions. The only alternative to getting those trends are other than on AVM sites like Zillow are on an agent centered site like realtytimes.com.
Overall, I think that people want more access to raw information and less spin. The RE industry can choose to be the source for that and let clients make their own decisions or other sites will step in to serve that purpose.
I think that they are here to stay because consumers want information that does not come directly from the RE industry itself. Zestimates aside, Zillow has a lot of information that a certain percentage of agents still are slow to provide when asked everything from historic median trends to price per square by neighborhood.
People looking to buy or sell or qualify need to know those trends for their area to make informed decisions. The only alternative to getting those trends are other than on AVM sites like Zillow are on an agent centered site like realtytimes.com.
Overall, I think that people want more access to raw information and less spin. The RE industry can choose to be the source for that and let clients make their own decisions or other sites will step in to serve that purpose.
When a mechanic gives you an "estimate", they don't give you an "estimate", nor even a "CMA", they give you a "quote" for work assumed needed.
And when they find they were "wrong" about what was needed, they give you a "revised" quote for you to approve, and if you don't approve it, they don't do the work and your car is not fixed.
Anyone that knows anything about the markets knows the value of money changes multiple times per day. They also know there is no fixed valuation on anything, but a fairly wide distribution of market values for the same product.
As for why many Realtors continue to post and syndicate incorrect information about their listings... you are "right", they are "advertising" that they don't want clients and they can't be trusted. So, if you want what they are selling, you still need to send in your offer, they still get the commission, and you still have to verify absolutely everything yourself.
In the meantime, since David didn't publish the tolerance range for any of his CMA's, I'll have to assume that the tolerance range of his CMA's are twice that of Zillow's Zestimates.
If David cared about his reputation and reliability, he would do the research and analysis, and would publish the data, as any good economist and economic analyst would do.
AVM's have been around way before Zillow. None of the thousands of companies that provide them are going to be getting rid of them any time in the near future. To the contrary, more and more research universities will be doing them too, and eventually, people will be running their own AVM software to create their own opinions.
And when they find they were "wrong" about what was needed, they give you a "revised" quote for you to approve, and if you don't approve it, they don't do the work and your car is not fixed.
Anyone that knows anything about the markets knows the value of money changes multiple times per day. They also know there is no fixed valuation on anything, but a fairly wide distribution of market values for the same product.
As for why many Realtors continue to post and syndicate incorrect information about their listings... you are "right", they are "advertising" that they don't want clients and they can't be trusted. So, if you want what they are selling, you still need to send in your offer, they still get the commission, and you still have to verify absolutely everything yourself.
In the meantime, since David didn't publish the tolerance range for any of his CMA's, I'll have to assume that the tolerance range of his CMA's are twice that of Zillow's Zestimates.
If David cared about his reputation and reliability, he would do the research and analysis, and would publish the data, as any good economist and economic analyst would do.
AVM's have been around way before Zillow. None of the thousands of companies that provide them are going to be getting rid of them any time in the near future. To the contrary, more and more research universities will be doing them too, and eventually, people will be running their own AVM software to create their own opinions.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
Are you Pasa Agent Orange?
Curious because if you are why post as 2 different people on the same thread?
If not then apologies but I've asked several times now and no reply beyond go research/look up discussions about Agent Bob from Orange County
Why do that when a simple yes or no will suffice?
Curious because if you are why post as 2 different people on the same thread?
If not then apologies but I've asked several times now and no reply beyond go research/look up discussions about Agent Bob from Orange County
Why do that when a simple yes or no will suffice?
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2736
I am going to guess the answer is "yes".......names can change, but persona's, writing styles and punctuation similarities don't.............my "guess" uses my own special algorithm, just like zillow uses their own for the zestimate!
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
2 [personal attack removed by Zillow moderator] for the Price of One..woo whooo!
Talked to Zillow and they do not care...
But that awful Surbiton ....gonna be watching that Troublemaker lol
Talked to Zillow and they do not care...
But that awful Surbiton ....gonna be watching that Troublemaker lol
"...Agent Orange?"
The User Name is "Asian Orange", as in the oranges in Japan where the peel is carefully pealed open like a flower, and the seeds put back in and closed up while eating, as one can tell from the avatar.
