Current house value
Before you invite an estate agent to value your house, it's wise to do some homework so that you have a good idea of what it's worth before you start. Look at the local property papers to see what houses like yours in your area are being advertised at.
Recent sale prices
Here's another useful tip. You can find out what houses in your postcode area have recently sold for by looking at information collected by Nethouseprices . Nethouseprices is a free public service that provides access to UK house prices in England, Scotland and Wales, as recorded by the Land Registry (since April 2000) and the Registers of Scotland (since May 2000).
Instructing a valuation
The next step is to instruct several estate agents to value your house – there should be no charge for this service. Getting several quotations (even if you're not intending to use the agents) will allow you to compare them with each other and get a good idea of the spread of prices and commission levels that are available in the housing market in your area. An easy way to find estate agents with properties for sale in your area is to go to Estate Angels .
Each agent should also tell you in writing what their fees will be for handling the sale. Typically, this will be around 1.5% of the sale value – but don't be afraid to negotiate hard with them for a discount.
Setting a sale price
Don't be tempted to go with the highest valuation, the crafty agent may be overvaluing your house to flatter you into choosing them. Similarly, beware of low valuations, which may mean a lazy agent is just looking for a quick sale.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
