How to estimate property value: 7 tips to value property

It’s good to know how to estimate the value of the property you want to buy. Learn how to compare prices and properties. Find out what common mistakes you should avoid in the process.

How to estimate the value of a property?

for a new home or selling a property, it’s useful to know a property's value.

Accurate values give buyers and sellers budgets, may be needed for
.

There are a few ways to value a property, including the following:

  • Estimating a property's value yourself
  • Using online tools and resources
  • Approach a real estate agent or bank for a property valuation
  • Mass appraisals from a government/official body

Estimating a property price yourself - 7 tips to estimate property value

It's useful to know how to determine the value of the property you’re looking for. While this is by no means an accurate estimate, it helps you get an idea of the amount of money you’ll spend.

There are several different ways to value a property. In this article, we’ll focus on the market value. This is the final price the buyer agrees to pay the seller. It’s based on a comparative market analysis and differs from the listed price.

When estimating property value, there are a few things to consider. Comparing the property you’re looking at with similar ones is a good place to start. Here is a step by step guide on how to do it.

If you're ready to start the home loan and valuation process, why not reach out to speak to one of our expert brokers.

1. Focus on your local area

Look at the recent sales near the property you’re interested in. If the house is in an urban area, search for sales within a 1km distance. If it’s in a countryside region, expand the perimeter a bit.

Only consider sales made during the last six months. The more recent the sale, the more relevant the price is. Of course, look for types of homes that resemble the one you’re interested in buying.

2. Look at similar properties

Limit your search to properties that are like the one you’re looking to buy. In doing so, consider the following features:

  • Dimensions: Look at the total size of the property. Compare the dimensions of the living area and the surrounding land area
  • Locality: Focus on properties that are at the same distance from local facilities. These include main roads, schools, and transport lines
  • Interior: Compare the number of rooms in both houses. See if there are as many dining rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms
  • Exterior: If the property you’re interested in includes a garage, find others that do. Also make sure the number of parking spaces is equal or at least comparable
  • Condition: Only look at properties that are similar in quality. Consider how they’re built, how old they are, and what their current state is

    In some cases, the information you need won’t be available. If so, use

3. Compare the features of the properties

Now that you have gathered all the information, it’s time to do some comparison. In this phase, you’ll determine how similar the properties are to the one you plan to buy.

Take all the features listed above into consideration. Decide if the house you’re looking for is superior or inferior to the ones sold in the area. When doing that, be realistic.

Once you’ve compared the properties, exclude the ones that don’t fit the bill. You will now have a better idea of how much a property you’re interested in could cost you.

4. Know the market

Because you’re looking at the market value, you need to adjust your estimate to changes in the market. In the current economic climate, the market is changing very fast. The sale prices of houses from six months ago may not be relevant anymore.

Going to auctions and open house events in the local area will give you the idea of how hot the market is. You can also talk to an expert who will inform you on the current state of the real estate business.

If you want to be the successful bidder and secure your ideal home or investment property, you need to do some preparation before the auction and then employ some smart strategies on the day.

5. Consider market factors

Considering some further factors can give you more insight into the state of the market. Look for the following figures that will help you get the idea of how properties are selling at the moment.

  • DOM (Days on Market): This is the number of days it takes for properties to sell. It’s an average value, calculated from the day of the listing to the sale date
  • Median Price: Specific to local areas, this number denotes the average worth of a house. This number often includes properties still in development and may not be reliable
  • Clearance Rates: The number shows the percentage of houses sold in auctions. It includes properties sold during the auction, as well as before and after. This is a good indicator of the current demand in the local real estate market

    Note that these numbers may not always be relevant. Most of them are at least a month old by the publishing date. While they are good as indicators, they don’t provide the up-to-date view of the market.

6. Avoid these common property value mistakes

When investing in property, buyers tend to make some mistakes. Using the notes highlighted here, they are easy to avoid. Here are some of the usual mistakes people make when valuing property

  • Buyers are unaware of the real estate market conditions. If you’re buying or selling a property, it’s important to know how hot the market is right now
  • Sellers have strong emotional ties to their houses. This makes it difficult for them to appraise the value of their property. They’ll often ask more for the house than its actual worth
  • People compare properties to those currently on the market. Properties that are still on the market only have a list price. This price is in no way indicative of what they’ll sell for in the end
  • The goal of real estate agents is to sell a property. Sometimes they’ll tell you that there are competitive bids on a house you’re interested in. They will also exaggerate when talking about the prices of comparable properties
  • People compare properties that aren’t similar. When valuing properties, it’s important to compare them with those that resemble them. This means they should be similar in location, size, and quality
  • Buyers invest in brand new properties. Government offers incentives for buyers who choose to invest in new properties. This increases the demand, thus inflating the actual value
  • People use unreliable sources of information. Popular media focuses on prognoses and sensationalist expert statements. Reliable sources of real estate information base their stories on facts and statistics

Online tools and resources

Everything is at our fingertips nowadays, including abundant property value insights.

Websites like Realestate and Domain offer home price guides with historic sales and estimated property values.

Other worthy mentions include Property Value, Real Estate View, OnTheHouse, Home Guru and OpenAgent.

Real estate agent property valuation

A valuation is more thorough, unlike an estimation. It is a detailed report on the property's market value based on a multitude of factors like size, suburb, market trends, and more.

If you are thinking about selling your home, real estate agents often provide free property valuations.

Consider approaching agents in your area for a valuation - though you should ensure it is obligation-free.

It is also common for real estate agents to visit certain neighbourhoods and offer free valuations.

Mass appraisals

Mass appraisal is how the government estimates property prices.

It considers a range of data including geography, property characteristics, land size, market factors, and more to statistically determine a property's worth.

