Hometrack Reviews 10

Hometrack/Zoopla appear to show a reduction in the value of properties in Colchester area despite the Office for National Statistics showing a 4.7% year-on-year (Oct '23-Oct '24) price increase for houses in the area.

I tried to use Hometrack to get a valuation of my property in 2015. I was able to complete the form, entering that date and make payment, however the email I received provided a valuation for the current date. Two emails have gone unanswered. Got my money, not got the valuation.

Worst property data software I have ever used. Told us we could cancel anytime then locked us into a contract for 12 months. The comparables it gives are very inconsistent and poor customer service

Zoopla use Hometrack to value properties but there are massive inconsistencies even against the same property type next to one another.

I have a persimmon home. 5 beds 3 baths and 2 reception rooms is valued as the same as one of my immediate neighbour with a 4 bed house and a garden a 1/4 the size of our garden. Our house is 25% bigger, but valued lower than theirs. Then on the other side we have a neighbour who has exactly the same house type. Admittedly, they have had additional work done but the differential in the valuation just cannot be explained.

Come on Hometrack , please get your house in order and stop affecting peoples lives in this way.

Disgraceful, arrogant and ignorant abuse of a senseless and inaccurate algorithm that has caused genuine financial distress.
When this hopeless company took over valuation estimates for Zoopla, my house value on the site plunged from a realistic 2.2 million to 1.5 million (although market prices rose during the period). The company are totally unreachable to respond to model issues. Finally, I saw a Hometrack report shown to me by a prospective buyer who pulled out because his bank used the hometrack value when he sought a mortgage. The square footage of my house used in their model is over 20% lower than the real figure. The prior sold value is based on a completely different house (a third of the size) on the site, that was demolished 11 years ago, and the regional market trend data is wrong and entirely different from that used for my neighbours’ houses.
I am about to consult lawyers to address the ongoing financial difficulty caused.

Zoopla valuations used to be reasonably accurate and a good guide for buyers and sellers. Not since Hometrack was introduced! I have just had a series of emails with Zoopla explaining that mine is one of four identical houses in a small cul-de-sac. We all bought our houses from new and none of us have carried out significant changes to property characteristics (eg extensions). Zoopla are unable to explain how all four have estimated valuations which are different. My next door neighbour's house (identical to mine, purchased at the same time) is valued at £57,000 more than mine! Zoopla cannot explain this. All emails with the support team just spew out the same rubbish about their AVM using 'data points' etc and how valuations cannot be manually changed. Basically - "Computer says No!". I have lost all faith in Zoopla. They need to ditch this AVM as it is not fit for purpose.

The failure of this company working conjunction with Zoopla to predict house prices without seeing them , not knowing land area size , extensions or any other property upgrades.
This in turn led to a dramatic fall in some property values using their newly introduced AVM more worrying this information was being used by Estate Agents. Lenders & surveying companies as a start guidelines

So rather than an estimated realistic valuation you ended up with a guesstimate value.

Hometrack and Zoopla - both the same: estimates and values all over the place, won't belong before you're swamped with negative reviews, but not to worry just do as your other half (Zoopla) did - claim the business, become a paying member, get employees, family and friends and anyone who wants a free gift to give a nice fake review and hey presto the genuine and honest negative reviews get taken down. Too tired to send any more emails detailing my concerns which never get answers!

Hometrack is the company that values your house using a so called Algorithm "AVM". Quite frankly you may as well think of a number as that is likely to be more accurate than those produced by their totally flawed model.

This company used to be headed up by the now CEO of Zoopla, Charlie Bryant, who appears to have turned the fortunes of a once go ahead useful online property platform into a now useless one!

Hometrack clearly do not have a clue about property valuations and Zoopla really ought to know better. Still its hardly surprising when you look at the former CEO's background which includes Deutsche Bank who are not without their own issues!