Zillow and HouseValues are Neato. So What?

© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.

I thought I would share a recent post I made over at ActiveRain.com:

Zillow and HouseValues are Neato. So What?

I hear a lot of online "chatter" from real estate agents talking about how the Zillows and HouseValues of the world are out to get them, or perhaps put them out of business.

So I played around with each of the aforementioned websites, and here's my report to you (from a non-agent to an agent). Zillow and HouseValues are neato. But so what? It's neat to see estimated values of homes near mine, but I'm smart enough to know they're only estimates based on publicly available data.

I'm also smart enough to know that a website cannot help me sell my home or buy a new one ... that a website cannot help me create or interpret a contract ... that a website cannot help me negotiate with a seller.

In short, I'm smart enough to know that a website is not a replacement for a real estate agent. They are two separate things. I see Zillow and HouseValues as information sources, not proactive services.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried these websites from a consumer's standpoint? Comments welcome. Use the "comments" link below.

-Brandon