REGIONAL NSW • BEFORE THE VALUER ARRIVES
A seven-day preparation timeline for a waterfront home
Preparation does not manufacture value. Its purpose is to help the valuer identify the property correctly, understand unusual rights and inspect the features relevant to the assignment.
One week before: confirm the instruction
Write down why the valuation is required, the relevant date and who will rely on it. Confirm whether the residence, land, berth, mooring, jetty or other interest is included. If several interests are involved, avoid assuming the valuer has received every document from another party.
Five days before: assemble the paper trail
Gather title information, surveys, approved plans, berth or marina agreements, licences, leases and records for significant improvements. For shared property, include relevant strata, community or owners-corporation material. Clearly distinguish verified documents from your own understanding.
Three days before: describe the water connection
Prepare a short factual note explaining the type of waterway, access route, any known depth or clearance limitations, waterfront structures and how they are used. Do not present marketing language as fact. If a right or approval is uncertain, say so.
The day before: make the inspection practical
Arrange access to rooms, storage areas and relevant external improvements. Locate keys, remotes and documents. Ordinary tidiness helps the inspection proceed, but cosmetic staging should not be confused with structural condition, legal utility or market evidence.
On inspection day: answer, show and distinguish
Point out material improvements and provide requested records. Explain unusual access or facilities without attempting to argue a predetermined figure. If you do not know an answer, offer to locate the document rather than guess.
After inspection: respond with evidence
If the valuer asks for further information, send it promptly and label it clearly. Avoid flooding the instruction with unrelated listings. A relevant settled sale, approval or agreement is more useful than a large folder of promotional material.
Do not conceal known defects, represent informal use as a legal right, alter document dates or pressure the valuer to adopt an unsupported result. A valuation is an evidence-based professional opinion prepared for a stated purpose.
Regional considerations
Coastal, lake, river and escarpment markets across regional New South Wales are not interchangeable. Access, exposure, hazards, services and the depth of comparable evidence vary. The previously recorded external provider for this article is currently offline, so no inactive external link is being presented to readers.