Frequently asked questions…

Many of the questions below relate to our Probate Valuations with overlap for our other types of valuation.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if your query is not answered below.

I am concerned about Coronavirus. Is it safe to visit my property?

Work relating to probate has been classed as essential and therefore we are permitted to enter a private home or a solicitors office for the purpose of our work. We always wear a mask and will sanitise hands before entering any property, maintaining social distancing at all times. There is no requirement for you or your representative to remain at the property for the duration of our visit.

How long will the valuation take?

This can be difficult to to estimate as often we have little more than a telephone call prior to our visit to assess the size and duration of our visist. For a probate valuation of a typical three bedroom house with a few antiques and a small amount of jewellery we would expect our valuation to take around two hours. The majority of properties we visit for probate valuations range between one and three hours. If the valuation visit takes longer, the positive aspect is that this inevitably means that there are items of note that require valuation.

Once the property starts to have a higher percentage of antiques, silver and jewellery, paintings and collections, so the time at the property increases. It is worth remembering that we are only recording items of commercial value, we are not producing an inventory of every item in the property.

Will the valuer be able to look at everything?

We have the experience and support of consultants to value all items in a property, the greatest pleasure is in finding things that are out of the ordinary, perhaps requiring some additional research. RICS places strict criteria on valuation methods and we use a combination of experience, realised price data and if required we are able to call upon the expertise of the network of contacts and consultants we maintain. At the other end of the spectrum of our work is the issue of hoarding, an illness where a person continues to accumulate items throughout their life, rarely disposing of anything. We are accustomed to this and you should never feel embarrassed if this illness is relevant to your situation. If the extent of the hoarding curtails our ability to see items, we record this in the valuation.

What geographical areas do you cover?

We are happy to go wherever our clients ask us. The main focus of our work is the Bristol area and a broad radius including Bath, Wells, Weston Super Mare, the Mendips and South Gloucestershire. We also cover the entire country and have completed valuations in London, the South West, Yorkshire and Wales. Travel is charged at 45p/mile with no charge for travel time, allowing distant customers access to our services at minimal additional cost.

Do I have to sort everything out before you arrive?

You may be relived to hear that we would rather you left the property as it is. We know where people keep certain items and even where they hide things. We would always ask that you let us visit before starting to clear a property. On one memorable valuation, the look of realisation on the face of a well-meaning relative as we pulled items from his ‘skip pile’ for valuation, only for him to confess that two full skips loaded with what he considered items of no value had already been taken away!

We appreciate that valuable items may have been removed from an unoccupied property for security purposes and if so, we can arrange with you how best to access those items.

Is there anything you do not value?

Yes. Items with no value (unless specifically gifted in a will). This may sound obvious, but by this we mean items that are not viable to be sold commercially. The value must be able to be realised via a commercial means, i.e. sale by auction. The reality is that in many auction rooms, an item that sells for £10 may not cover the minimum entry fees and commission. Therefore on our valuations, the lowest figure you are likely to see is around the £20 figure. By the same token, if we have ascribed a value against an item it means that we would direct it to auction if so instructed. Our valuation is there to tell you the value of items in reality, not just theoretically.

Do let us know, however, if there are any items that you want included in the valuation notwithstanding their lack of commercial value.

I live on the other side of the country, do I need to attend the valuation in person?

We are regularly entrusted with the keys to a property, usually collected from the solicitors administering the estate, signed for, and returned the same day. Sometimes family members or executors may wish to attend, which is perfectly fine. It can be a great pleasure unearthing items, long since forgotten, that shed a light on a past life. For other clients, time commitments and distance may make it difficult to travel but there is no requirement to attend. Occasionally neighbours with a key will allow us access. We try to make it all as simple as possible, fit in with your timetable and can liaise with neighbours, solicitors, estate agents on your behalf. It’s what we do.

Can you help with the sale of items and also clearing the property?

Over twenty years working in a Saleroom provides the knowledge to know what will sell and just as importantly, where to sell it. We do not charge the estate to arrange auction consignment. Sometimes we may receive a referral fee for this work from the auction house, taken from the auction house’s Buyers Premium, and as such does not affect the proceeds that come to the estate. The haulage cost are usually taken direct from the sale proceeds or are settled by the estate. This aspect of our work is an important follow-up service. Our independence allows us to direct items to the most appropriate venues. Contact us to discuss how we can arrange consignment to auction on your behalf and to discuss logistics and time scale.