Googling Your Home Value Is Not Accurate — And Zillow Has Never Been Inside Your Home

Zillow Home Value Exeter, CA

When homeowners in Central California want to know what their property is worth, the first instinct is to Google it:“Home value in Visalia,”“Paso Robles home value,”“Zillow estimate Exeter,”“Fresno home value calculator.”

It feels fast, easy, and convenient — but it’s almost always wrong.

Online valuation tools like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and “What is my home worth?” calculators are built on algorithms that have never stepped foot inside your home.

They don’t know your condition, upgrades, repairs, tenants, neighborhood nuances, or the specific challenges that impact value in areas like Tulare, Fresno, Kings, Madera, or San Luis Obispo Counties.

Here’s why relying on Google or Zillow can seriously mislead homeowners.

1. Zillow Has Never Walked Through Your Property

Zillow’s Zestimate is based on public records, not real inspections. It doesn’t know:

• The age of your roof

• If your HVAC is 25 years old

• If you remodeled the kitchen

• If your home has foundation cracks

• If the tenants damaged the property

• If your neighborhood has block-by-block value differences

• If you’re next to commercial zoning, traffic, or apartments

• If your home needs $20,000+ in repairs

Zillow cannot adjust for any of this — but buyers, appraisers, and lenders can and do.

2. Google Estimates Don’t Know Your Condition or Unique Situation

When you Google your home value, the number you see is based on broad averages.It assumes your home is in average condition and in market-ready shape.

For many owners, that’s not the reality.

Older roofs, insurance issues, unpaid property taxes, tenant problems, or needed repairs can change a home’s real value significantly — and Google has no way of knowing any of this.

3. Online Estimates Don’t Include Local Laws or Market Pressure

Your real home value depends on real-world conditions, such as:

• New insurance cancellations in California

• 2026 fire-safety requirements

• New tenant laws

• Local rental caps

• Escrow shortages

• Interest rate shifts

• Active buyer demand in your specific neighborhood

Algorithms cannot keep up with California’s changing rules, especially in cities like Visalia, Tulare, Hanford, Fresno, Paso Robles, and Atascadero.

4. Zillow Doesn’t Know If Your Home Has Tenants

A home with:

• non-paying tenants

• long-term tenants

• Section 8 tenants

• squatters

• eviction timelines

• access problems

• needed repairs

…will not sell the same as a vacant owner-occupied home.

But Zillow gives both properties the exact same value, even though the pricing difference can be tens of thousands of dollars.

5. Homeowners Make Big Mistakes Based on Bad Online Numbers

We regularly talk to property owners who:

• Overpriced their home and lost months

• Underpriced their home and lost equity

• Thought their home was worth far more than buyers would pay

• Didn’t understand repair deductions

• Didn’t account for insurance cancellations

• Based decisions on outdated comps

Online data makes people feel confident — but it is rarely accurate.

6. Your Home’s Real Value Comes From Your Real Situation

The true value of your home comes from:

• Its condition

• Its location

• Its repairs needed

• Its tenant situation

• Its insurance status

• Its age, upgrades, and permit history

• Its market timeframe

• Your motivation and timeline

No algorithm can calculate that.

But real buyers and experienced local professionals can.

Romine Group Gives Accurate, Local, Real-World Home Values

Romine Group has bought and sold homes across:

• Tulare County

• Fresno County

• Kings County

• Madera County

• Kern County

• San Luis Obispo County

We walk properties in person, look at real condition, and factor in things Google and Zillow can never see.

We help homeowners with:

• Inherited homes

• Homes needing repairs

• Insurance-canceled homes

• Probate and conservatorship

• Tenant-occupied properties

• Homes with fire or vandalism damage

• Distressed or complicated situations

You get real numbers, not an algorithm guess.

Final Thought: Online Estimates Are Just Entertainment — Not Real Valuations

Google and Zillow are helpful for curiosity, but they cannot replace:

✔ in-person evaluation✔ local market knowledge✔ understanding of repairs✔ understanding of tenant issues✔ California law changes✔ insurance requirements

If you want an accurate value, you need someone who actually knows your home and your situation.

Call or text Romine Group for a real, private, accurate home value:📞 559-254-8223🌐 www.rominegroupre.com

No pressure. No obligations. Just the truth.