Practise before you bid: a two-week plan

You plan to buy a home. Here is a two-week plan to get a real feel for prices first. It takes about ten minutes a day.

Days 1-3: one area

Pick the area where you want to buy most. Play five homes a day there. Keep the clues closed. Note if you are too high or too low.

Days 4-5: your history

Look at your 15 guesses. Find your direction. Are you always too high? Always too low? Only on big homes?

Days 6-9: the neighbours

Play the areas next to your first choice. Learn how much more or less they cost. Maybe you get more home one stop further out.

Days 10-11: go outside

Walk past some of the sold homes. Play them on the spot. Notice what the street adds to your guess.

Days 12-13: test yourself

Play ten new homes in your first area. Compare your average score with days 1-3.

Day 14: your number

Write down what you think a home like the one that you want will really sell for. That is your reality check for the next viewing.