Estate valuation: how to value a house and other assets for probate

The executor of the will or administrator of the estate is usually responsible for doing an estate valuation. This includes calculating the value of the house and any other properties owned by the person who died. You’ll also need to work out the value of any bank accounts, savings, pensions, life insurance policies, stocks and shares, debts and even gifts given in the last seven years.

If you’re the executor or administrator and feel like the estate is too complex to deal with yourself, you could pay a professional to handle this for you. This is called a Complete Probate or estate administration service, and also includes getting the grant of probate.

If you would like a quote for our fixed-price Complete Probate service, please give our probate specialists a call on 0203 695 2090.

There are a number of ways to value a house for probate. Some people compare the cost of similar houses on the street or in surrounding neighbourhoods, others go straight to a property surveyor or estate agents for a more accurate valuation.

The best option for you will depend on three key factors:

• The approximate value of the estate

• The inheritance tax allowance of the person who died

• If the estate is being left to a spouse, civil partner or qualifying charity

If the approximate value of the estate (including the house) is close to or above the inheritance tax threshold, it’s recommended that you get a property valuation from an RICS property surveyor. This can help to prove the value of the house to HMRC, and you can also refer HMRC to the surveyor if they dispute the valuation provided on the probate and tax forms.

The date the property is sold may also impact HMRC’s view on the valuation. If, for example, the house is sold soon after death for significantly more than the valuation you receive today, HMRC may insist on using the actual value it was sold for.

You can find out more about inheritance tax thresholds here.

Estimate the property value yourself

If you have a rough idea of the house’s value and know it won’t take the estate over or close to the inheritance tax threshold, you could estimate the property’s value yourself. You can do this by:

• Searching for the property on Zoopla for an estimate

• Searching for similar properties in the local area to work out how much it could sell for

Get a valuation from your local estate agent

If you’re planning on selling the house and want a more accurate estimate, you could get a free house valuation from your local estate agents.

Remember, if the house value is likely to take the estate close to or above the inheritance tax threshold, it’s recommended that you get three valuations to help prove the house’s value to HMRC – you could then take an average from these valuations.

If there’s quite a lot of variation between each valuation, you may be better off using an RICS property surveyor to get a more accurate value.

Get a valuation from an RICS property surveyor

If you feel like HMRC could challenge your property valuation and want to build the strongest case possible, it’s recommended that you get a professional valuation from an RICS property surveyor.

This is the only option that you would need to pay for, so it’s only worthwhile if the estate’s value is close to or above the inheritance tax threshold.

Regardless of which method you choose, HMRC may still decide to challenge the valuation, especially if they think the house’s value is being underestimated. They may also dispute your valuation if they see that the house has sold (or is being sold) for significantly more.

If you would like help valuing a property for probate, please call our probate specialists on 0203 695 2090.

You can value a jointly-owned property by estimating the value yourself or getting a valuation from an estate agent or RICS property surveyor. Then, for the probate and tax forms, you simply need to include the share owned by the person who died.

Here are a couple of examples:

A property is owned as joint tenants by a married couple, Bill and Angie. When Bill dies, Angie automatically inherits the whole property. The house is then valued at £300,000, so Bill’s share is written as £150,000 on the probate and tax forms (50% of £300,000).

A property is owned as tenants in common by a couple in a civil partnership, Steve and Matt. Steve owns 80% of the property and Matt owns 20%. When Steve dies, the house is valued at £400,000, so his share is written on the probate and tax forms as £320,000 (80% of £400,000).

A professional property valuation by an RICS surveyor can take anywhere between 45 minutes and a couple of hours. The surveyor will then go away and produce a comprehensive report, which may take up to two weeks. If you choose to use an estate agent instead, the process is usually slightly quicker. However, it’s important to remember that an estate agent’s valuation won’t be as accurate and is more likely to be disputed by HMRC.

You can usually work out the value of other assets in the estate by contacting the financial organisations directly. However, before you can do this, it’s important to build up a list of assets.

If your loved one made a will, they may have included an inventory of their estate. This can really help to speed up the probate process, as you know you’re not missing any of their assets. If you can’t find an inventory anywhere, you can search through their paperwork to make a list of their assets.

This could include:

• Bank accounts

• Savings accounts

• Pensions

• Investments

• Stocks and shares

• ISAs

• Life insurance

• Possessions

• Business

• Foreign assets

• Trust assets

• Debts

• Gifts given in the last seven years

Once you’ve put together a list of assets, you can contact each company one by one to find out the value of each asset or debt.

If you have any questions about valuing assets for probate, or if you would prefer us to do this on your behalf, please call our probate specialists on 0203 695 2090.

Once you’ve calculated the value of the house and other assets and debts in the estate, you’re ready to apply for probate.

At Farewill, we offer a fixed-price probate service for as little as £595. This takes the stress of probate and tax forms off your hands so you’re free to focus on what really matters.

If you would like to find out more about our probate service, or if you’re ready to get started today, please give us a call on 0203 695 2090.

• The executor or administrator of the estate is usually responsible for valuing the estate and applying for probate.

• To value a house, you can make an estimate by searching for the price of similar properties online or getting estate agents to value it. But if the estate’s value is close to or over the inheritance tax threshold, you may be better off getting a professional valuation from an RICS property surveyor.

• You can track down other assets by checking the will for an inventory or searching through bank statements and other paperwork. And, if the person who died had a financial adviser or accountant, you can make enquiries with them too. It can also be helpful to collect up their post to see which financial companies they receive regular statements from. You can then contact each organisation directly to find out the value of each asset.

• If you need help getting probate or valuing someone’s estate, you can speak to our specialists by calling 0203 695 2090.