Need to know what a property's really worth — who to trust

You're standing in your kitchen, wondering if you could sell now, or whether to wait. Maybe you've inherited a property and need to settle an estate. Perhaps you're refinancing and the bank wants proof of value. Or you're simply curious what your asset is actually worth in today's market. The problem is immediate: you need to know a number you can trust, and you have no idea who to ask or what they'll charge.

This is where property valuation gets confusing. Walk into the wrong conversation and you'll waste money, or worse, get a figure that doesn't hold up when it matters. The good news is that the landscape is smaller and simpler than it feels once you know what to look for.

Who values property, and why it matters

Three broad groups do this work, and they're not interchangeable. Professional valuers—registered with the South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession (SACPVP)—produce formal reports used for legal, financial and taxation purposes. These carry weight with banks, courts and SARS. Estate agents offer free "market appraisals" as a sales tool; they're useful for a rough sense of direction but aren't legal documents and carry no independent verification. Then there are quantity surveyors and specialist assessors who value commercial property, developments, or specific assets—you'd hire them for narrower, technical jobs.

The choice depends on why you need the valuation. If a bank, attorney or tax authority is going to scrutinise it, you need a registered professional valuer. If you're just deciding whether to list or testing the waters privately, an agent's appraisal might be enough to start. The trap is mistaking one for the other and discovering too late that your figure isn't acceptable to whoever's funding or regulating the decision.

What to look for in someone you can actually trust

Start by confirming registration. A valuer should be able to give you their SACPVP registration number without hesitation. Ask for it, write it down, and verify it if the stakes are high. Registration isn't a guarantee of perfection, but it means they've met training and ethics standards, and there's a complaints process if something goes wrong.

Look for someone with experience in your property type and area. A valuer who knows suburb valuations inside out will spot local factors you'd miss—whether a street is climbing in desirability, what schools and access points drive price, which properties sell quickly and which stall. That local knowledge is worth the fee.

Clear communication matters more than you'd think. A good valuer will explain their method, tell you what they're comparing your property to, and walk you through their reasoning. If they give you a number and won't justify it, be wary. Also ask upfront what the report will include and how long it takes—timelines vary, and sometimes you're paying for urgency.

The first step: knowing what you're hiring for

Before you contact anyone, answer this: Is this valuation for a legal, financial or tax purpose (inheritance, divorce, bank refinancing, SARS)? Or are you getting a sense of market value for a personal decision? The answer narrows your options dramatically. For the first category, find a registered valuer. For the second, an agent's opinion might suffice, or you might want a full professional report anyway—that's your call and your budget.

Once you're clear on the purpose, you're ready to look. Strove lists verified valuers across the country with profiles showing their specialisms and registration status. You can compare a few, read what they've done before, and ask for written quotes. That's a stronger start than cold-calling or hoping your friend's cousin knows someone good.

The peace of mind from a number you can defend—to a bank, to a co-heir, to yourself—is worth getting it right the first time.