Harvey Chowler, Sales Manager and Partner at Move Revolution, explains why estate agents can reach different valuations for the same home, what evidence should support their advice and why seeing the property in person still matters.
One of the first questions people ask when they call to arrange a valuation is:
“Can you give me an idea of the price?”
It is a perfectly reasonable question. Before visiting, I can research the address, look at previous sales, see what is currently on the market and review other homes that have recently agreed a sale. That will often allow me to suggest a broad initial range. But it is still only a starting point.
A house nearby may have sold recently, but that does not automatically make it the right comparison. Your home may have a larger plot, a better outlook, a more successful layout or a completely different standard of finish. You may have extended, renovated or changed the property considerably since it last appeared online. Those differences can have a real impact on how buyers respond.
The research happens before I arrive. Seeing the home helps me understand what makes it different. The valuation comes from bringing those two things together.
Why Can Three Agents Give Three Different Valuations?
Property valuation is not an automated calculation with one indisputable answer. Three agents may have access to similar information but interpret it differently. They may select different comparable properties, have different knowledge of active buyers or recommend different ways of launching the home. That does not necessarily mean somebody is wrong. It does mean each agent should be able to explain how they reached their recommendation.
A valuation should not leave you with a number and no understanding of where it came from. You should be shown the evidence, talked through the market and given a clear idea of the strategy being recommended.
What Do I Look at Before Visiting Your Home?
A considered valuation begins before I walk through the front door.
I will usually look at:
- completed sales nearby
- properties that have recently agreed a sale
- similar homes currently competing for buyers
- previous asking prices and any later changes
- how long comparable properties were marketed
- available photographs and floor plans
- the property’s previous sales and marketing history
- current buyer activity within the likely price range
We also use detailed property reports to examine current and historic property information. These reports can show previous listings, asking-price histories, sold-price information, photographs and other potential comparable properties. We can then filter that information by location, property type, bedrooms, price range and marketing status. The report gives us the evidence. The important part is deciding which evidence is genuinely relevant.
A property can have the same number of bedrooms as yours and still offer a very different experience. It may be smaller, sit on a busier road, have less privacy or need considerably more work. Equally, it may have features that justify a stronger price.
The nearest sale is not always the best comparison. Sometimes the most useful comparable is the property that appealed to the same type of buyer, for many of the same reasons.
“Harvey is absolutely right that a strong valuation begins with evidence, but it is never produced in isolation.
Depending on where you live and which member of our team is best placed to advise, your valuation may be carried out by me, Harvey or Liam. The person sitting with you will bring the recommendation together, but the knowledge behind it is shared.
Our team is constantly discussing buyer demand, viewing feedback, competing properties and offers being agreed across the areas we cover. A great deal of care goes into understanding each home and choosing the most relevant evidence.
We do not want somebody to finish a valuation appointment with only a figure. We want them to understand the market, the options available to them and the thinking behind our advice.” Paul Mulligan, Managing Director, Move Revolution
What Can Only Be Understood at the Property?
Online research can tell me a great deal about a home. It cannot tell me everything.
A floor plan can show the dimensions of a room, but it cannot fully show how the space feels or how naturally the house flows. Photographs may show an extension, but they cannot always reveal the quality of the work, the light or the connection with the garden.
When I visit, I am considering the condition and finish of the home, its layout, outlook, privacy, plot, parking and exact position within the road. I am also looking for individual features that may make it more appealing or more difficult to compare. This becomes particularly important with period properties, extensively renovated homes, larger plots and distinctive houses where there may be very few direct comparisons.
The online research may give me an initial range. Seeing the property helps me understand where it should sit within that range, or whether there is good reason to look beyond it.
The Data Matters, but So Do the Buyers
Property reports tell us what has been marketed and what has sold.
Our daily conversations tell us what buyers are doing now.
Across the Move Revolution team, we are constantly speaking with potential buyers who are actively looking for their next home. We hear which properties are generating interest, what buyers notice during viewings and where they are prepared to compromise.
We also know which features buyers are repeatedly requesting and which concerns are stopping them from making an offer. That current knowledge matters because buyers do not assess a home in isolation. They compare it with everything else available within their budget.
The portals show us the properties – but it’s our conversations help us understand the buyers.
Is the Highest Valuation Necessarily Wrong?
No.Sellers are often told never to choose the agent who gives the highest valuation. I think that is too simplistic.
The highest recommendation may be completely justified. An agent may have identified stronger comparable evidence, understand the scarcity of the home or know of buyers who are looking for exactly that type of property.
The question is not simply whether the figure is higher. The question is whether there is a convincing case behind it. Ask which properties have been used as evidence. Ask how your home compares with them. Ask what is currently competing for the same buyers and what response the agent expects after launch.
The Valuation Is Professional Advice
My role is to examine the evidence, understand the property and give the homeowner my honest professional recommendation. The final asking price is a decision we make together.
