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St Ives property valuation questions

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Acceptance & compliance

What is a property valuation?+

A valuer's signed opinion of what one property was worth on one nominated day, with the comparable sales and the reasoning set out underneath it. The day is chosen to suit the obligation rather than the calendar, which is why so much of this work concerns property that is not for sale and is not going anywhere.

What is the difference between a property valuation and an agent appraisal?+

An appraisal is a free selling estimate an agent offers while competing for a listing, and nobody signs it. A valuation is prepared independently of any sale, speaks as at a stated date, rests on settled sales and carries the name of the valuer who formed the view. Where nothing is being sold, only one of the two is available to you at all.

Who is qualified to prepare a property valuation?+

In New South Wales, a valuer with the professional qualification and standing for their opinion to be relied on by somebody else. Their name and credentials sit on the report, and that is precisely what allows a third party to act on it.

Timing & process

Will the ATO and an SMSF auditor accept the report?+

Yes. It is prepared and signed by a valuer independent of your fund, written to the SISR 8.02B standard, and the comparable sales come attached rather than summarised so an auditor can trace the figure back to what produced it.

Who signs the report?+

The valuer who reached the opinion, named alongside their qualification. Not the model that assembled the evidence, and not somebody signing on their behalf. (from $550).

Is an Automated Market Assessment enough for tax purposes?+

No. Nobody signs it, so there is no independent opinion in it for an auditor, an accountant or a revenue office to act on. Use it for deciding. On timing, a signed desktop report normally goes out the same day and an Automated Market Assessment arrives the next business day.

How long is a property valuation valid for?+

It speaks as at its effective date and does not stay current by itself. Where the body receiving it applies a currency period, that period is what counts, and your adviser will know which one applies. A good deal of St Ives work is written to a date years back, where currency is not the question being asked.

Pricing & orders

Are the prices really fixed?+

Yes. $169 for signed desktop reports, $79 for Automated Market Assessments. Inspection valuations start at $550, with the exact price confirmed at checkout before you pay, never after.

Why is the valuation different from the price a property is advertised at?+

An advertised price is a marketing position, often a range set to draw interest. A valuation reports settled evidence. In St Ives the comparison rarely arises anyway, because most of the property here is not advertised at all and the valuation is the only figure on the table.

How long does a property valuation take?+

A signed desktop report is usually ready the same business day. An inspected report waits on access, and where the owner is the person living there that is normally quick to arrange. An Automated Market Assessment arrives the next business day.

Is market value the same as the value on my council rates notice?+

No. A rates notice generally carries a land value, which is the ground on its own with nothing standing on it, struck for rating at a date the council chose. A valuation covers the whole property at the date you actually need. Two different questions, and the answers seldom line up.

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