It is worth being clear about what it is and is not. A formal appraisal is a paid engagement by a member of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, usually ordered by a lender or required for a court or estate purpose, and it comes with a signed report. An agent's valuation is an opinion of what the market would pay today, supported by sold comparables and adjustments you can inspect.
The process is a walkthrough rather than a form. Joel looks at the mechanical systems, the basement, the garage, the lot and the improvements, then builds the comparables from recent sales that genuinely match. Expect an honest number, including when it is lower than an online estimate suggested, because a figure inflated to win a listing costs you weeks on the market later.
Many people asking are not ready to sell, and that is fine. Estate planning, a separation, a refinance or simply deciding whether to renovate all start with knowing the number. Joel holds 72 five star Google reviews from people who went through this process, and no part of it obliges you to list.