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House evaluation
A friend of mine needs to have is house evaluated by at least two/three different estate agents in order to know to potential selling price. However he doesn't want to sign binding agreement with any estate agent. The house won't be sold.
I know estate agencies offer such services but do they all charge a fee or there are chances that the first consultation is free?
I never sold in the Belgian market so i do not know the answer myself. Also any recommendation for estate agents in both Woluwes would be appreciated.
"The house won't be sold" ??
Are you selling the house, or do you just want a valuation?
If he wants an actual valuation on paper that's "official", then he'll need to pay a surveyor to come round and value the house. They'll come round, produce a proper report that will contain a valuation.
If he's just interested in knowing what value various estate agents will put on a house, then he should just call a few up, tell them he's considering selling the house and they'll come round and look and then give him a valuation. However, it's highly unlikely that any estate agent will give you a formal written valuation. They may give you an idea verbally, but unless you sign a contract with them, they're not going to give you anything more than an indication of what they think they could sell the house for.
We sold our previous house and had no problem getting a valuation from various local estate agents. We did not pay anything and, in the end, sold the place without an agent's help as we thought the valuations were ridiculously low - in the end the house was sold for more than 40% MORE than the highest valuation.
I have no memory that any of the valuations was given in writing and I suspect that they were all verbal.
In any case, there is nothing to stop you from asking about charges and so on before agreeing to a visit from an agent.
