AI is everywhere right now — from your kid’s math app to the way Netflix knows exactly what you’ll binge next. But here’s the curveball: it’s also creeping into real estate. Yep, even Zillow’s Zestimate is powered by algorithms.
So what does that mean if you’re thinking of buying or selling in Southern New Hampshire or coastal Maine this year? Let’s break it down.
AI & Home Valuation: Why Your Zestimate Is Only Half the Story
AI tools can spit out instant home values faster than you can Google “what’s my house worth?” But here’s the thing — those algorithms don’t know your Chester curb appeal, the playroom fort you just built, or the fact that your neighbor with the trampoline hosts half the block on weekends.
AI gives a baseline number. It’s not useless — but it doesn’t replace an experienced agent who actually steps foot in your home, sees the upgrades, and knows what buyers in Chester or Portsmouth are paying for those exact features.
Smarter Marketing, Better Reach
On the selling side, AI is making marketing sharper. We’re talking:
- Predicting which buyers are most likely to move this year
- Running digital ads that follow the right people around online
- Creating 3D walkthroughs so buyers can “tour” your house in their pajamas
That means when your listing goes live, it’s not just hanging out on MLS. It’s actively showing up in front of the right buyers — the ones who are ready to pack a moving truck, not just scroll Zillow at midnight.
The Risks: When the Robots Get It Wrong
The downside? Algorithms aren’t perfect. Sometimes they get lazy and reinforce bias — pricing neighborhoods unfairly or missing the nuance of a market shift.
This is where a human filter matters. I know when AI is being helpful, and I know when it’s just spitting out numbers that don’t reflect reality.
What AI Can’t Replace (And Never Will)
Here’s the part no tech company can automate:
- Standing in your kitchen at 3 PM and feeling how the sunlight hits just right
- Walking down a street in Exeter and knowing instantly whether it feels like your kind of neighborhood
- Watching your kids run through a backyard and realizing — oh, this is home
AI can calculate square footage, but it can’t feel the heart of a house. That’s where I come in.
Quick Tips for Buyers & Sellers in 2025
- Buyers: Use AI search tools to get ideas, but don’t assume page 47 of Zillow holds your dream home. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.) Let’s cut through the noise and look at homes that actually make sense for your life and budget.
- Sellers: Let AI help expand your reach, but don’t skip the prep. Buyers still notice creaky stairs, sticky windows, and chipped paint — things no algorithm will catch.
Bottom Line
AI might be changing the way we search, click, and scroll — but when it comes to buying or selling a home in NH or ME, nothing beats a real strategy (and a real human) by your side.
Curious what this looks like for you? I offer free mini consults where we map out your options, your timing, and your next best step.
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