As we approach the end of a very big year, the term “wind down” feels far from reality. Right now, we’re navigating a mountain of urgent valuations as clients strive to finalise property settlements before Christmas, for a fresh 2026 looking forward and not back.
One question I’m asked repeatedly is:
“How does a valuation for Family Law or Property Settlement purposes differ from one for Mortgage Security?” and why we only allow a small percentage of our more senior and experienced valuers to complete valuations for this purpose.
The short answer: while all valuations carry a responsibility to be accurate, an appointment as an Expert in Family Law proceedings comes with a significantly higher level of individual accountability. This responsibility weighs heavily on those entrusted with these assessments.
The ‘Hand on Heart’ Standard
After all, every valuation carried out for settlement purposes under the expert moniker demands that the valuer MUST go the extra mile in completing these assessments. I often remind our Family Law Team:
“Each valuation must pass the Hand on Heart test."
This means the valuer must confidently say they’ve done everything possible to achieve an accurate assessment, no shortcuts, no compromises.
What does this look like in practice?
In residential valuations, two critical steps stand out:
- Comprehensive Physical Property Inspection
A detailed inspection is non-negotiable. Every physical aspect of the property and its surroundings must be documented accurately and thoroughly. - Exhaustive Comparable Sales Research
Family Law valuations rely heavily on Direct Comparison, making the search for the most relevant recent sales absolutely vital. This requires time, diligence, and multiple data sources.
This is done using the following data sources.
Internal Database
Full search of recent valuations completed by our firm for sale purposes on properties in the area. These reports include building areas, detailed notes on fixtures/features, real photos (not wide angle enhanced marketing photos) and very importantly whether the valuer considered the sale in line with market value.
Cotaility (formerly Core Logic) Data
Comprehensive review of settled and unsettled sales, including price, timing, and agent details.
Real Estate.com
This is a very important tool and it also has up to date sales information on properties that have sold, under contract and on the market. It identifies which agent sold the property which is also very important.
Local Real Estate Agents
It is very important to contact the agents on sales as they can give more and importantly candid detail around the property and the marketing campaign which is invaluable. Agents are mostly very willing to help and are accessible. This is very important when using unsettled sales and helps confirm the sales price and whether contracts are unconditional and strong or looking shaky and best avoided as evidence.
On-the-Ground Knowledge
Yes, I‘m a property nerd that often goes through open homes on the weekend. This helps when I am doing a valuation in the area of a similar property and anticipating future sales that may influence valuations in complex markets.
Using all these sources puts valuers in the strongest position to deliver accurate, defensible assessments. It takes time, but for Family Law matters, it’s worth every minute.
So, as we power through the year-end rush, we’re acutely aware of the weight of our role in helping clients move forward. Accuracy isn’t just a technical requirement, it’s a responsibility that impacts lives.
Wishing you a happy festive season and fresh start to 2026!