What 'how much is my house worth' really means
There are two numbers that matter when you sell: the asking price you market at, and the sale price a buyer is willing to pay. A good valuation gets them as close together as possible.
An over-valuation flatters you but means your home sits on the market. An accurate valuation attracts serious buyers and gets you sold.
How an estate agent values your home
An agent will look at three things:
- •Recent comparable sales — what genuinely similar homes in your area have actually sold for, not what they were listed at.
- •Current competition — what's on the market now that buyers will compare yours against.
- •Your home's condition and features — extensions, modern kitchens, off-street parking, south-facing gardens all add value.
Use official data, not marketing estimates
The most reliable number you can get for free is official HM Land Registry sold price data. This shows real completed sales, not advertised asking prices. Use the free instant valuation tool to generate a Property Market Intelligence Report built on that data.
What adds the most value
The improvements that reliably add value tend to be the obvious ones:
- •Updated kitchen and bathroom where dated
- •Off-street parking, particularly in town-centre streets
- •Loft conversion or extension adding usable floor area
- •Energy efficiency improvements that lift your EPC rating
Smaller cosmetic touches — fresh neutral paint, tidy gardens, decluttering — rarely 'add value' but they make your home sell faster at the right price.
Don't forget your area
The same property can be worth meaningfully different amounts in different postcodes. See how your area compares: Loughborough, Leicester, Barrow upon Soar.
Book a proper valuation
An online tool gives you a starting point. A qualified local agent who walks through your home gives you the figure that actually sells.
Book your free valuation with DEAL. — no obligation, just an honest number.