Sometimes a seller’s move only works if they achieve a particular figure. Sometimes they are not under time pressure and would prefer to test a more ambitious position. With an unusual home, there may also be a wider range of reasonable opinions because direct comparisons are limited.
An ambitious launch can be a valid strategy, provided everyone understands:
- the evidence supporting it
- the likely buyer audience
- the response we hope to generate
- how the strategy may affect the timing of the move
- when the results will be reviewed
The aim is not to tell a homeowner what they must do. It is to give them the evidence and advice they need to make an informed decision.
Paul explores this further in The Asking Price Isn’t Just a Number. It’s a Strategy.
What Does the Current Market Data Tell Us?
Rightmove reported in May 2026 that homes which did not require an asking-price reduction found a buyer in an average of 36 days. Homes that were later reduced spent an average of 127 days on the market. That does not mean every property that changes price was incorrectly valued.
A seller may have made an informed decision to test a more ambitious figure. Their circumstances may change. New competition may enter the market, and buyer confidence or mortgage costs can move after a property launches.
What the figures do show is that the original positioning can have a significant effect on the journey that follows.
The answer is not simply to choose a lower price in pursuit of a quick sale. It is to agree a launch strategy that reflects the evidence, reaches the right buyers and gives the seller the strongest opportunity to achieve both momentum and value.
What Happens After the Property Launches?
The market then gives us a new layer of evidence.
We can review how often the home appears in searches, how many people open the full property details, the enquiries and viewings generated, the quality of buyer interest and the feedback received. We also continue watching new properties entering the market and any changes made by competing sellers.
One quiet weekend does not automatically mean that something needs to change. Equally, a property should not be left on the market indefinitely without anyone examining what the response is telling us.
The important thing is to agree what we expect, keep talking and review the evidence together. A later adjustment does not automatically mean the original strategy was careless. Markets move, new information emerges and sellers’ plans change.
Good advice means responding thoughtfully rather than leaving the marketing on autopilot.
What Should You Compare After Three Valuations?
Do not compare only the three figures. Look at the evidence each agent has selected and ask why it is relevant. Consider how well they have understood the individual qualities of your home, who they believe will buy it and how they intend to reach those people.
Ask what they expect to happen during the first few weeks and how they will measure the response once the property is live. Most importantly, consider whether you understand their advice. A good valuation should leave you knowing much more than the possible value of your home. You should understand the evidence, the options and the plan.
My Final View
There may not always be one figure that every experienced agent will reach. What there should always be is careful research, relevant evidence, current buyer knowledge and a clear explanation of the recommended strategy. When somebody asks me over the phone, “What do you think my home is worth?”, I will do as much research as possible before answering.
But I also understand the limitations of what can be seen from behind a screen. The online information gives me a starting point. Seeing the home allows me to understand what makes it different. Speaking with the homeowner helps me understand what their move needs to achieve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do estate agents give different property valuations?
Agents may select different comparable properties, interpret buyer demand differently or recommend different launch strategies. Each agent should be able to explain the evidence and experience behind their recommendation.
Can an estate agent value my home over the phone?
An agent may be able to provide a broad initial range after researching the address. Seeing the property in person is normally necessary to understand its condition, layout, improvements, plot, outlook and individual appeal.
Should I get three estate-agent valuations?
Speaking to several agents can help you compare their evidence, experience, service and proposed strategies. Three is a commonly recommended number, but the quality of the advice matters more than arranging a particular number of appointments.
Should I choose the highest property valuation?
Not automatically, but the highest valuation is not necessarily wrong. Ask the agent to show you the evidence, explain the current competition and outline the strategy they believe will support their recommendation.
Does Move Revolution offer property valuations across Surrey, Sussex and Kent?
Yes. Move Revolution provides property valuations and residential sales advice across Surrey, Sussex, Kent and South London. We will connect you with the member of our team who has the right local knowledge and experience for your home.
About Harvey Chowler
Harvey Chowler is Sales Manager and Partner at Move Revolution.
Harvey works closely with homeowners to understand their property, their circumstances and what they want their move to achieve. His valuation advice draws on relevant comparable evidence, current buyer demand and the shared knowledge of the wider Move Revolution sales team.
Approachable and proactive, Harvey believes that clients should always understand the thinking behind the advice they receive. He supports sellers and buyers with clear communication and a genuine determination to help every move progress successfully.
About Move Revolution
Move Revolution is an employee-owned estate and letting agency serving Surrey, Sussex, Kent and South London.
We also use Street, our integrated property platform, to make the moving experience easier and more transparent. Homeowners can book a valuation online, buyers can request viewings at a time that suits them, and sellers can receive viewing feedback and follow the progress of their property.The technology supports the service, but it never replaces the people behind it
Our residential sales service combines evidence-led valuation advice, professional in-house photography, carefully planned property marketing, proactive negotiation and dedicated sales progression.
Our team works together throughout the moving journey, sharing knowledge and keeping clients informed from their first valuation conversation through to completion.
Considering moving? Book a property valuation and start with a clear, friendly conversation about your home.