Comments on: Separated at Birth? http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/ Seattle Real Estate Blog for those interested in Seattle real estate, popular culture, tech, news and opinion. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:16:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Jillayne Schlicke http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-8015 Jillayne Schlicke Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:20:44 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/#comment-8015 Who has the most advertising dollars to spend? Housevalues does lots of television advertising. Zillow has been riding the waves of free press since their launch. Google the phrase "how much is my house worth" and Housevalues has the two top spots, one paid, one natural. I agree with Bonnie, that an average homeowner doesn't realize what Housevalues does. BTW, I just zillowed my own home. They report a "one week change of -$8,159." Who has the most advertising dollars to spend? Housevalues does lots of television advertising.

Zillow has been riding the waves of free press since their launch.

Google the phrase “how much is my house worth” and Housevalues has the two top spots, one paid, one natural.

I agree with Bonnie, that an average homeowner doesn’t realize what Housevalues does.

BTW, I just zillowed my own home. They report a “one week change of -$8,159.”

]]> By: Bonnie Erickson http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-7982 Bonnie Erickson Sat, 14 Oct 2006 07:09:01 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/#comment-7982 I'm not sure the public realizes that these "value your house" sites are lead generators for real estate agents. A consumer would be better off looking directly for an agent that has either been referred to them or that has enough info on their website, blog, or other sources to give a clear picture of the agent's services. As to Zillow? I'd be careful of going to Zillow for valuation info. I used my former house (sold 2 years ago) and my current home (purchased 2 years ago) to check Zillow accuracy. Both were off in their valuation by over $20,000 (10%+ or -)! Not to mention that Zillow used comps for my current home that weren't even in the same city and the closest one was 5.6 miles away! Not exactly accurate. An agent or appraiser is your most accurate source of evaluating the value of a home. I’m not sure the public realizes that these “value your house” sites are lead generators for real estate agents. A consumer would be better off looking directly for an agent that has either been referred to them or that has enough info on their website, blog, or other sources to give a clear picture of the agent’s services.

As to Zillow? I’d be careful of going to Zillow for valuation info. I used my former house (sold 2 years ago) and my current home (purchased 2 years ago) to check Zillow accuracy. Both were off in their valuation by over $20,000 (10%+ or -)! Not to mention that Zillow used comps for my current home that weren’t even in the same city and the closest one was 5.6 miles away! Not exactly accurate. An agent or appraiser is your most accurate source of evaluating the value of a home.

]]> By: Tyler Sookochoff http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/comment-page-1/#comment-7969 Tyler Sookochoff Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:10:31 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/10/12/separated-at-birth/#comment-7969 "Why would your average home seller enter all kinds of identifying information on an online form, just to get contacted by some real estate weasel, when they can go to Zillow and have their real estate data fix fulfilled with a couple of clicks of a mouse for free….." Yeah, very good question. Or at the very least, why not contact an agent yourself (one that you've heard is good) as opposed to leaving it up to (seemingly shady) sites like that? “Why would your average home seller enter all kinds of identifying information on an online form, just to get contacted by some real estate weasel, when they can go to Zillow and have their real estate data fix fulfilled with a couple of clicks of a mouse for free…..”

Yeah, very good question. Or at the very least, why not contact an agent yourself (one that you’ve heard is good) as opposed to leaving it up to (seemingly shady) sites like that?

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