Any similarity to "agent orange", a toxic chemical used in Vietnam by the U.S. military in the 1960's to deforest the country and force working peasants into the cities was intentional.
Also any similarity to "Secret Agent (Asian) Man" television series was intentional.
Misleading conjecture is par for the course. (Intentionally misquoted from public radio: Michael Feldman's "Whad'Ya Know?").
(Author of "Something I Said? Innuendo and Out the Other")
The User Name is "Asian Orange", as in the oranges in Japan where the peel is carefully pealed open like a flower, and the seeds put back in and closed up while eating, as one can tell from the avatar.
Any similarity to "agent orange", a toxic chemical used in Vietnam by the U.S. military in the 1960's to deforest the country and force working peasants into the cities was intentional.
Also any similarity to "Secret Agent (Asian) Man" television series was intentional.
Misleading conjecture is par for the course. (Intentionally misquoted from public radio: Michael Feldman's "Whad'Ya Know?").
(Author of "Something I Said? Innuendo and Out the Other")
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
Sorry for the Agent instead of Asian thing..obviously not as smart as you Thanks for the correction and information Pasa
- Debra (Debbie) Rose, "Livingston NJ"
- Contributions:2736
Pasa by any other name is still....................Pasa
- David Efird, "separk"
- Contributions:5
I love the "handle" of the response at the top. Caveat Emptor. We all know what that means. What we need is a "buyer beware" when using Zillow" phrase That's my take on their info reliability. Unbelievable....
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
"What we need is a "buyer beware" when using Zillow" phrase That's my take on their info reliability."
Zillow does not corner the real estate market on buyer beware. It should be watch word anytime you are dealing with representations regarding real estate (or any product).
Zillow does not corner the real estate market on buyer beware. It should be watch word anytime you are dealing with representations regarding real estate (or any product).
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
Wow..it appears that if Pasa uses 2 Profiles to support/argue in favor of Zillow's Zestimates I better not say 2 [personal attack removed by Zillow moderator] for the Price of one..woo whooo cause it will be deleted...
So warning to all so we can have a better Fairer Forum..
When speaking about Pasa/Asian Orange do not say
"2 [personal attack removed by Zillow moderator] for the Price of one..woo whooo!"
cause it's a personal insult
So warning to all so we can have a better Fairer Forum..
When speaking about Pasa/Asian Orange do not say
"2 [personal attack removed by Zillow moderator] for the Price of one..woo whooo!"
cause it's a personal insult
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
. . . or any source.
Caveat Emptor when using the services of an agent or the reliability of the data provided by agents as well. Unfortunately CMA's are sometimes used as a marketing tool, which makes them unreliable with intent.
Caveat Emptor when using the services of an agent or the reliability of the data provided by agents as well. Unfortunately CMA's are sometimes used as a marketing tool, which makes them unreliable with intent.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1981
LOL....
- Nicholas Ribeiro, "NicholasRibeiro"
- Contributions:1807
You can update your home facts which will impact your zestimate!
- dblyelo
- Contributions:24
the bottom line this site is of no use for real world buying or selling there is not detail criteria used anyone can post details that are false or a make me move price on a home worth $50k and it changes the value of every house on the block lol . what a joke i hope they have no plans for an IPO this site is pumped like it has has some value. What a disappointment
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26854
@dblyelo: Zillow has no future plans for an IPO because they did that summer of 2011.
@dblyelo
Your comments are spot on and I share your sentiments, but the problem is that these guys have got very rich peddling this zestimate nonsense. It was always their strategy to be controversial as that attracts more users than if it was accurate and people only looked the one time and never returned. It's all about the number of monthly unique users, and the fact they refuse to correct obviously incorrect zestimates keeps bringing people back. As already stated they IPO'd last July and have over $900m market cap value for this [insult deleted] website.
Your comments are spot on and I share your sentiments, but the problem is that these guys have got very rich peddling this zestimate nonsense. It was always their strategy to be controversial as that attracts more users than if it was accurate and people only looked the one time and never returned. It's all about the number of monthly unique users, and the fact they refuse to correct obviously incorrect zestimates keeps bringing people back. As already stated they IPO'd last July and have over $900m market cap value for this [insult deleted] website.
Zillow stop with your BS zestimates
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