House valuation advice please

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Hi, I’m considering downsizing after decades in my current house. I’ve never sold a property before as I moved from a council house to purchasing this one. I’ve booked a valuation visit for next week. Can I ask please how detailed does this tend to be and what do they check? I’m not ready yet to put the house on the market so hopefully it doesn’t involve photos!

in addition to giving a valuation price do they suggest any work that should be done before putting it on the market? Any advice gratefully received as it’s all new to me.

Hello - they definitely won’t take photos first visit. If they’re good they will offer advice about what would be worth doing (eg decorating, decluttering) and give you a ballpark. They will also try to sell you on why they are the best agent! Ask for specifics - what have they sold recently locally, how fast, what sort of offers. And get more than one agent round before you decide. Good luck!

Is this with an estate agent? They’ll just do as PP said; have a look around and give an estimate. You need to get a home report, which is done by someone qualified, but associated, with the estate agents, and they’ll give you the home report with grading etc which will firm up valuation.
Get more than one estate agent around and check what their % fee is- you can hopefully haggle this slightly if they vary (they shouldn’t by too much!)

Thank you both for your quick replies. Yes it’s with an estate agent. They said someone would visit for the valuation and then they could arrange for the home report.

Definitely get valuation from more than one agent and don't be rushed into signing up with one.

Also although the estate agent can arrange the home report for you you can do this yourself - you just phone one of the surveying companies DM Hall or Allied Surveyors are the 2 major ones.

Good luck

Have a look around and see which estate agents have For Sale boards up. Is there one that people seem to go for more than others?

Have a dig around on RightMove to see what similar properties in the area sold for recently.

Thanks for all your welcome tips.