Straight answer: our fixed fees are $245 incl. GST for a residential property valuation and $550 incl. GST for a commercial property valuation including a market rental assessment. Every report is prepared by a Certified Property Valuer, delivered Australia-wide, and written to the standard the ATO and SMSF auditors require.
Most valuation firms make you request a quote before they will tell you a number. We publish ours, because the price of a compliance valuation should not be a mystery. The rest of this page explains what the wider market charges, why the gap exists, and which type of report you actually need.
What property valuations typically cost in Australia
| Report type | Typical market cost | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Residential, full physical inspection | Commonly $400 to $800+ | Not required for tax and SMSF purposes |
| Residential, desktop report | Varies widely, often $300 to $500 | $245 incl. GST |
| Commercial, full physical inspection | Commonly $1,500 to $5,000+ | Not required for tax and SMSF purposes |
| Commercial, desktop report with rental assessment | Often $1,000+ | $550 incl. GST |
The market ranges above are indicative. Fees from traditional firms vary with location, property type and complexity, and quotes for the same job can differ by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Our fees do not vary: one price for residential, one price for commercial, nationally.
What affects the cost of a valuation
Where fees do vary in the wider market, five factors drive it: whether a physical inspection is required, the property type (commercial and specialised assets cost more), location (regional travel adds cost for inspection-based firms), the purpose of the report (court-ready expert evidence costs more than compliance reporting), and urgency. State-by-state differences in quoted fees are really differences in these factors, which is why our desktop model can hold one national price.
Why desktop valuations cost less
The single most expensive component of a traditional valuation is the physical inspection: a valuer's time on site, travel, and the scheduling overhead around it. A desktop valuation removes that component. The valuer forms the opinion of value from comparable sales evidence, property records, mapping and imagery, and current market data drawn from national property databases.
It also collapses turnaround: our reports are delivered in 24 to 48 hours, where full inspection firms commonly quote 5 to 10 business days. For compliance purposes this is not a shortcut, it is the appropriate tool. The ATO's requirement for SMSF and tax valuations is that the value be based on objective and supportable data. Comparable sales analysis by a qualified valuer is exactly that. A site visit adds cost, not compliance.
Which report do you actually need?
- SMSF annual accounts and audit. Desktop report. Superannuation regulations require fund assets to be reported at market value each year, and auditors need objective, supportable evidence behind the figure. Our reports are built for this. See our full guide to SMSF property valuation requirements.
- CGT cost base and other tax events. Desktop report, current or retrospective, depending on the effective date you need.
- Related party commercial leases. Desktop report with rental assessment, so the lease can be shown to be on arm's length terms.
- Mortgage security. Neither ours nor any valuation you order yourself. Lenders order their own panel valuations for lending decisions.
- Litigation and formal court evidence. Usually a full inspection report with an expert witness scope. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction if it is outside our scope.
What is included in every report
- CPV sign-off. Prepared and signed by a Certified Property Valuer who is also a Chartered Accountant, so the report is written with the tax and audit end-use in mind.
- Comparable sales evidence. The sales relied on are set out in the report, which is the objective and supportable data the ATO's guidance calls for.
- Methodology statement. How the value was reached, in plain language an auditor can file.
- Audit-ready format. Reports are structured for direct submission to SMSF auditors, accountants and the ATO.
- Rental assessment (commercial). Market rent opinion included in the $550 commercial fee, covering the related party lease question in the same document.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a property valuation cost in Australia?
It depends on the type of report. Full inspection valuations from traditional firms commonly run several hundred dollars for residential property and can run into the thousands for commercial property. Desktop valuation reports, which are prepared from sales evidence and property data without a physical inspection, cost significantly less. Our fixed fees, including GST, are $245 for a residential report and $550 for a commercial report including a rental assessment.
Why are desktop valuations cheaper than full inspection valuations?
A desktop valuation removes the site visit, which is the most expensive component of a traditional valuation. The valuer analyses comparable sales, property records, imagery and market data to form the opinion of value. For purposes like SMSF annual reporting and tax compliance, where the standard is objective and supportable evidence rather than a physical inspection, a desktop report meets the requirement at a fraction of the cost.
Will an SMSF auditor accept a desktop valuation report?
Yes, that is what our reports are designed for. Superannuation regulations require fund assets to be reported at market value, and the ATO's guidance requires the value to be based on objective and supportable data. A desktop report prepared by a Certified Property Valuer, setting out comparable sales evidence and methodology, provides the audit evidence auditors ask for. Auditors across Australia accept our reports each year.
Does the commercial valuation include a rental assessment?
Yes. Our $550 commercial report includes a market rental assessment. This matters for SMSFs leasing business real property to a related party, where the lease must be on arm's length terms and auditors ask for evidence that the rent reflects market rates.
Will a bank accept a desktop valuation for a mortgage?
No. Lenders order their own valuations through their own panels for mortgage security purposes. Our reports are prepared for tax, SMSF audit and compliance purposes, not for lending. If you need a valuation for finance, your lender arranges it.
Do you have to pay for a property valuation?
A formal valuation by a qualified valuer is a paid professional service. What is free is a real estate agent appraisal, which is a marketing estimate rather than an independent opinion of value, and is often not accepted for tax, SMSF audit or legal purposes. If the figure needs to stand up to the ATO, an auditor or a court, expect to pay for a proper report.
Is a property valuation fee tax deductible?
It depends on the purpose. A valuation obtained in relation to an income-producing property or a CGT event may be deductible or form part of the property's cost base, while a valuation for private purposes generally is not. Confirm the treatment for your situation with your accountant.
How long does a valuation report take?
Most reports are delivered within 24 to 48 hours of ordering, once we have the property details and any supporting information such as lease documents for commercial property. Complex or multi-property engagements are quoted with a confirmed turnaround.
Order your valuation
Fixed fee, no quote round-trip. Residential $245, commercial $550, both incl. GST, delivered in 24 to 48 hours.
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