Estate agent's estimate or market value appraisal — where is the difference?

An estate agent's estimate and a market value appraisal pursue different objectives. Estate agents provide an initial market price recommendation, which can offer helpful orientation for a sale. However, this estimate is non-binding and has no standing in court or with the tax office.

A market value appraisal is based on Section 194 of the German Building Code (BauGB) and the Real Estate Valuation Ordinance (ImmoWertV). We inspect the property on site and document every calculation step in a verifiable manner. The result holds up in court and is recognised by tax offices, banks and courts. Such an appraisal is mandatory, among other things, in cases of inheritance disputes, divorce, evidence of value to the tax office or compulsory auctions.

The essential difference lies in the independence. Estate agents do good work in marketing, but they are commission-dependent and thus economically involved in the success of the sale. An appraiser, by contrast, assesses on a strictly neutral basis and without any own interest in the outcome. Anyone who needs a reliable basis for important decisions cannot do without an independent appraisal.