How Do I Know What My Home Is Worth?

In Summary:

• Start by finding 3–6 recent comparable sales in your market and adjusting for the condition and features of the sold homes to help answer the common question: “How do I know what my home is worth?”
• Use a calculator to set a ballpark figure, then discuss it with a local professional like Schulte & Co. if you want a more specific estimate.
• Experts can factor in dozens of additional market influences to help determine your ideal asking price and create a personalized sales strategy moving forward.

Most homeowners have a lot of trouble finding a reliable sales estimate when they try to price their home. Even searching for key datapoints like “market value of my house” can often be fruitless, leading to jumping from one home value estimator to another in a bid for the one true answer.

However, those aren’t the only people looking to learn about the value of their home. Those planning upgrades, wanting to refinance, or even those simply looking to keep up with ‘The Joneses’, are all on the hunt for the best way to figure out what their home would net them.

How Do I Know What My Home Is Worth?

Start by ensuring you have enough data so that working out a value becomes all the easier. You should be able to source this information online, such as from a home value estimator website or another site.

Then, work out which homes are the most like yours in terms of as many traits as possible. For many, you may want to focus on the:

• Property condition

• Layout

• View from the windows

• Lot utility

• Parking options

• Hyper-recent sales for specific comparison

Each of these could have an impact, but in a waterfront region like Gig Harbor, you should pay close attention to the view, as the location attracts many looking for a picturesque retirement or a family life with a relaxing twist. For these reasons, homes can regularly go for over $900,000, according to Gig Harbor Now.

Once you’ve found some good examples with which to build your average, adjust them for additional elements, such as:

• Days on market (DOM)

• Proximity to landmarks, such as a school or the waterfront

• Age of the home

• Utility options

• HOA reputation

Make sure you base these estimates on real, recent sales. Due to the difference in the dollar over time, more recent data will be a much more valuable data point.

What is the Most Accurate Site for Home Values?

Having access to a more accurate home value calculator gives you a better comprehension of how much your home is worth when it comes to its realtor home value.

However, there are dozens of options available, each offering differing opinions. For example, Redfin has Estimate, Zillow has Zestimate, and there are dozens more in between. 

Each may have its own estimation process, but none is “more accurate” than the others. This fact is especially true when it comes to the types of unique and heavily sought-after homes that you find in Gig Harbor. 

Online websites tend to average out their estimates. Each will likely give you a broadly similar estimate, but this also makes it very difficult to judge the nuances of a specific option, since they all draw on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data and public records. The differences, instead, come from the individual algorithms each option uses.

Why Does a Local Realtor Provide the Most Accurate Home Valuation?

Algorithms can be a powerful tool. For example, they can tell you how to price a unique home in Gig Harbor that might otherwise be challenging to value. However, you need to do your due diligence to ensure it has both valid data and enough of it to work effectively.

The algorithm is often unlikely to know, for example, where every school district is, if you have micro neighborhoods, or the exact impact local waterfront premiums are going to have on your home. Regardless, it would not be enough to beat an expert:

“As a local expert, I can see value that a formula can’t.” - Paige Schulte, 2025

It just goes to show that key expertise can go a long way.

How Realtors Evaluate Home Work

Many realtors begin the valuation process with a comparative market analysis (CMA). The process analyzes a home alongside many recent, similar sales and adjusts for differences to determine an accurate starting price for the property.

Schulte & Co. uses these tools alongside steps such as:

• Touring the property

• Reviewing upgrades

• Analyzing local sales data

• Confirming data such as square footage

• Noting school zones and commute routes that impact demand

If you choose to consult with us, we will perform our due diligence, doing as many of these as is reasonable before any discussion. We can then investigate others once we have discussed your needs.

Tracking Home Appreciation Over Time

A home appreciation calculator can help you estimate potential changes in home value over time. So long as you know how much your home is worth now, you can model the returns you can expect from such an investment.

However, ensure you network with a real estate agent who knows how to adjust their calculations in response to market shifts. They can take such market changes in their stride and offer you much more precise, up-to-date value estimates before a sale.

Source a Precise Estimate for Your Next Sale

Start by sourcing recent, comparable, local sales data, then use some of the above tools to confirm the prices you are seeing. Next, work with Schulte & Co. to develop a clear pricing roadmap. We can translate these calculations and adjustments into a strong asking price range.

After you ask, “How do I know what my home is worth?”, revisit your numbers every six months (or after a sale or renovation) to continue tracking your home’s value.

Whether you’re selling now or considering it for later, contact Schulte & Co. for strong Gig Harbor market expertise. We can work with you to sell your home, whether it’s your first, second, or one in a larger portfolio.

FAQs: How Do I Know What My Home Is Worth?

How do I find out what my house is worth?

Start by researching recent comparable home sales in your neighborhood. Look for 3–6 homes similar in size, age, and condition to yours and adjust for upgrades, views, or lot size. You can also use online valuation tools for a baseline and consult a local expert like Schulte & Co. for a professional opinion.

What is the most accurate home value website?

Sites like Zillow’s Zestimate or Redfin Estimate can provide quick ballpark figures based on public data, but no algorithm is perfect. Each platform uses different formulas, so your estimate may vary. For a precise figure, rely on local expertise from a real estate professional who understands Gig Harbor’s unique market dynamics.

Is Zillow or Redfin more accurate?

Both use MLS data and automated algorithms, so neither consistently outperforms the other. Zillow may lean higher or lower depending on the area. In smaller, coastal markets like Gig Harbor—where homes vary significantly—local Realtor estimates almost always provide a more accurate assessment than either platform.

How do realtors determine home value?

Realtors use a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to assess your home against recent, similar sales. They consider property condition, upgrades, school zones, commute routes, and current demand. Schulte & Co. supplements CMA data with local knowledge and property tours to develop an accurate price strategy.