There are plenty of real estate search sites you can use online.

Sure, it is fun to play around on them, and search for all sorts of fun properties. But, that doesn’t replace a good REALTOR®.

A good REALTOR® can customize your search much better than those sites, also setting it up so you can get automatic search updates when new properties list or properties update (price drop, new pictures, etc).

I personally set up an online search website for each of my customers, where they can delete properties, save them, and write notes.

If you are seriously looking, you need to have a REALTOR® assisting you. The best part is, here in Florida, as a buyer, you don’t pay the REALTOR®, the seller does. Most realty companies charge a transaction fee at closing, which is usually $200-$500 (mine charges $195). So that is the only fee you pay your REALTOR® as a buyer.

Often times my buyers ask me their thoughts on Zillow. Again, it is a fun site to look around in, but it is far from valid, especially when it comes to value.

Think about it, when was the last time someone called or emailed you from Zillow asking you about your home. What updates have you done? Did you replace your roof? Update your kitchen or bathrooms?

NO.

Zillow just uses online data and gives you a guess what they think the range might be. That is why it is called a ZESTIMATE. They have no idea of the state of the property or the improvements that have been done.

In fact, they don’t hide that they are just giving you an idea, and it is not a true value.

See here: http://www.zillow.com/zestimate/

And, if that isn’t enough to go over, here is their disclaimer on their accuracy: http://www.zillow.com/zestimate/#acc

If you look at Miami-Fort Lauderdale, it says that 31.1% are within 5% of sales price, 54.9% are within 10% of sales price and 79.7% are within 20% of sales price. They have an 8.7% margin of area.

How does that make you feel about their accuracy? Not very good…

So please remember to stick to your realtor to run comparables to get you your value estimates, and use these third party real estate websites as starting points, that you don’t take very seriously.