Why Pricing Your Home Based on a Z-Estimate Could Cost You Thousands If you’ve ever looked up your home on Zillow and gasped at the number, you’re not alone. That number is called a z-estimate. And while it might be fine for curiosity, it is not a strategy. It is not a pricing tool. And it is definitely not a marketing plan. Let me show you what happens when you don’t rely on an algorithm and instead, use a smart strategy built by a local expert.