Questions to Ask at an Estate Agent Valuation

A valuation appointment is a conversation, not a verdict

An agent walks through your home, compliments the kitchen and gives you a figure. It is tempting to treat that figure as the answer. It is more useful to treat it as the beginning of a conversation about evidence, buyer demand and how the property might be sold.

You do not need to interrogate the agent. You do need to understand what sits behind the recommendation, particularly if you will use it to make decisions about an onward purchase.

Ask what has actually sold

Which three completed sales most influenced your opinion? Ask the agent to show you the properties and explain the similarities. A home on the same road may be less relevant than one further away with a comparable floor area, layout and condition.

What makes my home different from those sales? Listen for specific differences, not a general claim that your property is exceptional. Parking, plot size, an extension or an unusual layout can change the comparison. The effect is not necessarily equal to the money spent on an improvement.

How recent is the evidence? A transaction from an earlier market can still be informative, but the agent should explain why it remains relevant. Completed sales are more useful for understanding achieved prices than current asking prices, which tell you what sellers hope to receive.

Ask which recent sales are most comparable; Ask what would change the recommended price; Find out who will handle viewings and feedback

Ask which price the agent is recommending

Is this your estimate of what a buyer may pay, or the price you want us to advertise? The two can differ. A higher launch price may be a deliberate attempt to test demand. A more competitive figure may be intended to bring the property to a wider group of buyers.

What would make you change your recommendation? A serious answer might refer to the quality of enquiries, viewings by qualified buyers, competing stock or fresh comparable sales. A vague answer about 'seeing how it goes' is not a plan.

What would you advise if we had to move within a particular timeframe? Tell the agent your actual circumstances. A strategy suitable for someone who can wait indefinitely may not suit a seller who has already found their next home.

If agents suggest markedly different figures, why estate agent valuations differ helps separate disagreements about value from disagreements about marketing strategy.

Ask what happens after the instruction

Who will be responsible for the sale? The person conducting the appraisal may not handle viewings or negotiate offers. Ask who will do those jobs, and who you should contact if something becomes difficult.

How will you qualify buyers? Ask what information the agent seeks about a buyer's chain, funding and position before presenting an offer. No screening process eliminates risk, but you should know what checks will be made.

How will we know whether the marketing is working? Request an example of the updates you will receive. A list of portal views is not the same as an explanation of who has enquired, what they said and what action the agent recommends.

Find out who will handle viewings and feedback; Ask for a specific first-month marketing plan; Clarify fees, tie-in terms and next steps

Ask about the contract before deciding

What is the total fee including VAT, and when is it payable? Ask about any minimum fee or additional charges. How long is the initial commitment? Check notice periods, withdrawal terms and whether a later sale to an introduced buyer might still trigger a fee.

Do not rely on the conversation alone. Ask for the written agreement and read it before signing. The estate agency agreement checklist covers the contractual questions in more detail.

The question that reveals the most

Try this: 'If you were advising a family member selling this house, what would you be most cautious about?'

You are not looking for pessimism. You are looking for someone prepared to discuss uncertainty: a distinctive layout, a narrow buyer pool, a difficult access arrangement or a market with limited comparable sales. An agent who can explain a weakness constructively may be easier to work with than one who only offers reassurance.

Take notes after each appointment while the answers are fresh. Compare the evidence and the proposed service, not just how comfortable the meeting felt. For a wider comparison framework, read how to compare estate agents.

A Property Intelligence Report can provide additional market evidence for your home. It is not an assessment of an agent's competence or proposal. PMD's written human review considers a customer's own report and specific property market question, with negotiation support. It does not compare agents, inspect the property or advise on their marketing plans.

Before making a decision, ask each agent to put the recommended asking strategy, included services, named responsibilities and fees in writing.