How Does Property Valuation Work in London?
RICS surveys vs estate agent appraisals, why location moves the figure street by street, and what a cash-buyer valuation actually means.
Get a Free Cash Offer WhatsApp UsA property valuation estimates what your home would realistically sell for, based on its condition, location, comparable recent sales, and current market demand. In London specifically, valuations can vary significantly street by street — transport links, school catchment areas, and even which side of a borough boundary a property sits on can move the figure by tens of thousands of pounds.
There are two common routes to a valuation: an estate agent's market appraisal (an estimate of what a property might achieve after weeks or months of marketing, with no guarantee a buyer will actually pay that figure) or a RICS-accredited surveyor's valuation (a formal, professional assessment used for mortgage lending, probate, and cash-buyer offers, based on evidence rather than an aspirational asking price).
When you request a valuation from a cash buyer, expect the figure to reflect a discount against full open-market value — typically 75–85% — in exchange for the certainty of a guaranteed sale with no chain, no renegotiation, and a fixed completion date. If maximising price matters more than speed or certainty, an open-market sale via an estate agent may suit you better; if speed and certainty matter more, a cash buyer valuation is the more useful figure to have.
Curious what your property is worth? Request a free RICS valuation or call us on 020 7199 1698.