How to get my house valued (when I don't intend to sell it)

[HaventAClue]

Hi,
I'd like to find out how much my house is worth as I'm in the process of writing a new will and it would help to know if inheritance tax is likely to kick in.
I have no intention of selling my house so I don't think approaching an estate agent would be the right thing to do (seems a bit decitful and I don't want them hounding me). Who's the right person to ask, even if I have to pay for it?
Thanks

[redcrx]

well dont tell the agents that you arent putting it on the market and ask 3 of them to come round and give you an idea of market value.

They wont hound you, just say youll be in touch if you want to put it on with them.

if they call afterwards just say you changed your mind.

[Compostella]

Get the estate agents in, don't feel bad about it, they've done sneaky things too.

You won't be the only person doing it, I'm having 2 agents round tonight for exactly the same thing.

[chappie]

You can register with MyPropertySpy.co.uk, it is free and it gives you land registry data from the last 6 years, so the properties sold in your area within the last 6 years will show the price they sold for.

Of course, your house might be worth more if it has been improved/extended etc.

There are other sites like this, that will give you prices houses sold for, you have to register with them but it is free to register.

If you feel it is deceitful to get an estate agent to come round and value the property when you know your are not going to sell, you could come clean and ask if they will value it for you if you paid them for their time. Don't know how much it would be likely to cost, but it might be worth enquiring.

Personally, I think estate agents charge such a colossal amount for selling your property, factors such as people having valuations when they aren't going to move are all taken into consideration when the estate agent sets its fees (I bet there are quite a few people who get valuations, for reasons other than because they want to sell) but I know what you mean about it feeling wrong.

I came clean with the estate agent who valued my old house - I told him we did not want to move at that time, and being the nice man that he was, he agreed to come round and value it anyway, free of charge. We did live in a very small village though, not a big town where the estate agents are probably much busier and more competitive.

[annie0000]

You can instruct a surveyor to give you a valuation at any time, but a survey is probably not what you are looking for really, just an idea of value. Unless your house really is one of a kind, you should be able to get a good idea from looking at one of the property sale price websites.

if your house is a bit different anyway, the estate agents are only giving you their opinion, which can vary enormously. They would expect you to get more than one agent round, so they would not necessarily expect to be marketing your property.

You also have to bear in mind that you don't know when you are likely to die, what your house will be worth then and what the tax thresholds are likely to be. Your lawyer will be best placed to advise you.

[annie0000]

Sorry, also meant to say that if you are changing your mortgage - the company will ofetn give you a free valuation as part of the deal.