This is typically done to all properties annually by state Valuer-General offices, hence the 'mass' part of the name.

Council rates are commonly based on how much a mass appraisal has determined your property to be worth.

For a more detailed guide,
.

If you're ready to start the home loan and valuation process, why not start the process online now.

Book Call Now

UNO home loans

Need help with your home loan?

UNO Brokers are available night and day for a quick review or your situation and bring expertise that will support better decision making that will save you time and money. Book in a quick call when it suits your busy schedule

Get Started

Related Articles

TESTIMONIALS

What our customers are saying

Liam Sugiono
April 15, 2024
Amy and her team were efficient and knowledgeable as our broker. They were easily contactable and ensured all our needs were met.
Read more
Mike Vincent
April 10, 2024
Andrew is the best broker I have worked with and one of the few people who understands the investment journey from both a personal and professional standpoint. Andrew is an asset to anyone from a first home buyer to a seasoned investor.
Read more
Yu Su
April 9, 2024
Amy was very help and quick respond when I have questions. Really recommended.
Read more
John Cahill
March 7, 2024
Scott Wilkinson was my broker last year when I sought finance for a new property investment and refinance for my property port folio. He was an absolute delight to work with. He was always professional, on time and always available to talk at a moment's notice to discuss my credit options and give well considered advice; usually this was very much after-hours due to my work commitments during the day. He was always happy to talk. I had not used a mortgage broker in a long time opting to do the re-financing myself. This was primarily due to disappointing experiences I'd had with mortgage brokers in the past. However with the increasing complex nature of dealing with credit providers, I could see that I needed a good advocate to act on my behalf for this particular refinance. In all honesty I did not hold much hope that in the current credit environment I would be able to secure the finance I required for the new property investment I was wishing to secure. Scott found a way however and was able to secure the finance along with the refinance of my portfolio. I have since referred friends to Scott and I know they have been very happy with his work. He is ideal for property investors who have busy day-jobs and need someone who understands property investment strategy and is able to tailor credit advice and options to their needs. Scott provides this advice and information in a way that is clear and concise. He kept me up to date continually during the application process. He made what could have been a very stressful and frustrating process easy and straightforward. I could not recommend Scott and the team at UNO Home Loans more highly. They are all a delight.
Read more
Sally Mackenzie
February 19, 2024
We chose Uno Home Loans from their impressive web site knowing we were going to find it hard, on many fronts, to qualify for a home loan. We were incredibly fortunate to be assigned Mike Parsons as right from the get-go, despite the complexities, he hit the ground running for us. He was incredibly knowledgeable, with years of experience but what was immediately apparent and impressive was that he was totally invested in getting us over the line, doing absolutely everything possible, including working around the clock. Despite it being a relatively small loan in the order of things, Mike never missed a beat, getting docs ready, following up and answering every request from the proposed funder immediately. He kept us informed on progress the minute anything happened, and again if anything needed to be done, he was right on it. In short, we highly recommend Uno, and Mike, knowing what a remarkable job he did, over many weeks, to get us our loan. He got us a great deal, with far better rates than we expected, so we couldn't be happier. In fact, without doubt, you'd be hard pressed to find a more personable, sharp, hard working, dedicated professional who clearly prides himself on getting his customers standout results.
Read more
Rod
February 13, 2024
Scott and his team were just A-mazing. We felt supported through the whole process with the greatest quality and care. Every question answered right in time, or even before we asked. The process was smooth and we got the best outcomes we could have wished for.
Read more
Angela Biddle
February 6, 2024
Our mortgage recently came up for renewal, and with interest rates skyrocketing we were looking for ways to minimise the impact. Michael and his team were proactive and attentive. Michael spent time with us to understand our circumstances. He found mortgage options that worked with our current financial situation and longer investment plans. He presented clear options, providing guidance where needed. He and his team were helpful and responsive - streamlining the process and keeping us updated through the negotiations. In the end, Uno did the heavy lifting and secured a significantly better rate than our current bank offered, all with friendly, personal service. We would highly recommend UNO Home Loans.
Read more
Fotis Bikas
January 15, 2024
I cannot help but congratulate Scott Wilkinson of UNO Home Loans for being an absolute credit to both his company and the entire loans industry. Scott is a truly rare gem of a broker in that he will not only go the extra mile to achieve for each customer the very best deal, but his knowledge of all and sundry within the industry is unsurpassed (you will see what I mean if you speak to him). Additionally, Scott has a clear passion for imparting his wealth of information with each customer, whereas the conversation with most other brokers would simply be over if they could not get you the best deal. For me, Scott Wilkinson of UNO Home Loans stands head and shoulders above the competition and I feel privileged to benefit both from his expertise and professionalism whenever it is time for a refinance or new loan.
Read more
Tomoharu Matsui
January 11, 2024
Michael Parsons helped me a lot when it's difficult to establish my capabilities in loan.
Read more
Gillian Kearon
January 9, 2024
I highly recommend Mike Parsons as a mortgage broker. I couldn't fault the service provided by UNO. Thanks Mike!
Read more
Taner T
December 20, 2023
Thank you Eren Tan for the amazing service and support. Our Loan was a little tricky and complex for other lenders but Eren managed to get it over the line in record time. His professionalism and dedication to our needs was exceptional. If you need a Loan no matter how complex your situation, make sure you contact Eren at UNO Home Loans.
Read more
Karaipu Brown
December 20, 2023
Buying & selling a house at the same time is very stressful but Scott Wilkinson from UNO home loans made sure we knew what was happening & took most of the stress away. He always kept us up to date and if we had a concern or wanted clarification on something we were able to call him, if he didn’t know the answer straight away he will find out and contact us back.. now we are enjoying our new house and turning it into a home :)
Read more