If you’re looking to sell your home, then there are plenty of ways to find out how much it is worth. Property listing prices are usually decided by experienced estate agents who will examine the home and determine how much it may be worth to buyers. So for this initial stage - how much does a valuation cost? The good news is that it is totally free and costs nothing!

However, if you are looking for a more detailed valuation, there are other avenues to explore. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about property valuations and their costs.

Who charges for valuations?

Your traditional estate agents will not charge for a valuation. Usually, their valuations will also be no obligation, meaning you don’t have to list your home with them if you choose not to sell. You can expect the following services to charge for their valuations:

• Chartered surveyors
• Mortgage lenders

You can reach out to chartered surveyors for accurate house valuations, and they will charge from £300 for this service.

Mortgage lenders will also carry out valuations in order to find out how much the property is worth before loaning the money. You’ll usually pay an additional £100 or so on top of your other fees as you won’t be able to borrow the mortgage amount from the lender until they carry out the valuation.

What do valuations cost the estate agent?

As mentioned, estate agent valuations are usually free of charge, but what does it cost them to carry out a valuation?

First, the agent will have to factor in their travel time and costs to view the property. Then they’ll gather data about houses of similar sizes in the area, data about house prices in the same postcode and the demand for homes in the location. Once the agent has visited the home, viewed the entire property and then put together all the information, you’re looking at around 3 hours work — which could be anywhere between £80-£150 worth of time and costs (such as petrol or charges to access property data) to the firm.

Types of house valuations and fees

Now we’ll look at the following types of valuations in more detail, and how much you can expect to spend. There are 4 main types of valuation you will experience:

Online valuations

Online house price calculators are widely available across the internet. These tools use mathematical algorithms to provide a house price estimate.

Some tools are more accurate than others. Zoopla's house price calculator for example, does not account for recent developments to your propety. Our Valuation Tool however, uses the latest information about your home to provide a realistic price. You can use it for free today.

Estate agent valuation

With an Estate agent valuation, an agent will visit your home, for free, to give you an idea of how much it would be worth. This valuation will then be used to determine what the asking price is set at when marketing your property. Estate agents will use multiple factors to decide how much your house is worth.

Independent house valuation

A neutral third party (who is not connected to the buyer or seller) comes to view the property to give an unbiased opinion on the value. This will be an independent surveyor or a chartered surveyor and will cost upwards of £300.

RICS

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) can value properties, and provide surveys that will contribute to an accurate valuation. Often RICS surveys and valuations are used in the buying process, and not before a house is put up for sale, but in some cases, they can be. For example, if you are buying or selling a property with the government Help To Buy for shared equity then you may need RICS surveys before listing the home, or completing a sale.

Mortgage valuation

Mortgage lenders will value the home (often using RICS surveys) after an offer has been made and accepted. The valuation is to ensure that the property is worth what the buyer has offered, so the bank or lender knows they are not loaning out more money than the home is actually worth.

What’s the difference between a valuation and a survey?

A valuation is when the home is examined to determine how much it can be worth, however, a property survey is to look for structural issues as well as hidden defects. Generally, surveys will need to be done when buying or selling a property and will have a cost attached for each type of survey.

How much do surveys cost?

Let’s take a look at some of the surveys and evaluations that may be required on a home. The costs are an average, but bear in mind you may pay more or less depending on the size and value of your home.

Is it worth getting a property valuation?

Yes it is definitely worth getting a property valuation and for some stages in the [house buying prohttps://www.getagent.co.uk/blog/buying/how-to-buy-a-house (https://www.getagent.co.uk/guide/buying-a-house/how-to-buy-a-house) it's also a requirement. In the early stages of selling your home, you should get a valuation to understand the potential asking price in the current market. You don’t necessarily need a valuation, but it puts your expectations in the right place and an estate agent will usually offer this service when listing the home.

As a buyer, however, the home must be valued if you are using a mortgage to buy the property. In England, the mortgage lender has to value the home after you make an offer before they lend you the money.

How to get your house valued for free

To get a free valuation, you can simply approach an estate agent:

1. Enquire at a few estate agents, both digital and brick-and-mortar.
2. Ready your home and garden for viewing.
3. Research house prices in your local area to set your expectations.

Usually, estate agents will value your home for free, but you should expect a few follow-up calls too, as they’ll be looking to list the property for you.