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Reasons to use RedFin.com
Home value tool: No doubt realizing the popularity — in spite of the controversy — of Zillow’s home value “Zestimate,” Redfin launched its own home valuation tool a couple of years ago. After entering your home’s address, the tool allows you to choose from a list of recently sold, comparable homes in the neighborhood and then calculates a value estimate for your property.
Allowing an owner to choose homes that are most similar in value to their own is a unique approach, especially when compared with Zillow’s Zestimate, which is a black box valuation tool without user input.
Instant updates: Smartphone or email notifications can be triggered when new homes are listed or when prices drop in the area that interests you the most.
Sellers can fuel demand: If you sell a home through a Redfin agent, you can notify other interested potential buyers when you receive an offer on your home, and set a deadline to accept competing offers.
Apps: Redfin ranked No. 5 overall among home search sites but earned “best-of-breed broker app” in a review by Clareity Consulting, an information and IT consultancy serving the real estate industry. “Redfin offers relevant functionality in a very palatable package,” Clareity says.
With large images and basic information presented in an initial view, a house hunter can easily drill down for more detailed info. Plus, a user can add his or her own pictures and notes to each listing.
App Store reviews laud Redfin’s ease of use, the sharable “Favorites” feature and open house search capabilities. However, iOS and Android users alike were looking for more home search filters, including parameters for swimming pools, fireplaces and garages.
The bottom line
With 10 years of venture capital funding under its belt, Redfin has a lot of believers, at least among the “smart money.” For users, the home search capabilities, powered by local Multiple Listing Services (MLS), are comparable to what you’ll find on Zillow and Realtor.com.
At best, only a tiny fraction of real estate agents in your area are likely to be represented in agent search results on Redfin. But the refund-powered broker/agent discount plan is worthy of consideration.
More from NerdWallet:
Hal Bundrick is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:
hal@nerdwallet.com . Twitter: @halmbundrick http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/redfincom-review/ 
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