In brief ↘
An online estimate (such as a Zestimate or Redfin Estimate) is an automated guess at value. It is not an appraisal and not an offer—nobody has agreed to pay it. A cash-offer button on the same page starts that site's or a partner's own process, with its own terms and fees. An offer is only real when a specific buyer puts a price and terms in writing for your property.
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What is an online home estimate?
Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com each publish an automated valuation built from public records, recent sales, and their own models. The sites themselves describe these as starting points, and their published accuracy figures vary by market and by whether a home is listed. Estimates for the same house often differ from each other—sometimes widely—which is why comparing more than one is useful.
An estimate is not an appraisal (a licensed appraiser's opinion of value, usually for a lender) and not an offer (a buyer's written commitment to a price and terms). Neither the condition inside your home nor your timeline is usually reflected in it.
See how each site explains its own number: Zillow Zestimate, Redfin Estimate.
What happens when you click a cash-offer button?
Depending on the site and your location, the button may connect you with a company that buys homes directly, refer your details to an agent or investor who pays for the introduction, or start a purchase program run by the site or a partner. Fees, repair deductions, timelines, and who actually buys are set by that process—not by the estimate you were looking at.
None of that is wrong. It is simply a separate decision that deserves your full attention, not one to drift into while copying a number.
| What you see | What it is | What it commits anyone to |
|---|---|---|
| Online estimate | An automated value guess from public data and models. | Nothing. No one has agreed to pay it. |
| Cash-offer button | An entry point into a specific company's or partner's sales process. | Usually you share contact details; any offer comes later on that company's terms. |
| Written offer | A named buyer's price and terms for your actual property. | The buyer's stated terms, subject to the contingencies in the contract. |
Where do I find the estimate on each site?
On Zillow
The Zestimate appears near the top of the property page. Prompts to connect with buyers or see selling options are Zillow's own process—copy only the estimate.
On Redfin
The Redfin Estimate is on the property page. Nearby prompts promote Redfin's brokerage and selling services, which start a Redfin process.
On Realtor.com
Realtor.com shows estimated values, sometimes from more than one provider, and may show third-party offers or connections. Those belong to that site's process.
How do you tell a real offer from a sales funnel?
The working page
Before you click a cash-offer button
- 01Who receives my name, phone, and email—and can they share it with others?
- 02Is the first number an offer in writing, or a preliminary range pending inspection?
- 03What fees, service charges, or repair deductions come off the headline price?
- 04Who is the actual buyer, and can the contract be assigned to someone else?
- 05Can I compare this against listing, with the same net-proceeds math, before deciding?
How is an OfferLnz offer different?
With OfferLnz, an offer comes from a specific buyer who reviewed your actual property—its condition, your timeline, your situation—and put a number in writing that you can accept, counter, or decline. A local agent helps you compare it side by side with listing, so you see net proceeds and terms before deciding anything.
An estimated range shown earlier is orientation, not an offer. Offers aren't guaranteed, and you're never obligated to accept one.
Put the decision to work
If a real buyer offer would help you compare paths, start with your property details. You can still decide to list, wait, or do nothing.