How to get the best property valuation
Your property valuation shapes everything that follows — your asking price, your negotiating position, and how quickly you sell. Here is how to make sure yours reflects your home's true value.
Start with multiple valuations — always
The single most important thing you can do before setting an asking price is get valuations from more than one agent. Industry guidance recommends at least three.
Valuations on the same property from different agents can vary by 10–20% — which on a £400,000 home is £40,000 to £80,000. A single valuation is one person's opinion on one day. Multiple valuations give you a realistic range and help you identify outliers in both directions.
With ValuQ, you submit your property once and receive competing valuations from multiple local estate agents — without having to arrange separate appointments or fielding cold calls from every agent in your area.Get your free valuations →
How to prepare your home for a valuation
Declutter every room
Clutter makes rooms feel smaller and distracts agents from the property itself. Clear surfaces, remove excess furniture, and tidy storage areas. A cleaner, emptier space is easier for an agent to assess and easier for buyers to imagine themselves in.
Fix the obvious things
Dripping taps, broken light fittings, cracked grout, and peeling paint all send a signal that the property hasn't been well maintained. Agents factor condition into their valuations. Fix the easy things before a valuation visit.
Make it smell good
This sounds basic but it matters. Avoid strong cooking smells before a visit. Open windows, add fresh flowers, or run a diffuser. Agents are human — a fresh-smelling home creates a better impression.
Highlight recent improvements
If you have replaced the kitchen, added a bathroom, re-done the roof, or fitted a new boiler in recent years, mention this. Have receipts or documentation ready if possible. Agents cannot always see what is new — tell them.
Know your square footage
Price per square foot is a key benchmark agents use to compare properties. If you have a floor plan, have it to hand. If not, measure the key rooms. A larger-than-average property in its price band should be valued accordingly.
Know your local market
Look up what similar properties have sold for on your street in the last 6–12 months on Rightmove or Zoopla. If you can point to strong comparables, you are in a better position to discuss and challenge a valuation you think is too low.
What estate agents actually look for
Understanding what drives a valuation helps you present your property in the best possible light.
Red flags to watch out for
The agent doesn't show you any comparables
A good valuation should be backed by evidence — recent sold prices for similar properties nearby. If an agent can't or won't show you the comparable data behind their number, ask why.
The valuation is significantly higher than others
A dramatically higher valuation from one agent is a red flag, not a good sign. Ask them to justify it with comparable evidence. If they can't, they are likely overvaluing to win your instruction.
They suggest a very long tie-in period
Long tie-in periods (12+ weeks with no break clause) protect the agent, not you. Standard sole agency contracts are 4–8 weeks. Push back on anything longer.
They rush the visit
An agent who spends 10 minutes in your home cannot give you an accurate valuation. A thorough agent will walk through every room, ask questions, and spend at least 30–45 minutes on the visit.
Get competing valuations from local agents
Submit your property once. Compare valuations from multiple local estate agents. No cold calls until you choose who to work with.
Get my free valuation