Should I tell an estate agent I'm getting other valuations?

Inviting three or four agents round and telling each of them about the others can feel awkward, but it should not. A market appraisal is an estate agent's free, no-obligation opinion of the price your home should be marketed at. Comparing several of them is how you find the honest figure.

Will an estate agent mind if I'm getting other valuations?

No. Comparing agents is normal, and most agents assume you are doing it whether you say so or not. Saying it openly helps you: an agent who knows they are being compared is more likely to bring sold-price evidence, a clear marketing plan and a sharper fee.

The market makes this truer than usual this autumn. On 8 October 2026 RICS reported that market appraisal activity is still below the level of a year earlier, while buyer enquiries weakened for the first time since March. Fewer valuation visits and cautious buyers mean every new instruction matters to an agent.

A net balance is the share of surveyors reporting a rise minus the share reporting a fall. A reading of -22% means more surveyors saw buyer enquiries drop than rise; it does not mean enquiries fell by 22%.

What should I tell each estate agent, and what should I keep back?

Should I tell an agent what the other valuations were?

Not at the appointment. If an agent hears that a rival suggested £20,000 more, the quickest way to win your business is to match it. That feels good for a week and costs you later.

Rightmove's May 2026 figures show the cost. Homes that needed a price reduction spent an average of 127 days on the market, against 36 days for homes that did not, and 32% of homes for sale had already been reduced.

Once every valuation is in, it is fair to go back and ask about a gap, for example: "Another agent suggested a higher figure. Which sold homes would support it?" That asks for evidence, not a bidding war.

Tell every agent they are being compared. Never tell them what the others said.

How do I ask an estate agent to show their evidence?

Comparable evidence is a list of similar homes nearby that have actually sold recently, with their prices and dates. Homes still for sale are not comparables, because an asking price is a hope, not a result.

Asking for it is reasonable. The Property Ombudsman's Code of Practice says a recommended asking price must be given in good faith, reflect current market conditions and be supported by comparable evidence (paragraph 4a), and that the evidence is kept on file (paragraph 4b).

• "Which three sold homes is your figure based on, and when did they sell?"
• "What would you list at, and what do you expect it to actually sell for?"
• "How long do you expect it to take to find a buyer at that price?"
• "What happens if there are no offers in the first four weeks?"

Does telling agents I'm comparing get me a better fee?

Often, yes: estate agent fees are negotiable, and an agent who knows you are choosing between several firms has a reason to be competitive. Choose on the strength of the evidence and the plan, though, not the lowest fee alone. Our sale proceeds calculator shows what each fee means in pounds against your likely sale price.

How can I compare estate agents without the awkward conversations?

ValuQ gives UK homeowners free, side-by-side property valuations from competing local estate agents. Every agent values your home from the same brief, knowing they are being compared. You see every figure on one screen before you speak to anyone, agents never get your details until you choose, and it is free, always.