How Do Estate Agents Value Properties?

Before putting your property up for sale, you need to get an up-to-date valuation to determine the potential price you could sell the property for.

The valuation provided by your estate agent can help you establish what your home is worth, and a good agent will address any issues that you can solve in order to increase the valuation further and get the best price for your property.

An instant online valuation is a great way to get a rough estimate of your properties’ price, but a ‘rough estimate’ is all it should ever be taken as. Every property is different, so every valuation is calculated on a case-by-case basis. Two properties on the same street that look similar on paper could, in reality, be at opposite ends of the price range.

A face-to-face valuation will provide a more accurate valuation and an experienced agent will use their expertise and in-depth research to form their valuation report.

So, what will an estate agent consider when valuing your home and how does the process work?

Step 1: Before the valuation

As soon as you’ve booked the valuation with an agent, they’ll start to put your valuation report together by assessing the area of your property in-depth to understand more about your home. This will include:

  • the price of properties in the area
  • the sale duration of recently sold properties
  • the overall buyer demands
  • the type of properties that sell well
  • the local amenities and transport links
  • any local developments
  • the local schools
  • local and nationwide market reports

These considerations can all affect the value of your property, and your estate agent will make a note to point these out to buyers, too.

Step 2: Viewing your property

The next obvious step is to view your property. When your estate agent visits the property, they’ll have a chat with you to determine why you want to sell, what price you hope to sell for and whether they think it is achievable or not. Then they’ll take a tour of your property and make notes on their observations, measurements of the rooms, list all the selling points of your property, list all the selling points of your property as well as assess the general condition of the property.

They’ll more-than-likely also ask you:

  • When were your windows last replaced?
  • How old is your boiler?
  • Is the property leasehold? If so, who owns it and how long is left?
  • Do you know about anything else that might affect the price, such as structural issues?

There are no right or wrong answers, it’s about providing as much information for the agent to give you an accurate valuation.

At this point, the agent will suggest and recommend any changes, fixes or improvements you could carry out to make the property more desirable and increase the valuation.

Step 3: The valuation report

Once the viewing is complete and the agent has gathered all the information they need, they’ll then combine it with their market research and provide you with a detailed valuation report.

When you’ve received your report, the agent will be happy to discuss the reason behind their valuation and answer any questions you might have. A selling agent should always be able to explain how they’ve come up with their valuation and give examples of what comparable properties have sold for.

Their priority is to get the best result for you and will take your needs into account when marketing your property. For example, if you’re looking to sell your home fast, agreeing to reduce the price slightly below market value may help.

Choosing the right agent to sell

It’s not all about the numbers. While it can be tempting to choose the agent that values your home at the highest price, this does not mean that they can successfully sell it for that price. It’s all good and well having your property priced high, but if it hasn’t sold, it may be because the valuation is simply too high.

Additionally, the longer a home is on the market, the more likely buyers will think there’s something wrong with it, forcing you to then drop the price.

A sale at the right price is more important than an overpriced property unable to sell.

Choosing an experienced agent that knows the area inside-out and has a good reputation is more likely to result in a quicker sale or at least a sale at the right price.

Do you own a property in South Wales?

Get your FREE valuation from the Peter Morgan property experts today!

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