Understanding Worth vs Value

In real estate, the words worth and value are often used interchangeably — by clients, realtors, and nearly everyone involved. For years, I did the same, until I came across a quote that changed the way I viewed the two words:

“Worth is an exterior validation. Worth is equal to what something costs, including your time. Value is an internal calculation. More profound, personal. It is the importance of something to you, specifically.”

This distinction is critical in the world of buying and selling homes. Worth is straightforward — it’s the number on the appraisal, the market price, the monetary figure attached to the property. It’s what the real estate transaction centers on. But value is different. Value is deeply personal. It’s the memories made in a home, the unique connection you feel when you walk through the door, or the sense of safety and belonging it offers.

For buyers, this means understanding that while you’re negotiating on a property’s worth, its value to you might be immeasurable. For sellers, it’s an acknowledgment that no sale price can fully capture what your home has meant to you over the years. At Prisma, we strive to honour both — the tangible worth that facilitates the transaction and the intangible value that makes each home truly unique.