Questions to ask before an insurance valuation

You're sitting down to sort out your insurance, and you've realised your current sum insured might be years out of date. Before you ring a valuer, you want to know what questions will actually tell you whether they're the right person for the job and whether they understand what you need. The difference between a thorough, claimable valuation and a rushed one often comes down to the conversation you have before the work starts.

Ask how they'll establish replacement cost, not market price

Start here: "How do you calculate what it would cost to rebuild or replace this property today?" A good valuer won't just look at what similar homes sold for last month. They'll talk about current building costs, labour rates, materials, and whether they'll factor in inflation or supply-chain shifts. If they say they're "using recent comparable sales," probe further—that's market valuation language, and it may not reflect what you'd actually spend to replace your home if it burned down tomorrow.

Ask them to walk you through their method. Will they use a cost guide, consult builders, or analyse recent construction projects in your area? Listen for specificity. A valuer who says "we have a standard approach for all residential properties" might not be accounting for the quirks of your place—a period home needing specialist repairs, a property in a remote area with higher labour costs, or one with unusual finishes. The right answer sounds like: "I'll inspect the building, note the construction type and condition, consult current builder quotes, and cross-check against cost databases. Then I'll tailor it to your property's specifics."

Dig into what they'll physically inspect and what they'll skip

Ask: "What will you actually look at, and what won't you include in the valuation?" This matters because an insurance valuation is only useful if it covers the things that matter to your claim. Will they inspect the roof, the foundations, internal systems like plumbing and electrics? Will they measure the building, or estimate? Will they price in site access, demolition costs if needed, or temporary accommodation while rebuilding?

Also ask what they won't touch. They may say they don't value contents, or they exclude landscaping, or they assume you have basic council compliance—all fair, but you need to know the gaps so you can sort those parts out separately or adjust your sum insured. If a valuer glosses over this or says "I'll just have a quick walk around," that's a yellow flag. They should give you a clear scope of work before they start, and they should be willing to add extra inspections if your property needs them.

Check how they'll stand behind the report if you claim

This is the question that separates valuers who've thought about the real world from those who haven't. Ask: "If I claim and the insurer disputes the rebuild cost, how will you defend this valuation?" A solid valuer will explain that they keep detailed notes, photos, measurements, and references to the cost data they used. They're comfortable putting their name to the figures because they can back them up in writing.

Also ask whether they hold professional indemnity insurance and whether they're registered with their professional body—ask to see the evidence. Ask what happens if building costs spike between the valuation date and a claim; do they build in any contingency? And find out: if you rebuild and the actual cost comes in higher than the valuation, what does that mean for you? (Spoiler: it might mean you're out of pocket. That's why the valuation accuracy matters so much.) A good valuer will be candid about these risks and explain how they try to avoid underestimating.

Good valuers expect these questions and welcome them. They know that a thorough brief and a clear conversation upfront mean fewer surprises later. When you speak to someone and they answer with confidence, detail, and an honest edge about what they can and can't guarantee, you've likely found someone worth hiring. Strove's verified valuers can help you find and book someone with strong local knowledge and a track record in insurance replacement cost work.