Do estate agents charge for valuing a house?

ho_hum_3

Ok, I am seperating from partner and need to get the house valued - do I ask an estate agent to do it? Do they charge? Do I need to get a surveyor to look at it ?- it needs a new roof really and has had subsidence damage in the past.

Any advice appreciated.

thanks

JQ.

If you actually want to know what it is worth then get a Chartered Surveyor, who will charge a fee. If you just want some marketing advice, then use an Estate Agent, who won't charge a fee.

If the purpose of the valuation is for the seperation then I would definately use a Chartered Surveyor and not an estate agent.

azkaban420

Hi there, EAs will usually do free house valuations to the effect that you 'market' your property to sell. They won't necessarily be experts at noticing damage/subsidence, but should you sell your house, your prospective buyer would need to get a relevant survey done to check any such work required.

Ring around local EAs and ask if they do free valuations, as you're 'possibly interested in selling your house'. Get 2-3 to come round and give their opinion, and take it from there Good luck!

Az

tinecu

No, estate agents don't normally charge for a valuation.

If you want to choose the right agent to sell you property, you need to know that they have plenty of experience (and therefore contact with potential buyers) in selling your type of property.

You can find out whether which house types an estate agent sells and in which post codes they are located on Home.co.uk

cardinalbiggles

Mine is for sale at the moment (In Scotland if anyone is interested in a 2 bed flat, none of that leasehold nonsense from south of the border ;-)) got 5 estate agents in 120k, 110-115k, 100k, 80k and 90k

House valued at 88k when the home report was done.

Estate agents dont value, they try and get your business.

SirDag

Estate agents suggest marketing prices and will let the market decide worth. They tend not to charge in the hope you will instruct them.

Surveyors will likely do far more research and take into account defects. The surveyor will come up with a lower figure and will charge.

SirDag

GDB2222

Lots of agents deliberately value high in the hope of getting the biz. You didnt say what you are going to do with the valuation. If you are going to buy your partner out, then you definitely need a surveyor's valuation.

googler

If you want a valuation for legal purposes, such as valuation of an estate for inheritance tax purposes, or for a separation, then you should get a written report from an RICS surveyor. If you then need to provide this valuation to a lender, solicitor or similar, you can then send that report to them, and they'll take it as read.

These folks won't rely on an EA's valuation, and you'll probably find it difficult to get a written valuation from an EA anyway.....

Jinx

I used to be an EA and would do any valuation for free (and put it in writing, good for customer satisfaction.) Given the structural issues get a surveyor out. If you need a recommendation phone your local EA and they will tell you who they use.