Selling

VALUE VS APPRAISAL: WHICH VALUE SELLS MY HOUSE?

When selling your property, you'll face evaluations from a real estate agent, a financial appraiser, and local government.
author
Author
Kayla Ferguson
less than a minute read
03 Sep 2024
Updated
01 Apr 2019
Published
Share
VALUE VS APPRAISAL: WHICH VALUE SELLS MY HOUSE?

Like the three ghosts of Christmas, you will be faced with three evaluators when you put your property on the market: a real estate agent, an appraiser from a financial institution, and finally, your local government. But, what do they all mean, and which number is the one you ought to be worrying about?

General Valuation Roll
Based on geographical information and recent sales in your suburb, the city uses a computer aided mass appraisal (CAMA) system to determine the values of all properties. This is the value your local government uses in order to determine what rates you will pay on the property and does not reflect the market value of the specific features your home might have. These figures are released once every four years and are published online on the various local municipal websites. Homeowners then have the opportunity to check the value and object to it if they disagree with the reflected amount. This figure rarely (if ever) comes up during the selling process. However, an estate agent might check their own valuation against this amount before presenting a client with a number.      

Appraisal Value
If the buyer is applying for a home loan to purchase your property, then a representative from their chosen financial institution will come and inspect your property to ensure that it is worth the bonded amount. This value is not necessarily something that gets shared with you but is simply a part of a bank’s checks and balances process when screening a bond application.

Evaluation
This is the number a real estate agent will present to you as the price at which you should market your home. This number is based on various factors including the features and location of your property, recent sale prices of similar homes in your area, market trends and years of industry experience (to name but a few of the factors). It is advisable to do your research and choose an agent with a proven track record whose advice you know you can trust.

author
Author
Kayla Ferguson
Marketing & Communications Manager
Related Content
a beginner’s guide to flipping houses
Selling

A Beginner’s Guide To Flipping Houses

07 Jul 2025
3 min read
In this article, we’ll look at what it means to flip a residential property and guide you through some basic steps.
considering a private property sale? it costs more than you think.
Selling

Considering a private property sale? It costs more than you think.

18 Jun 2025
6 min read
In this article, we’ll guide you through the nitty gritty of selling your property, from listing to lodgment, so that you can decide which option – using an estate agent
selling a tenanted property in south africa
Selling

Selling a Tenanted Property in South Africa

23 May 2025
4 min read
Effectively, the huur gaat voor koop principle protects the tenant from having their home sold from underneath them and automatically transfers the landlord’s responsibil