Zillow Advice: Using Zillow to sell - Zestimate is raising questions with buyers of my property - estimate doesn't make sense

ZESTIMATE®: $163,000 ...

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:27:00 GMT

ZESTIMATE®: $163,000
   •   Value Range: $128,770 - $228,200
   •   30-day change: -$3,000
   •   Zestimate updated: 11/25/2009

151 WS 19' ROW ..... still ...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:24:00 GMT

151 WS 19' ROW ..... still zmated @ $301K ........ taxed $50

Public Facts:
   •   Lot 871 sq ft

   •   ZESTIMATE®: $301,500
   •   Value Range: $283,410 - $400,995
   •   30-day change: $7,000
   •   Zestimate updated: 11/23/2009

146 WS zmate - still $162,500ZESTIMATE®: ...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:20:00 GMT

146 WS zmate - still $162,500

ZESTIMATE®: $162,500
    •    Value Range: $130,000 - $227,500
    •    30-day change: -$4,000
    •    Zestimate updated: 11/23/2009

Zmates are still incorrect ...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:13:00 GMT

Zmates are still incorrect (boy, that technical "bug" must to harder to fix cuz its been weeks since Z admitted the bug exist.)

The ROW @ 151 WS is still grossly over inflated compared to other waterfront homes/properties. Yet Zillow official claims nothing "jumps out" to question this zmate.

The Town of Ellington has 151 property appraised at $2,940 and assessed at $2,060. So its impossible it would be worth Zillow's $302,000. Taxes on the 151 parcel are but $50 a year.

Again, it doesn't take a real estate expert to see the 151 zmate
is grossly incorrect, and in turn, skews the other properties'
values on the road. ROW 153 WS isn't even listed on Zillow,
but the parcel is listed on Vision Appraisal. These issues clearly do "jump out" at knowledgable home owners, and users of Zillow.

Vision Appraisal has been hired once again by the town to conduct this year's reevaluation of 06029. So all Zillow has to do is check their site for accurate information on properties in this zip code.

146 WS .... zmate continues ...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:06:00 GMT

146 WS .... zmate continues to rise (.... it shouldn't if the acknowledged "bug" was fixed)

ZESTIMATE®
    •    Value Range: $138,600 - $231,000
    •    30-day change: -$2,500
    •    Zestimate updated: 11/13/2009

151 WS - right-of-way zmate also continues to rise (and it shouldn't since its a 19' ROW - taxes are only $50 a year on the parcel)

ZESTIMATE®: $306,500
    •    Value Range: $288,110 - $419,905
    •    30-day change: $11,500
    •    Zestimate updated: 11/13/2009

Here's the latest Z response ...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:08:00 GMT

Here's the latest Z response to my May'09 BBB complaint ..... for those still following along this saga, Z's explanation for the overinflated 146 zmate is its a "technical error", a "bug ticket" has been cut, and the zmate should be fixed as soon as possible.   Boy, aren't I glad I pursued this further, and didn't just let it drop.

I would highly suggest others not give up when they suspect their property is incorrectly listed on Z.   Cuz what's the likelihood this "technical error" only impacted my property, and not others?   Currently 146 is zmated @ $163,500.

Secondly, don't ever recall saying (or feeling) any of my properties are "undervalued" - though that's what Z is saying. What I pointed out was a neighboring 19' right-of-way (151 WS) is clearly overinflated by Z - with a zmate of over $300K.   It is much higher than the zmate of waterfront houses on this street - 151 WS only pays $50 a year in taxes, so how can it be worth over $300K.   Doesn't take a real estate expert to see
something is very wrong with that zmate.

I'm not asking for my property zmates to be increased, I'm asking for Z to correct the zmate for the 151 right-of-way since its clearly incorrect. Since a technical bug is responsible for the overflated zmate of 146 WS, why isn't Z exploring the possibility the same has occurred for 151 WS?

There also remains questions re: another right-of-way, 153 WS, not even appearing on Z - yet it appears on the Town's tax roll. And why two recent (and very comparable) sales (3 doors and 4 doors down) don't appear on the 149 listing of recent sales.   Nor do these two appear on the listings for other homes on WS. Are these also examples of "technical bugs"?   I would suspect so after all I've seen and heard thus far.

