Obsessed with property prices: How can I find out how much my house is worth without using an estate agent?
10-10-2015
By Linda Harrison For www.Thisismoney.co.uk
Ever wondered what your home is worth - even if you've got no intention of selling?
Maybe you've got a new kitchen, had double glazing installed or a Farrow & Ball makeover and wonder if it's bumped up the value?
We are obsessed with property prices - our own, our neighbours' and even that of complete strangers.
Different picture: Regions see vastly different speed of growth this Land Registry table for August shows
Kate uses Land Registry data to (www.gov.uk/search-house-prices) to work out whether the market's going up or down in certain areas.
As this is about three months behind the market she's also devised her own method.
You can also check out online estate agencies – some offer a valuation in return for your details.
Another idea, suggested by Perry, is to take a leaf out of the estate agent's book and try to work off a similar square footage.
For example, if next door is a 1,300 sq ft house that sold for £400,000 four months ago, divide the price by the space per square foot to get its true value.
So 400,000 divided by 1,300 equals about £307 per square foot. You can then multiply your own home's space by the value per square foot to get an approximate value.
However, if you want a more accurate figure, Kate still recommends going down the traditional route.
She explains: 'For me, property prices are so individual these days, I would get an agent to value it as they're the ones with the buyers and know what they will or won't offer.'
Try two or three estate agents to get an average idea of price, be choosy and there's no harm in doing your own research before letting them through the door. And be honest – tell them that you're not looking to sell.
Richard Addington, director, Savills Exeter, says: 'As a generalisation I think anyone wishing to get a view on the likely selling price of their house should ask an agent and not worry about being upfront at the start in telling the agent what they're plans are, even if that's staying put for the foreseeable future.
'We are frequently called upon by people who have no immediate plans to sell. If it's the right agent for the house, they'll only be too happy to help in the hope that they will generate goodwill with the prospective vendors for when they do wish to sell in the future.'
Hot and cold: Rightmove's monthly property prices report tracks asking prices for newly-listed properties
