Managing Your Money : SMALL CHANGE : For Curious Homeowners, A Comparable-Price Service

Want to know what your home is worth? You can ask a real estate agent (as those cards say: Yes! I’d like a free, no-obligation market valuation!) or you can buy a report on what nearby homes sold for and estimate for yourself.

The reports on comparable sales are available from Dataquick Information Systems, a leading provider of real estate information to banks, title companies and others.

For $29.95, the La Jolla-based firm will provide a list of recent home sales in your neighborhood and a description of the homes, including square footage and the number of baths and bedrooms.

The information is similar to what a real estate agent can provide. Real estate agents don’t charge for this information; payment for the service is included in the commission they hope to earn by selling your home.

Dataquick spokesman John Karevoll says the firm’s new service is aimed at people who are thinking of selling their homes without an agent, or who want to do their own research before contacting one.

The report can be obtained by calling 800-888-4492, extension 152.

Payment is by credit card, and Dataquick will mail or fax the results.