Getting house valued

LydiaJ

I am beginning the process of buying a house privately - ie direct from the owner without an EA. I have agreed with the owners that they will get it valued, and I will get it valued, and we will use the two numbers as a basis for our price negotiations. (They will obviously give my valuer access.)

Any suggestions as to how I should go about getting this done? I am not getting a mortgage, so won't be having a mortgage valuation.

Thanks :beer:

Fire_Fox

You could get an estate agent to value the property, or pay a surveyor to value it. Surveyor will cost more but probably give a much lower figure so worth the punt.

JQ.

Why instruct 2 surveyors - it doubles your costs and is likely to lead to disagreement if they come out at different values.

If you want it done properly, jointly instruct a Chartered Surveyor to act as an Expert. They will provide you and the vendor with an opinion of value that you can both rely on and he/she will act completely independantly. Contact the RICS to get a list of residential valuers in your area and make sure you both both agree on who you appoint. This costs half the amount of using 2 surveyors and is less likely to lead to disagreements.

Do not use an Estate Agent to do a valuation, they are not qualified to value property - they give marketing advice.

Hope that helps.

silvercar

Ask your solicitor to recommend a RICS surveyor. If your solicitor specialises in property he should have business contacts, failing that there must be a RICS website to find local ones.