Can I get my house valued if I'm not sure I want to sell?

Being unsure is where most sales start. Maybe the children are leaving, a job is moving, or the house simply feels too big or too small. You cannot weigh that up properly without knowing what your home is worth today.

A market appraisal is an estate agent's free opinion of the price your home would sell for. It is different from a mortgage valuation, which a lender orders, and from a RICS Red Book valuation, which a chartered surveyor charges for.

Will an estate agent pressure me to sell if I get a valuation?

A good agent will not, because pushing an undecided owner rarely wins the instruction later. The pressure most people worry about is the follow-up: the calls and emails in the weeks afterwards.

Expect some interest. RICS reported on 8 October 2026 that market appraisal activity is below the level of a year earlier, so agents value every appointment. You can set the terms at the start by saying how, and how often, you would like to hear from them.

How do I get a valuation without committing to anything?

1. 1. Decide what you want to learn

   Write down the question you are trying to answer, such as whether you could afford to move up, how much equity downsizing would release, or whether selling beats renting out.

2. 2. Invite at least three agents

   Three valuations show you where the realistic price sits and make a figure pitched high to win your business stand out.

3. 3. Say at the start that you are undecided

   Try: "We are thinking about selling in the next year but have not decided. We want an honest figure and your view on timing." It sets expectations for everything that follows.

4. 4. Ask for the figure in writing with its evidence

   Ask for the suggested asking price, the price they expect to achieve, and the sold homes behind it. The Property Ombudsman's code expects a recommended asking price to be supported by comparable evidence.

5. 5. Agree how they will contact you

   Tell each agent whether you prefer email or a call, and when you expect to decide. Most will respect a clear request.

6. 6. Work out your net figure

   Take the likely sale price, subtract your mortgage balance, the agent's fee, conveyancing and moving costs. That is the number that answers whether a move makes sense.

7. 7. Sign nothing on the day

   An agency agreement is only needed once you decide to sell. Read any tie-in period and notice terms before you sign it.

What can a valuation tell me while I'm still deciding?

Is now a sensible time to find out what my house is worth?

Read plainly, prices are flat rather than falling or climbing, and buyers are more cautious with mortgage rates near 6%. That makes today's figure a fair basis for a decision. A valuation from the spring, taken before rates rose, may now be out of date.

How long is a house valuation good for?

There is no fixed expiry date. In a steady market, a valuation is a reasonable guide for around three months. If mortgage rates move sharply, or similar homes nearby sell, it is worth asking for a fresh view before you list.

You do not need to have decided to sell before you find out what your home is worth. Finding out is how you decide.

Can I get a valuation without agents knowing who I am?

ValuQ gives UK homeowners free, side-by-side property valuations from competing local estate agents. You describe your home once, agents value it from that brief, and agents never get your details until you choose. If you decide not to sell, there is nobody to tell, and it is free, always.