Online home estimate vs. a hand-built CMA: why the number differs
An online estimate and a hand-built CMA answer the same question with very different tools. The online estimate is an algorithm working from square footage and public records across a whole region. A CMA, a comparative market analysis, is a real agent picking the specific recent sales that match your home and adjusting for what makes yours different.
Why online estimates miss
Tools like the Zestimate and Redfin's estimate can't see inside your home. They don't know you renovated the kitchen, that your street is quieter, or that your block sits in the better school boundary. In markets like Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Berkley, those details move price by tens of thousands. The estimate is a starting point, not a listing price.
What a hand-built CMA does differently
I start with the homes most like yours that sold within about a half-mile in the last few months. Then I adjust for condition, updates, lot, and location. The result is a number you can actually price and plan around, backed by the comps I used so you can see the reasoning.
Which should you trust?
Use the online estimate for a rough gut check. Use a hand-built CMA when you're making a decision. If you're thinking about selling now or in the next few years, you deserve a real number.
Updated August 2026
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