Ordering an independent SMSF property valuation should take minutes, not meetings. This page walks through the whole process — what an SMSF property valuer needs from you, how desktop and on-site scopes differ, how long it takes, and the signed report you receive for the fund’s accounts and audit.
First, some context. The widely discussed 1 July 2027 change to how capital gains tax is calculated applies to individuals — it does not apply to self-managed super funds (SMSFs). Your fund’s obligation is the ongoing one: each financial year an SMSF must report property at market value for the fund’s financial statements and annual audit under SIS Regulation 8.02B. Ordering a supportable valuation is how trustees meet that annual requirement cleanly.
1. Tell us the fund and property details#
To prepare your valuation without back-and-forth, have these ready:
- The property address and title/lot details.
- Confirmation the property is held inside your SMSF (the fund is on title, or held through a bare trust for a limited recourse borrowing arrangement).
- When the fund’s annual return and audit are due, so the valuation date suits your reporting period.
- Any supporting evidence you already have — a lease, a prior valuation, or recent comparable sales. More evidence usually means a tighter, better-supported figure — see the photo guidelines.
You submit these on the order form below. There’s no payment at that step — we confirm the right option and a fixed price first.
2. Choose your scope — desktop or on-site#
The main choice that shapes an SMSF valuation is scope, not brand. Both options are independent, signed by a qualified valuer, and prepared to be audit-ready under SIS Reg 8.02B.
| Desktop — from $299 | On-site — from $690 | |
|---|---|---|
| How the valuer works | Records, imagery, comparable sales and anything you provide (lease, prior valuation) | Everything in desktop plus a physical internal/external inspection |
| Best SMSF fit | Standard residential property; the routine annual market-value update | Recent renovation or damage; unusual property; related-party dealings; a prior auditor query |
| Evidence strength | Objective, supportable evidence for typical holdings | The strongest evidence where condition or scrutiny drives the value |
| Turnaround | Fastest | A little longer (site visit) |
If you’re unsure which fits, order the desktop option and note anything unusual about the property — we’ll flag if an on-site inspection would give your auditor stronger evidence. For a fuller cost breakdown, see SMSF property valuation cost.
3. Turnaround#
We confirm the exact turnaround with your fixed price once we see the property details. Desktop assessments are the fastest; on-site valuations take a little longer because they include a site visit. If your audit or annual return has a hard deadline, tell us the date on the form and we’ll work to it.
4. Receive the signed report#
You receive a signed valuation report from a qualified, independent valuer — the market value, the valuation date, the comparable evidence and the methodology, packaged so your accountant can drop it into the fund’s financial statements and your auditor can rely on it. See what makes a valuation audit-ready for accounts and audit.
A signed independent valuation is the strongest single piece of evidence, but it is not the only method the ATO accepts — trustees may also value property using objective, supportable data. Where property is a material asset, in pension phase, or involved in a related-party dealing, an independent valuation is what auditors most commonly expect.
Order#
We use your details to prepare your valuation and to contact you about it. If you engage us, we also create and keep a long-term record of the property's documents and condition as at 30 June 2027, so that you, your accountant, or a valuer you appoint can use it when the property is eventually sold; and we keep property information after your personal details are removed, to improve our valuation reference data. See our privacy policy; you can ask us to delete your details at any time.
Related services#
- Want to understand the annual obligation and get your fund ready before you order? See an independent guide to SMSF valuation readiness and how often to value.
- Accountant or administrator ordering for many funds at once? A dedicated bulk SMSF valuation service handles that workflow.
Common questions#
How do I order an SMSF property valuation?
What information does the valuer need?
Should I choose desktop or on-site?
How long does an SMSF property valuation take?
What do I actually receive?
Is the valuer independent of the trustees?
General information only — not financial, SMSF or tax advice. Confirm valuation timing and treatment with your fund’s accountant or auditor. Any indicative appraisal is automated and not a certified valuation; the signed valuation is provided separately.