What to ask at an estate agent valuation before selling your home

Ask how the agent chose the price, what the fee covers and when you’ll review viewings and offers.

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Rightmove reported a rise in requests for estate-agent valuations in January 2024. That was a snapshot of activity on its platform. For a homeowner preparing to sell, the appointment itself offers a chance to find out how an agent would price and market the property.

Ask how the agent arrived at the figure

Ask which homes the agent used for comparison and why they are similar. A house on the same road may have a different layout, tenure or condition. Ask which prices came from completed sales and which came from current listings. HM Land Registry’s sold-price search can help you check completed sales in England and Wales. Recent sales can take time to appear.

Ask the agent to explain the proposed asking price and the range they would expect buyers to consider. The suggested asking price helps shape how the property is marketed. It may change once viewings start and buyers respond. If two agents offer very different figures, ask each to explain what evidence would change their view.

Compare the service as well as the price

Find out who will take photographs, write the listing and host viewings. Ask which days viewings can be offered and how quickly you will hear the feedback. If the home has a feature that needs explaining, such as shared access or a planned building repair, discuss what buyers should know at the outset.

Request the terms in writing. Check what is included in the fee, whether VAT is included, when payment becomes due and how long the appointment runs. Ask who will follow up with the buyer and other parties once a sale is agreed. That work can make a difference to how quickly you hear about delays or missing information.

Agree when to review progress

Set a date to look at enquiries, viewings and offers after launch. Ask what the agent would change if people view without making an offer, or if similar homes start going under offer first. Keep the evidence behind each agent’s proposal alongside the price and fee so you can compare all three.

Historical source: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/home-valuations-hit-new-record/

Sold-price search: https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-property-and-land/search-property-prices

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