How much do YOU think it's worth ?

How much is your property worth ?

Having been a valuer for more years than I care to remember, the last few at least have been dominated by data available to us for free - Why do work procedures always get easier when you retire ?

The great chaps at Brighter Property explain simply how your house is valued, when you sell. It's not a black art or a science, it's a piece of cake (my favourite term.....).

At the risk of blowing the lid off traditional estate agency skills, how do you think they value?

You guessed it, they use the Internet. Whether you like it or not anyone with access to the internet can find out the price of a home in your road and even how much you paid for it yourselves.

Most of the big property portals have a 'back end' agents only access area, which we can all access. If you have been trying to sell your home at any point in the last say, ten years we can find out just by entering the postcode. Up will come the price you were trying, what agent you were with and how long it was on the market.

When you book a valuation with an estate agent, one of the first questions asked is 'How much do you think it's worth?' That's just to find out if your thoughts are in line with the data available to them.

When the agent arrives from 'X and Co' arrives with trusty clipboard in hand, what is he or she looking to achieve? The answer is just to sign you up to their company. They may have a look around first, probably presumptuously doing brief room sizes and pretending that the white bathroom suite alters your value whilst paying the odd compliment here and there. I tell you now, it's all for show.

They had the value ready at their morning meeting that day, simple as that. The reason for measuring the rooms is to try an assumptive close later in the meeting, something like '....Oh well I've prepared the details already, all I need to do is take some photos and we're ready to go....

Your happy with what I've said, just sign here, there's no need to have another agent round.'To prove the point though, the ace up my sleeve is this. What happens in the majority of cases when a sale has been agreed.......?

A survey/valuation.This is carried out by a surveyor who has the final say in what your property is worth and whether the bank/building society should lend that amount on it. Does he have a local office? Has he ever sold a house in your road before? Probably not. Where does the person that decides if your house sale goes through or not get his price?.....You guessed it again.... the Internet.

Cut out the wasted hours listening to preconceived sales pitches - Why not do your own homework and either sell privately, or take advantage of services offered by people like Brighter Property, or more locally, Gardiner Financial Services in Forres, who will market your home for you, including board and window advertising for £150.00.

You could end up saving enough money on your house sale to purchase a new car, or a great family holiday. Work out the savings and start planning !

And good luck, if you are planning to sell your home shortly. I'm now off to take advantage of the late Summer sunshine, by sitting on my terrace overlooking the bay, with a nice piece of carrot cake from The Bakehouse at Findhorn and a mug of Rington's. Copernicus is sat by my side and has a pigs ear to finish off.

Things may have got easier for those who work, but retirement is not all that bad !

Until next time,

Mr Jackson.