I recently tested ChatGPT to tell me what my San Diego home is worth. It gave me a number very quickly, but when I looked closer, I realized the AI was making mistakes that could potentially cost a homeowner a lot of money.
While AI tools like ChatGPT or “Zestimates” are fun to use, they don’t live here in San Diego. They are just computer programs looking at data. Here are three big reasons why they get it wrong:
1. The “Canyon Effect”
In San Diego, we have many canyons. One house might have a big, flat backyard where kids can play. The house next door might be right on the edge of a steep hill with no usable land. A computer thinks these two lots are the same size, so it gives them the same value. But you and I know that a flat yard is worth much more than a cliff!
2. The View
AI cannot “see” through your windows. To a computer, a window is just a window. It doesn’t know if you are looking at a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean or staring at a plain gray wall. In our city, a great view can add $100,000 or more to your price. AI simply misses this.
3. School Districts
Your home value changes based on which side of the street you live on. One side might go to a top-rated school, while the other side goes to a different district. AI often groups these houses together, which is a huge mistake.
4. Recent Upgrades
AI only looks at old public records. It doesn’t know if you just spent thousands of dollars on a gorgeous new kitchen or put on a brand-new roof last month. Because the computer can’t walk through your front door, it treats your beautifully renovated home the same as a house that hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.
5. Neighborhood Feel
A computer doesn’t know what it’s like to actually stand on your sidewalk. It can’t tell the difference between a peaceful, quiet cul-de-sac and a street that is noisy with cars passing by all day. That “feeling” of a neighborhood is a huge part of what people are willing to pay for.
To learn more about online home value estimates, click here.
Why does this matter to you?
If you trust a computer to price your home, you could easily lose $50,000 or more! You might list your home for too little and lose profit, or list it for too much and have it sit on the market for months with no buyers.
This is why you need a human expert who knows every street in our city. I am Shirin Rezania Ramos, a real estate broker here in San Diego with 20 years of experience. I see the small details that a computer will always miss.
If you want to buy or sell for the best price, don’t leave it to a machine. Please reach out to me at 858-345-0685, and let my local knowledge help you get the most money for your home.
What is your home worth? click here.
Homes for sale in Carmel Valley click here.
Shirin Rezania Ramos | 858.345.0685 | www.shirinramos.com | Compass, DRE 0203379
