METHODS OF VALUATION


The elements under the national standard are:


INTERPRET OUTCOMES OF ANALYSIS

"Value" can be considered as consisting of two parts:


This breakup is shown in the attached diagrams against common land uses:

See diagram showing high "u"

See diagram showing high "d"


METHODS OF VALUATION

The amount or ratio of desirability determines the method of valuation to utility in the total value. There are 3 fundamental methods of valuation:

  1. direct comparison
  2. summation
  3. capitalization.

A number of overseas textbooks list other methods, however they can be included under one of the above headings. For example, cost and residual methods come under the summation method in Australian practice.

See direct comparison



SELECTING THE METHOD OF VALUATION

If the direct comparison method is not suitable then either the summation or the capitalization method is used. Which one?

If desirability is the major eleme

nt then the summation method is used. However, if utility is the major element, the capitalization method is used. Generally, the appropriate methods are as follows:

In this part we are concerned with the direct and summation methods.

See summation method

See capitalization method

See primary and secondary methods

ANALYSE DATA ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY

SCALES OF VALUE

Scales of value are useful tables or graphs constructed from sale evidence for the important variables determining market value for example, age (architectural style), materials, condition, and size.

AGE OF HOUSE

By analyzing sales with the summation method the value/m2 of the improvements against vintage is found. The values/m2 are plotted on a graph for the subject house, in good order, with standard materials and standard area. Such a graph is shown in the diagram below. The value for an age other than that revealed by sales can be interpolated from the graph.

DIAGRAM AGE VERSUS VALUE




CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

The diagram below shows a scale of values for brick/tile, wood/tile, and wood/galvanized steel houses in which area, age and condition are held constant. Values for vintage/materials not revealed by the sales can be interpolated.

DIAGRAM CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS VERSUS VALUE




CONDITION

The diagram below shows a scale of values for very good order (VGO), good order (G0), needs paint and repairs (NPR), and poor order (PO) conditions. Materials, age and area are held constant.

DIAGRAM CONDITION VERSUS VALUE




























AREA OF HOUSE

The diagram below shows a scale of values for houses of 50,100, 200, and 400m2. Condition, age and materials are held constant. The value/m2 falls with an increase in area as fixed costs and expensive "one of'" features (such as kitchens and bathrooms) are averaged over a larger area.









See multiple regression analysis

See averaging

DETERMINING THE VALUE OF BUILDINGS

Generally, the most important variables that determine the value of residential buildings are:


AGE (VINTAGE)

The age of the building should be stated as vintage (year built) rather than "x" years old. This Is because "x" years old is relative to the date of the valuation report and therefore, requires knowledge of that date. Further, it is more difficult for the valuer to know and relate the date of construction with the style and architecture of historical periods.

See the table in the appendix that shows, as a general guide, the age of buildings by the materials used.

Age of buildings against materials used

ARCHITECTURE (STYLE)

Architectural style can be one of the most important variables of the market value of houses particularly, in heritage areas. It is an example of "art' being an important part of valuation system. Residential houses should be classified and dated according to architectural periods for example, art nouveau, art deco, modern, Californian Japanese, and West Cost Bungalow. This is more important than the year of construction .

Consumers of housing have changing attitudes to architectural style and an unpopular style today may be popular tomorrow.

EXAMPLE

Victorian terraces in Sydney were particularly unpopular in the early 1900s when it was considered desirable that houses should be freestanding. Compare this attitude with their popularity today.

Classifications of this nature should be constructed to suit a certain locality. For example, what may be a good classification for the North Shore of Sydney may be a poor classification for the inner suburbs of Sydney.

Residential houses were constructed during distinct chronological periods, such as the "immediate post war" period or the "depression period". Subdivision of houses into historical periods is useful as it reduces the number of categories needed and groups houses together into similar design, architecture and materials.

See appendix for a breakdown of architectural styles together with circa based on that used by the South Australian Valuer General.

CONDITION

A commonly used classification of a building's condition and a useful fieldbook code is as follows:

DEMOLITION VALUE ONLY (dvo):
The building has no value

VERY POOR (vp):
Needs major structural
Improvement.

POOR (p):
Needs minor structural improvement.

NEEDS PAINT AND REPAIRS (npr):
Painting and non structural repairs are required.

NEEDS PAINT (np):
Requires painting only

FAIR (f):
Reasonable condition but will require painting soon.

GOOD (g):
Recently painted and/or renovated

VERY GOOD (vg):
Above average maintenance and condition. For example, well kept by one owner.

Condition relates to curable obsolescence until it falls to the level of demolition value only. At that stage, it becomes incurably obsolescent and the building has no value. Incurability reflects the cost to cure. If substantial problems arise with the structural integrity of the building (for example with the footings), although cure is possible, it is too costly and the owner would be better off demolishing and rebuilding.

FINISH

Finish describes the extent and quality of items, workmanship, and attention to detail in the house. It is measure of the quality of construction (for example, Tallowwood, Tasmanian oak or Jarrah floors) as well as the number and quality of prime cost (pc) items.

PC items are those fixtures which are included at cost by the builder. That is, in the building contract they are not separately costed as the actual cost is not determined until date of purchase. This also allows the owner some flexibility in the type, quality and extent of PC items to be included in the house.

PC items include:


The valuer can usually determine finish by the attention to detail. For example, there is a rule of thumb that state; "if the front door knob is expensive, then the finish for the rest of the house is also of a high standard".

See materials


STRUCTURE

The structure of the house relates to the relative cost of construction of the structural parts. The parts in descending order of value and a popular code is as follows:

MAIN (m):
The main part of building under a full roof, fully lined and ceiled.

SKILLION (s):
A flat roofed addition (lean to) to the main part of the house. It may or may not be fully lined and ceiled.

VERANDAH (v):
An open structure attached to the house. Generally, not lined and ceiled.

PATIO (p):
An outside concrete slab attached to the building.

See effective or equivalent area

LAND

Land value is determined using the direct comparison method as shown above or by analyzing the value from sales of houses using the summation method. The main component of land value is whether or not a house can be built on the land. Therefore, the extra or marginal value of land over and above that value is less per square metre than the basic building block.

Factors affecting land value includes:



See analyzing values with the summation method

See site value

See replacement cost new (RCN) method
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