Online estimates give you a number. A real valuation gives you context, accuracy, and confidence.

If you’ve ever called an agent and asked, “Can you tell me what my house is worth?” you’re not alone. We get that question all the time. And while it sounds simple, the truth is, it’s one of the hardest questions to answer without context.

When someone asks for a value out of the blue, the first step is usually to look at recent sales. That gives us a starting point. But just like typing symptoms into WebMD, a quick result doesn’t tell the whole story. It might point you in a direction, but it’s not a diagnosis.

What online estimates miss about your home. Online estimates and surface-level numbers don’t account for what makes your home different. They don’t know if your roof is brand new or twenty years old. They don’t know if you’ve updated the windows, replaced the HVAC system, or renovated the kitchen. Those details matter, and they can shift value more than most people realize.

How do we determine your home’s value? One of the first things we’ll ask for is a walkthrough of your home. Accurate pricing takes more than pulling numbers. It requires careful research and due diligence. Along with seeing the property, we analyze three key types of data: active listings, pending sales, and recent closed sales. 

We typically focus on sales from the last three to six months, since older data quickly becomes irrelevant in a fast-moving market. Even then, data alone has limits, which is why context matters.

“Online estimates give you a number. A real valuation gives you context.”

Conditions, upgrades, and location change everything. Numbers alone aren’t enough. Two homes with the same floor plan can sell for very different prices based on how they’ve been maintained and improved over time. 

During our conversation, we have to ask the tough questions:

● Is your roof twenty years old, or is it brand new? 
● Do you have impact windows or original glass? 
● Are the AC units updated, or are they fifteen years old?

These are major capital improvements. They are the factors that allow us to adjust the pricing up or down. Along with the physical condition, we have to look at your specific location and the quality of your upgrades.

Pricing is always a range, not a number. That’s why we don’t give a single exact number. Pricing is a range, not a pinpoint. Getting close requires seeing the home, asking the right questions, and having an honest conversation about its strengths and limitations.

If you are curious about where your home sits in today’s market, let’s skip the guessing games and look at the facts together. Call us at (561) 843-4464 or email dankarp@kw.com or laurie@activeluxury.com. We’re always here to answer questions and walk you through the numbers.