How Accurate Are Zestimates?


I’m discussing Zillow’s Zestimates and sharing a tip for how to make yours more accurate.

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Are you curious about Zestimate accuracy? Today I’m discussing Zillow’s home valuation estimates and sharing a great tip to increase your Zestimate. Zillow provides a ton of value to customers in the marketplace, as well as leads for agents. However, one thing they’re lacking is Zestimate accuracy.

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You need someone with boots on the ground and expertise about your market.

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The Zestimate is necessary because buyers are doing a lot of research and want to know if your home is overpriced. They may decide just from Zillow whether to take the time to go look at your house. Zillow doesn’t know about improvements you’ve made to your property, doesn’t have current photos, and sometimes doesn’t even have the correct number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Therefore Zestimates are often inaccurate.

Here in the High Desert and Inland Empire, we have a very diverse market. Certain home values are higher depending on location, and Zillow can’t process that information because it’s an algorithm and doesn’t know your local market. You need someone with boots on the ground and expertise about your market. We’re able to collect all the data from comparable sales that impact the estimate and value your home correctly.

Here’s a tip to increase your Zestimate: Go to Zillow.com, type in your address, claim your home, and fill out the missing information. This could make your Zestimate much more accurate for interested buyers. If you’ve tried my suggestion and it helped increase your Zestimate, comment below so others can benefit.

If you have any questions about Zillow or real estate in general, please reach out via phone or email. I would love to help you!

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Charlotte Volsch

What’s the right way to handle an inherited property—renovate, list, or sell it as-is? I am Charlotte Volsch, an Estate Property Advisor and Probate & Trust Real Estate Specialist helping attorneys, executors, and families make clear, confident decisions when selling inherited homes. I help attorneys, executors, and families navigate inherited property decisions throughout the Inland Empire and High Desert of Southern California, including Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Loma Linda, Fontana, and surrounding communities. Over the course of my career, I have completed 774+ real estate transactions across 24 years, including more than 230 probate and trust property sales. For the past 16+ years, I have focused specifically on estate property situations, working alongside probate and trust attorneys, fiduciaries, and their clients to guide each case from evaluation through sale. Many families are unsure what to do with an inherited home—whether to invest in repairs, list it traditionally, or sell it as-is. Without a clear strategy, estates can make costly mistakes such as over-improving a property, underpricing it, selecting the wrong sale method, or facing delays that impact timelines and estate objectives. I help evaluate those decisions early, so attorneys and their clients can move forward with clarity, avoid unnecessary risk, and choose the most appropriate path based on the property and the situation. I work directly with attorneys and their clients to determine the best path forward, whether that involves preparing a property for the retail market or facilitating a direct sale through a network of qualified investors. For properties that require repairs, may not qualify for traditional financing, or are best suited for as-is sale, I provide access to a network of more than 50 active real estate investors. Over the past 12 months, I have closed 68 transactions, reflecting consistent production and experience navigating changing market conditions. I guide each case using the C.A.L.M. Method: C — Clarify We identify what matters now versus what can wait. A — Align We define priorities—legal, financial, and personal. L — Lead I guide each step in the proper order to avoid delays and unnecessary complications. M — Move Forward Clients proceed with clarity and confidence. I am the Broker Owner of The Volsch Team at Volsch Enterprises, Inc., and hold certifications in Probate Real Estate through the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as well as Certified Probate Real Estate Advisor (Probate Biz). If you are an attorney handling probate or trust matters—or assisting a client with an inherited property—I’m available as a resource to help evaluate the best path forward.