Published by SashMark · · For buyers in England
Start with requirements you can actually test
List the features a home must have, then the things you would prefer. Make the requirements concrete: space for two desks is easier to assess than “a good size”, and an achievable journey at your usual travel time is more useful than “well connected”.
Keep your affordability limit separate from a view of market value. A home can look competitively priced and still be unsuitable for your budget. Do not let an indicative valuation become permission to exceed your own limit.
Build a comparison table with evidence and dates
Use one row per topic and one column per property. Add a final column for the evidence needed. Mark a fact as unverified until you have a reliable source; do not enter zero for an unknown cost or assume no risk because a record is absent.
- Asking price and relevant completed-sale evidence.
- Layout, recorded floor area and usable storage.
- Observed condition and works needing professional assessment.
- Journey, street conditions and nearby activity.
- Energy information and changes since the assessment.
- Planning, environmental and legal questions still outstanding.
Compare trade-offs without false precision
Imagine Home A has a shorter commute and less space, while Home B has a larger garden and uncertain repair needs. Scoring every feature out of ten may conceal the unresolved repair question. Record that uncertainty explicitly and investigate it before treating the totals as comparable.
If using SashMark scores, read the assessed categories and coverage beside the headline. Two scores based on different available evidence are not identical measurements. A missing source must not quietly become a favourable finding.
Choose the next investigation, not just a winner
After comparing, identify the one or two answers most likely to change your decision. That might be a second viewing, a repair quote, clarification of parking rights or a discussion with a surveyor. Prioritising these questions makes the shortlist more useful than accumulating more loosely relevant data.
Keep dated copies of the listing and your notes, and update the comparison when new evidence arrives. If an answer changes your view, record why. The purpose is a decision you can explain, not a spreadsheet that makes uncertainty disappear.
Common questions
Should I choose the house with the highest score?
Use a score as one input. Your requirements, the evidence coverage, inspection findings and legal checks can be more important than a numerical difference.
How many comparable sales should I use?
Use the strongest relevant evidence available and be explicit when it is sparse. Several poorly matched homes do not necessarily provide a better guide than a smaller, carefully examined shortlist.
Sources and how to use this guide
This guide combines practical research suggestions with the official services below. It is general information; property-specific survey, valuation and legal questions need the appropriate professional.
Read how SashMark handles sources, matching and missing evidence.