23rd Aug 2024 (24 days ago)
Recently had Bairstow Eves do a valuation on our house and had Lesley come to view. She was very nice, prompt, professional and thorough in exploring the property so no complaints there. The issue we had primarily was the valuation itself; I’m aware that everyone has different opinions and not all will be the same but we knew as soon as she pulled out the comparable properties in the area that she was going to value ours down fairly significantly. I’d already done my market research and thought £140-150k was fair, confirmed when another estate agency came and gave that exact valuation. Bairstow Eves however were adamant that £140k would be a push, the very top end and that we’d be waiting a while to sell it at that and the surveyors would never agree to a price above it. She said £150k was absolutely out of the question and whoever gave that valuation didn’t know what they were talking about and if we wanted to sell it fast we’d be better at £130-£135k. We completely disagreed with this as a house 2 doors up from ours sold for £130k through Bairstow Eves with no off street parking (we have a drive for 2 cars) and no outdoor studio and a smaller garden. I also did my own market research after she left and again, it was not on par with similar houses in the vicinity that were not in the good condition ours was in.
Obviously we’re free to choose who we have sell our house, and we went with someone else in the end, but Lesley’s adamant valuation made us question ourselves and so rather than go for the £150k which we’d originally wanted, we put it on for £145k.
It sold to the first person who came to look, before it even went to market, for the full asking price. The surveyor approved the price with their lender also so potentially could have got more if we’d wanted.
Like I said I know house valuations vary but the conviction she had that we, and the other estate agency, were wrong and repeatedly told us we would never reach any where near that price goes to show that they don’t quite know as much as they suggest they do.... Read more