How Do Estate Agents Value a House?

Are you thinking of selling your home? Moving properties is exciting, but there are several stages to be completed before you can move homes, one of which is valuation. Typically, a property valuation is done by a local estate agent in your area.

Having an estate agent’s valuation is key, giving you an idea of how much you could get to sell your home. To achieve the most accurate valuation, it’s important to work with an experienced estate agent.

Any good estate agent will have local knowledge and a clear understanding of the surrounding property market. These key attributes allow for the most accurate property valuation.

Although property valuations are a vital stage in the house-selling process, many homeowners remain unaware of how they’re done. To learn more about how an estate agent values a house, continue reading.

Factors in the Property Valuation Process

If you’re debating whether to sell your home, you’ll need a valuation to find out how much money your property is worth. When an estate agent values your home, they take into account several key factors, from house size to how much other properties in your area are selling for.

For an accurate valuation report, an estate agent will visit your home. Typically, valuations are free. While visiting your home, your local estate agent will likely ask some questions.

These could be about your property type (whether freehold or leasehold) or if there have been any issues with your property in the past. However, your estate agent will mostly focus on:

• Location – both your postcode and property location are a big factor in whether you’ll attract many potential buyers. If your property is located in an attractive neighbourhood with great amenities, it’ll likely gain interest

• Property type – demand for certain properties varies. Whereas some areas will have a demand for flats or apartments, others will be for larger family homes with outdoor space

• Kerb appeal – kerb appeal refers to how attractive your home is from a street view. How your property looks on arrival could affect an estate agent’s appraisal

• Size – the size of your property is a key factor during valuation. Your agent will look at the plot size of your property while assessing the amount of space in the house

• Condition – estate agents look at your property’s condition inside and out. This includes your property’s décor and any issues with dampness or your roof structure, to name a few

• Layout – the value of a property is often based on how many rooms it has. Agents consider the overall layout of your home and how your property compares to those in the area

• Garden space – how much outside space you have is critical when an estate agent values your home. They’ll be checking your garden size and whether your property has a driveway or only on-street parking

• Neighbourhood – estate agents look at the surrounding area of your home. They often check if your home is close to transport links, such as trains or bus stations

Preparing Your Home for Valuation

Preparing your home for valuation is essential. During valuation, an estate agent will assess your home – it’s important to declutter, make your property presentable and fix any issues, like faulty windows or old décor.

Ensuring the appearance of your home is at its best, and fixing any faults across the property could help massively during your valuation. A well-looked-after home that’s ready for a new family to move straight into is most beneficial. If your home needs a lot of work, potential buyers might consider other properties instead.

As well as fixing up your interior, there are ways to boost your kerb appeal, too. You don’t need to spend a huge amount addressing issues across your home – to improve the appearance of your property before valuation, you could:

• Clean your driveway
• Redecorate
• Clean your windows
• Remove any rubbish
• Repaint your fence
• Tidy up your outdoor space

What Happens After a Valuation?

So, what happens once your valuation is complete? Once a valuation has taken place, your local estate agent will provide you with all the necessary information regarding your property. They’ll give you an estimate of your property’s value and let you know how much your home could sell for in the local market.

Most estate agents in the UK offer a no-obligation valuation. If you decide to go ahead and sell your property once a valuation has been completed, prepare for buyers to potentially pitch below the asking price. When buyers offer below the asking price, it’s up to you as the homeowner to accept or decline.

Do You Need Your Wirral Home Valuated?

Are you looking to sell your home on the Wirral? At Liam Gretton, we work closely with clients across the Wirral Peninsula, helping make the process of selling your home quick and simple. Our invaluable team has a wealth of experience in the local market, so you can trust us to complete your house valuation.

We assess your property fully, picking up on your home’s unique features. We understand that selling your home can be daunting – many steps are involved in the home-selling process, but we’re here to make it as streamlined as possible for you.

Moving homes doesn’t have to be complex and time-consuming – we aim to make it enjoyable and hassle-free, helping tackle the more challenging parts of the process along with you. Offering support and guidance, we remain by your side throughout.

We have a wide range of properties available across our site for you to consider, from bungalows to detached homes. Our local knowledge has helped many happy clients. To learn more about our services, please get in touch today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.