HOME VALUATION SURVEY
Are you wondering how much your house is worth? For most of us, our home is our biggest asset, so it’s important to understand how much your home is worth.
First, let’s start with some basic definitions and terms that will help you better understand the differences between a House Valuation, a House Inspection, and a House Appraisal.
What is a House Valuation and why is it important when buying or selling a home?
A House Valuation is defined as the process of determining a property’s value based on the location, overall condition, size and key features such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms. A house valuation is a necessary step when buying or selling a home to ensure the price is accurate. Your real estate agent will look at similar properties that sold and are active in the vicinity of the property you are looking to buy or sell. Using this data, they will create a comparable market analysis and determine a fair price.
For the MOST accurate valuation of your home in today’s market go to:
It will only take a minute to tell us more about your home. It is completely FREE. You will just need to provide some information so that our Real Estate experts can respond to you with your Property Valuation Report. Be ready with the following information:
It will only take a minute to tell us more about your home. It is completely FREE. You will just need to provide some information so that our Real Estate experts can respond to you with your Property Valuation Report. Be ready with the following information:
- Your basic contact information: name, phone number, address, and email.
- The Property Type: if it is a Single-Family Home, Condominium, Rental, or Multifamily.
- The condition of the property.
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Additional Rooms or Special Features.
- Upgrades such as new roof, custom kitchen, near park, etc.
- Approximate size in square feet.
- Approximate age of kitchen and bathrooms (in years).
How does a House Valuation differ from a House Inspection?
A House Valuation estimates a home’s market value. It will help you determine if you are paying an accurate price for the home. A property valuation only reports an estimate of the property’s worth. It is not all encompassing and exact estimate because it does not identify costs associated with repairs. This could be structural issues, potential faults, or hidden defects.
House Inspection
A House Inspection on the other hand is a thorough assessment of a property’s condition. It will highlight any defects, structural faults, potential damage, and anything requiring attention. The inspector will examine every detail to reveal potential problematic areas and report how they may affect the functionality of the home. Depending on the type of inspection, they can highlight what would be the consequence of not correcting the issues and assess potential repair costs.
The inspector will check all the features of the house. He will check the home’s materials and construction to determine how old the home is and its condition. It will also check if the property was remodeled or renovated, and if there are any defects impacting the functionality of the home and compliance to building codes. The inspector will inspect the walls, ceilings, floors, and windows for any possible structural damage. They will check the drainage, plumbing, electrical wiring, roofing, rot, dampness, and pests. It will bring attention to the cause of any defects and their level of danger and seriousness.
After the inspection, the inspector will issue a report. The reports typically include a traffic light rating (green, amber and red). Green means everything is in good condition, amber indicates some features require attention, and red warns regarding serious repairs are required.
The house inspection will provide you with the information of what you are about to buy. It will reveal any damage, defects, or hidden issues so there are no surprises in the future. I can also help plan what you will need to pay for improvements if you decide to purchase. It is strongly recommended to get a property inspection so that you have all the information and make an educated decision on whether to purchase the home or not. It may also help you try to negotiate a better deal, or simply back out of the deal while still under the option period.
Is a House Valuation the same as an appraisal?
When acquiring a mortgage loan to purchase a home, your lender will require a property appraisal. This appraisal will ensure the capital invested to purchase the property is proportional to the value of the property. Lenders do this in case the buyer taking the loan defaults on the payment or the terms of mortgage. In case of default, the lender repossesses the property to sell and recuperate the investment.
A qualified appraiser will be requested to assess the value of the house and estimate how much it is worth.
Your lender will approve your loan if the appraisal shows that the price the buyer has agreed to pay reflects the property’s market value. You may be able to negotiate the price if the surveyor determines that your desired home’s market value is lower than the agreed sale price. If that is the case, the bank will approve up to that amount. Note this could cause the sale to fall unless the seller is willing to lower the price, or the buyer to make up for the difference.
Schedule A Consultation
Do not hesitate to contact The Houston Broker Team if you need help and advice with your home selling of buying process.
Having over 25 years of real estate experience, we have mastered the art of buying and selling homes and know the Houston neighborhoods inside out.
Click Here to schedule a quick 15-minute call by picking a date. One of our agents will get back to you promptly. You can also send us an email if you have difficulty finding an available time or need to request a time outside regular business hours. We can be reached at Daniela.antelo@houstonbroker.com or 713-494-8170.
For more information on How to Buy a House in Houston, Texas. There you will be able to get a Free Buyer’s Guide, Featured Listings as well as New Listing Alerts, how to calculate your mortgage, and more. We also provide a Free Seller’s guide, and you may request a quote by our Staging Department.
Knowing how to calculate your home’s value with the help of online tools and trained professionals better prepares you to buy, sell, refinance, tap into your home’s equity or even negotiate lower property taxes. Don’t wait, contact us today !
DANIELA ANTELO
Daniela is a real estate broker working in Houston, Texas since 2011, helping hundreds of buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals. She knows the questions, the concerns and the information that buyers constantly seek, which is what inspired her to put everything you need to truly know in one place, eliminating the need to look elsewhere.
“Owning my home has been one of the most rewarding achievements of my life, and my goal is to share the same feeling with all of you. Let me help you on your real estate journey!” — Daniela Antelo
Daniela Antelo
DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
Living here for over 10 years and helping buyers & sellers throughout Houston, I want to make sure it is done RIGHT!