A former estate agent who spent five years working in the industry has launched a free AI-powered property valuation tool after becoming frustrated by what he describes as a culture of inflated valuations designed to win instructions rather than accurately reflect market value.
Joshua Owens (main picture, left), 33, co-founder of Liverpool-based estate agency Howsold, says he repeatedly saw homeowners persuaded to list at unrealistic prices, only to endure months on the market before accepting significant reductions.
The new tool, available through Howsold, uses artificial intelligence to analyse sold prices, local demand, crime statistics, flood risk and energy performance data to provide what the company says is a more realistic assessment of a property’s likely sale price.
The platform has been developed with business partner Khashi Shahverdi (main picture, right) and forms part of the wider Howsold proposition, which combines technology-led valuations with the Modern Method of Auction.
HONEST PICTURE
Owens says: “Sellers were being anchored to a number that was never realistic. I wanted to give people an honest picture before any of that – not the figure they’d like to hear, but the one they’re actually likely to get.”
Owens argues that many online valuation tools are designed primarily as lead generation mechanisms for estate agents.
He adds: “The big property portals earn money by selling sellers to agents. The traditional online estimate exists to turn a curious homeowner into a lead. The tool’s job is just to get you to put your hand up – and the figure that makes someone do that is usually a flattering one.”
Launched in 2025, Howsold operates from Liverpool city centre and sells properties via online auction, with homes marketed on major portals including Rightmove and Zoopla. Buyers commit through a reservation fee and are expected to complete within 56 days, while legal packs are prepared before bidding begins.
TECH TO SERVE THE SELLER
Shahverdi says: “We started Howsold because buying and selling a home in this country is slower and more stressful than it needs to be. Everything we build comes back to that – giving people an honest starting point, then a faster, more certain way to actually get the sale done. The tech is there to serve the seller, not the other way round.”
He adds: “We only get paid when a property actually sells. An inflated figure that sits on the market for months is the last thing we want. Telling the truth isn’t bad for business – it is the business. The tech is there to serve the seller, not the other way around.”
Owens says: “It’s fast, it’s free, and there’s no catch. If someone uses the tool and decides we’re not for them, fine – they’ve still had an honest answer. That’s more than most people get.”