I do appreciate after many months that Z finally elected to respond to this May'09 complaint. I'm relieved they have finally admitted a technical error exists.   However, until the 146 zmate is corrected, the 151 right-of-way zmate is corrected, 153 WS appears, and the "recent sales" are updated for homes on this street, this is basically just "talk".

>While Ms. Chojnicki is a user, not a customer, I've looked into the matter and discovered that part of her issue resulted from a technical error. A bug ticket has been cut on the error and it will be fixed as soon as possible. I have communicated this to Ms. Chojnicki in detail.

The other half of the complaint has to do with Ms. Chojnicki feeling that a Zestimate on one of her properties is inaccurately low.

In this instance, I called up the local assessor's office and found that the assessed value of the property was $80,000 lower than the Zestimate.

A Zestimate is not an appraisal, nor does it have to exactly reflect a county assessment (in this case, the Zestimate is in fact higher). A Zestimate is Zillow's valuation of a property, and it takes into account not only the county, but area sales and the current economic climate.

I greatly sympathize with Ms. Chojnicki's frustration -- the current housing crises is difficult on all of us. Zillow has done all its due diligence to a) repair any technical problems dealing with this complaint and b) investigate any possible inaccuracies. At this point we have done all we can for the user.

I encourage Ms. Chojnicki to continually monitor her property's Zestimate and contact me personally if there's any future problem. Please move this complaint to INFO ONLY.

-- David Tobey
-- davidto@zillow.com

up yet another $1K ZESTIMATE®: ...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:52:00 GMT

up yet another $1K

ZESTIMATE®: $164,000
   •   Value Range: $127,920 - $246,000
   •   30-day change: -$9,000
   •   Zestimate updated: 11/09/2009

> "You're absolutely right ...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:40:00 GMT

> "You're absolutely right that the value of 146 W Shore Rd is off – It's a technical issue and it will be reviewed. Thanks for bringing it to our attention."

guess a zmate technical issue takes awhile to review & resolve .... in the meantime, the property has now increased by 1K .....

ZESTIMATE®: $163,000
   •   Value Range: $153,220 - $228,200
   •   30-day change: -$12,500
   •   Zestimate updated: 11/06/2009

and while the zmate was now ...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:55:00 GMT

and while the zmate was now been deemed incorrect, even according to Zillow staffers, it still remains as such on their web site .........

ZESTIMATE®: $162,000
   •   Value Range: $113,400 - $217,080
   •   30-day change: -$13,000
   •   Zestimate updated: 11/02/2009

For those unable to read ...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:49:00 GMT

For those unable to read the earlier "screen dump", here's the message from Zillow staffer. The BBB complaint referred to was filed many, many months ago.

Please note, "You're absolutely right that the value of 146 W Shore Rd is off – It's a technical issue and it will be reviewed. Thanks for bringing it to our attention."

======================================================

> My name is David Tobey; I'm a support specialist here at Zillow.com. I received your BBB complaint a few days ago regarding your frustration with the Zestimate. While you're not a customer of Zillow, you are a user, and we do care very much about our users. So I did some investigating…

The properties you mentioned were:

149 W Shore Rd, 06029
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/149-W-Shore-Rd-Ellington-CT-06029/58097583_zpid/
Zestimate at $263,500

And 146 W Shore Rd, 06029
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/146-W-Shore-Rd-Ellington-CT-06029/58097588_zpid/
Zestimate at $166,000

As I do whenever I receive a complaint of this nature, I took the liberty of calling the local assessor's office – in this case, Ellington's, to double-check the most recent assessed value.

149 W Shore Rd was assessed at $187,290 for 2008-2009. Zillow has its Zestimate at $263,500

146 W Shore Rd was assessed at $11,510 for 2008-2009. It is indeed the garage for 149. It has a Zestimate of $166,000.

You're absolutely right that the value of 146 W Shore Rd is off – It's a technical issue and it will be reviewed. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

As for the Zestimate of 149 W Shore Rd, it seems high based on the assessed value alone, but our Zestimate doesn't just go by the assessed value alone. However I can submit it for review if that's something you feel strongly about. The last piece of the puzzle is the right-of-way. Can you send me a direct link so I can take a look?

I hope this helps,
- David