Residential property advice
Residential property is often somebody’s largest asset, but the decisions surrounding it are not always straightforward. A valuation may be needed for tax, family, legal or financial reasons; a proposed purchase may raise questions that sit outside a standard survey; or an owner may simply want an independent view before deciding what to do next.
Geering Chartered Surveyors provides independent residential valuation and property advice across Devon and Cornwall. As an RICS-regulated practice, valuations are undertaken by an RICS Registered Valuer and, where required, prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the ‘Red Book’).
The emphasis is on giving you a clear answer to the question you actually need to resolve, explaining the reasoning behind it and, where another specialist is needed, working alongside your solicitor, accountant or other adviser.
Residential valuations
We undertake formal and advisory valuations for a wide range of purposes, from individual houses and flats to unusual coastal property, residential investments and properties forming part of mixed portfolios.
- Inheritance Tax and probate valuations, including retrospective valuations where required.
- Capital Gains Tax valuations and historic base-date valuations.
- Help to Buy redemption valuations.
- Shared Ownership and staircasing valuations.
- Matrimonial and other formal valuations where an independent opinion of value is required.
- Residential elements within mixed residential, commercial and agricultural portfolios.
- Pre-sale and pre-purchase valuation advice where a client wants an independent view before committing to a transaction.
Probate, inheritance and tax-related valuations
Property valuations frequently form part of wider estate and tax planning. The appropriate valuation date and basis will depend on the purpose of the instruction, and historic evidence can become particularly important where a valuation is required retrospectively.
We regularly work with private clients, executors, solicitors and accountants, providing clearly reasoned valuation reports and responding to subsequent professional queries where necessary. Where the issue extends beyond property valuation, we are comfortable working as part of the wider advisory team.
Shared ownership and Help to Buy matters
Scheme administrators, housing associations and other parties may prescribe particular valuation requirements. We are experienced in preparing valuations for Help to Buy redemptions and Shared Ownership sales or staircasing, and can liaise with the relevant organisation where appropriate.
Independent advice before buying or selling
Not every property question requires a formal Red Book valuation. Sometimes the most useful service is a considered independent view before a client approaches an estate agent, agrees a price or commits to a purchase.
Having previously owned and operated an estate agency as well as working in professional valuation practice, Rupert brings both market and valuation experience to these instructions. Advice can be tailored to the property and the decision you are trying to make rather than forced into a standard report format.
When might you need us?
- You are administering an estate and need an independent property valuation.
- Your accountant has asked for a historic value for Capital Gains Tax purposes.
- You are repaying a Help to Buy loan or increasing your share in a Shared Ownership property.
- A property is unusual, mixed-use or difficult to compare and you want an independent view.
- You are considering buying or selling and want advice before entering negotiations.
- Your solicitor or other professional adviser has asked for a formal RICS valuation.
A straightforward approach
The first step is usually a short conversation about the property, the purpose of the advice and any deadline you are working to. We can then confirm the appropriate scope, information required and fee before you commit.
To discuss your property, or for an informal chat about how we can help, get in touch here.