Almost every property decision starts with the same question: what is my home likely to be worth? Knowing roughly where you stand is what lets you plan your next chapter, whether that is upgrading to a home with more room, moving to a safer or quieter suburb, freeing up equity, or simply deciding whether now is the right time. A free indicative appraisal from Maifang gives you that starting point. It is a likely price range to work with, available anywhere in New Zealand, with no cost and no obligation to list. It is important to be clear from the outset about what this is. An indicative appraisal is general guidance to help you get your bearings. It is not a registered valuation, it is not binding, and it does not replace a professional appraisal from a licensed agent. On this page we explain what an indicative appraisal is and is not, how it differs from your CV, RV and a registered valuation, what actually drives your home's value, what you will receive, and how to request yours.
What a free indicative appraisal is (and isn't)
An indicative appraisal is an informed estimate of the price range your home might achieve in the current market, based on the kind of property it is and recent sales of comparable homes. Its job is to orient you, so you can plan around a realistic figure rather than a guess. It is genuinely useful at the thinking-about-it stage, when you want a sense of your position before you commit to anything. It is equally important to be honest about its limits. An indicative appraisal is for general information only. It is not a registered valuation, which is a formal figure prepared by a registered valuer and often required by a lender. It is not a professional agent appraisal, which involves a licensed agent physically inspecting your home and assessing the local market in detail. And it is not a binding price or a promise of what you will sell for. The market, your method of sale and how buyers respond on the day all shape your actual result. Treat the indicative number as a confident first step, then move to a professional appraisal when you are ready to act.
Appraisal vs CV vs RV vs registered valuation
One of the most common sources of confusion for New Zealand sellers is the number of different values attached to a property, so here is each one in plain English. Your CV, or capital value, and RV, or rateable value, are figures set by your local council, mainly to work out rates. They are assessed periodically and are often years out of date, so they can sit well above or below what your home would actually sell for, which is why your CV is not the same as market value. A registered valuation is a formal, detailed assessment by a registered valuer, frequently required by a bank for lending, and it carries professional weight. An agent appraisal is a market-based estimate from a licensed real estate agent who has inspected your home and knows recent local sales, and it is the usual starting point when you are preparing to sell. Maifang's indicative appraisal sits at the front of this lineup as a free, no-pressure first estimate to orient you, after which a professional agent appraisal or a registered valuation gives you a firmer figure. Knowing which number does what stops you from over-relying on the wrong one.
What affects your home's likely value
Several things drive what a home is likely to sell for, and understanding them helps the appraisal range make sense. Location is the biggest factor: the suburb, the street, proximity to schools, transport and amenities, and the character and safety of the neighbourhood all matter, which is why families often pay a premium for a settled, well-served area. Then there is the property itself, including land size, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the floor area, the age and condition of the home, and the quality of any renovations. The type of title matters too, since freehold, cross-lease and unit title properties can be valued differently. Beyond the property, the wider market plays a major role, including current demand, interest rates and how many comparable homes are for sale. Presentation and the method of sale you choose can influence the final figure as well. An indicative appraisal weighs the broad picture; a professional appraisal accounts for the fine detail of your specific home.
What you'll receive and what happens next
When you request a free indicative appraisal, share your address or suburb and a few details about your home, such as the number of bedrooms, the property type and anything notable about it. In return you receive an indicative price range to plan around, clearly framed as general guidance rather than a valuation. From there, what happens next is entirely up to you, with no obligation at any point. If you are simply curious or planning ahead, you now have a useful number to work with and nothing more is required. If you are getting closer to selling, the natural next steps are to understand your selling costs so you know what you would actually keep, and to get matched with a vetted local agent who can provide a precise professional appraisal and a marketing plan. We can help with both, free and at your own pace. Nothing is automated against you, no one will pressure you to list, and your details stay private.
How to request your free appraisal
Requesting your free indicative appraisal takes only a moment. Tell us your address or suburb, a few basics about your home, and whether you are just exploring or thinking seriously about selling. That is enough for us to prepare a useful range and suggest sensible next steps for your situation. If you would rather talk it through, you can ask a general question or book a free, no-obligation call instead. There is no charge, no commitment to list, and no pressure to use any agent we might introduce. The whole point is to give you a clear, calm starting point so your next move begins from knowledge rather than guesswork. When you are ready, send your request and we will take it from there.
Indicative only — get a professional appraisal before you act
Because this matters, it is worth repeating plainly. Any figure or range you receive from Maifang is indicative only, provided for general information to help you plan, and it is not a registered valuation or a binding price. Before you make a real decision, such as setting a listing strategy, accepting an offer or arranging finance, get a precise figure from a licensed real estate agent or a registered valuer, and seek legal and financial advice for your own circumstances. Maifang is an independent information and matching service, not a licensed agency, so we connect you with the licensed professionals who provide formal appraisals, valuations and advice. Used this way, an indicative appraisal is exactly what it should be: a confident, no-pressure first step on the road to your next home.
Thank you — your request is in
A member of the Maifang team, or a licensed local professional, will be in touch. There's no obligation, and your details stay private.
In plain English: In plain English: a free indicative appraisal gives you a likely price range to plan around, not a registered valuation and not binding. It differs from your CV and RV (council figures for rates) and from a registered valuation (a formal lender-grade figure). Use it as a no-pressure first step, then get a professional appraisal from a licensed agent before you act.
General information, not personalised real-estate, legal or financial advice. Confirm your situation with a licensed adviser. Read the full disclaimer →