Houzeo Editorial Policy
This page explains exactly how we produce and verify our content, from the first research question to the final published piece.
Why This Page Exists
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people ever make. That's why we hold our content to a high bar for accuracy. This applies to all forms of content, whether it's an article for a home seller, a "best places to live" ranking, a neighborhood guide, or a housing market page.
Why We Take This So Seriously
An outdated line about disclosure laws or a stale crime statistic on a "best places to live" page can send someone toward a bad decision, sometimes even a costly one. That's a different level of responsibility than writing about home staging, and we treat it with the thoroughness the subject deserves.
Our writers and reviewers write from real experience, not just research. Jai Chavan, who leads Marketing at Houzeo, has 4.5 years of experience in real estate content. Houzeo itself operates as a listing platform; our content is informed by the experience of helping thousands of buyers and sellers navigate real estate transactions across the US. Questions raised by real customers frequently shape the topics we research and explain.
We match topics to people who actually understand them. When a subject goes beyond what we know internally, like a legal nuance or a state-specific rule, we bring in outside professionals such as licensed brokers to verify the content.
How Content is Produced at Houzeo
Five stages, every piece, from the first research question to the final published page.
Research
Every article, landing page, or data piece starts with a question: what does the reader actually need to know, and what's the most accurate, current answer we can give them? We name our sources rather than speak vaguely about them. Depending on the content, our research draws on:
Government and public data, including the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey for demographics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics for employment and cost of living, the FBI Crime Data Explorer for crime statistics, HUD for housing data, and IRS guidance for tax questions.
Market and pricing data, including MLS feeds, county recorder and assessor offices, Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for rate trends, and National Association of Realtors reports for national and regional trends.
Quality of life data, including Walk Score for walkability and local government sources for zoning, permits, and safety.
Direct experience, since Houzeo operates as an actual listing platform across many states and hears real questions from our support team.
Licensed professionals, whom we consult for anything involving legal nuance, tax implications, or state-specific rules.
Government and third-party data isn't perfect. The FBI Crime Data Explorer, for example, relies on voluntary reporting from local law enforcement agencies, so coverage and recency vary by jurisdiction.
Writing
Our writers aim for content that's genuinely useful, not stuffed with keywords and short on substance. We:
- Write for buyers, sellers, and investors as distinct audiences with varying needs.
- Write with clarity, defining jargon the first time it is mentioned.
- Stay neutral even when it doesn't favor us, laying out real tradeoffs when comparing Houzeo to a competitor or weighing FSBO against using an agent.
- Evaluate different real estate company products directly whenever possible rather than relying solely on marketing materials when reviewing other real estate services.
- Attach sources to claims while drafting, including the specific dataset or report behind any market stat or safety ranking.
Editing and Fact-Checking
Editing
Every piece passes through at least one editor before it's considered for review, and sensitive pieces often pass through more than that. Editing checks logical flow, sourcing, tone, and consistency with how we've covered related topics elsewhere on the site.
Fact-Checking
Fact-checking is a separate pass focused purely on accuracy:
We distinguish between verified facts, analysis, and opinion. Factual claims are supported by authoritative sources. Where interpretation or judgment is involved, we explain the reasoning and identify it as analysis rather than fact.
Subject Matter Review
This is the step we consider non-negotiable for sensitive, high-stakes topics. Before anything involving legal, financial, tax guidance, or claims about a location's safety or livability is published, it is reviewed by a credentialed professional whose expertise matches the subject. Our in-house legal team reviews content that's related to laws, taxes, or safety.
We match reviewers to topics rather than routing everything through a single person. Houzeo works with licensed real estate brokers across the country. A few of them include:
Gary BishaTexasMy Castle Realty / TexasFSBO.com
Ronnie GlombNew JerseyYour Town Realty
Jorge RomeroIllinoisRealty One Group Inc.
Zachary GreenbergFloridaThe Greenberg Group
Jason DavisMichiganOceans Realty
Stephanie SandovalArizonaHomeSmart Lifestyles
Mark KartenNew YorkKarten Real Estate Services
Joe HawkinsVirginiaHawkins Real Estate Company, LLC
Tom MacateeTexas
David SaikalyCaliforniaLocals Real Estate
Nicholas HuscroftColorado, Ohio, MissouriColoradoChosen Realty
Tesha PerryAlabamaNew Life Realty Group LLC
Derek GreeneRhode IslandThe Greene Realty Group
We don't just review content whenever we happen to notice it's stale. We revisit legal, financial, tax, and safety content at least once every 12 months, or sooner if the underlying law, rate, or figure changes.
Publishing
Once a piece clears all of the above, it goes live, but that's not the finish line. We:
Date every article and landing page, and note when it was last updated.
Revisit high-traffic content and location-specific pages on a regular cadence, since market data, home prices, and crime statistics shift, often faster than people expect.
List author and reviewer credentials on the article itself, so you can see exactly who stands behind the information.
Our Use of AI in Content Production
We use AI tools in parts of our content process, including research assistance, drafting support, and data organization. AI does not replace our editing, fact-checking, or subject matter review steps. Every piece that touches legal, financial, tax, or safety content is reviewed and approved by a qualified human before it is published.
Corrections
We're a team of people, and people make mistakes. When we get something wrong, whether a reader flags it or we catch it ourselves during a review, we correct it within 7 days and update the article's revision date.
If you spot something that seems off in a Houzeo article or landing page, we want to hear about it. You can reach us at support@houzeo.com, and we'll look into it.
Report an issue to seosupport@houzeo.comNot a Substitute for Professional Advice
Houzeo's content is written to inform, not to replace individual advice from a licensed professional. Real estate transactions involve state-specific law, individual financial circumstances, and details that a general article can't account for.
Before making a legal, tax, or financial decision, we encourage you to consult a licensed attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor who can look at your specific situation.
How We Handle Business Interests and Editorial Independence
Houzeo is a real estate listing platform, and yes, we have a business. But our editorial content, including our landing pages, is built to help readers make informed decisions, whether or not that decision involves using Houzeo.
Here's how we try to keep that line clear:
- When we recommend a path, whether that's using a Flat Fee MLS service or hiring an agent, we explain who each option tends to work best for.
- Comparison content is built on the same criteria across every company we cover, including ourselves, so the scale isn't tilted in our favor.
- Rankings of neighborhoods, cities, or "best places to live" are built on the same public data sources for every location, not adjusted to favor markets where Houzeo has a stronger presence.
- Any sponsored content, partnership, or affiliate relationship is clearly disclosed.
- Our editorial and content teams operate independently from sales when it comes to deciding what's factually accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes and reviews Houzeo's content?
In-house writers, editors, and licensed brokers review Houzeo's content. Real estate attorneys review anything involving legal, financial, tax, or safety information before it is published.
Does Houzeo use AI to write its content?
AI is used in parts of our process, such as research and drafting support. But every piece of content focused on legal, financial, tax, or safety topics is reviewed and approved by a qualified human before publishing.
How often is Houzeo's content updated?
High-traffic and location-specific pages are revisited on a regular cadence. Content tied to specific rules, like loan limits, tax law, or state disclosure requirements, is reviewed at least once every 12 months, or sooner if the underlying rule changes.
What happens if Houzeo publishes something inaccurate?
We correct it within 7 days of being made aware and update the article's revision date.
Is Houzeo's "best places to live" or market data content biased toward its own business?
No. The methodology of the best places rankings and other comparisons use the same public data sources and criteria for every location and company we cover, including ourselves.
