A valuation often influences important financial decisions, including insurance, estates, disputes and sales. Engaging a certified valuer helps ensure the opinion of value is evidence-based, properly documented and fit for purpose, reducing the risk of costly mistakes or challenges.

The Auctioneers and Valuers Association of Australia (AVAA) appreciates that you want to be able to identify a valuer that can provide you with a fair, evidence-bases assessment of what goods such as art, collectables, furniture and household items, vehicles, plant and machinery, are worth.  To help you, we certify valuers that have the experience and professional credentials to this task.  These professionals are credentialled as AVAA Certified Valuers and can often be distinguished by the letters after their name, for example John Smith CVAu.

A certified valuer is a professional who provides an independent, evidence-based opinion of value, supported by appropriate methodology and clear reporting. Valuations are often relied upon when decisions carry real financial consequences, including insurance matters, probate and estates, taxation issues, disputes, business transactions and asset settlement processes. In these settings, clients need more than a casual estimate; they need a valuation that is credible, transparent and fit for purpose.

A professional valuer should explain the purpose and scope of the valuation in plain language for you. For example, an insurance valuation may focus on replacement cost, whereas an estate valuation typically requires market value as of a specific date. An AVAA Certified Valuer understands these distinctions and ensures the report is suitable for the client’s needs and the audience who will rely on it.

The criteria to become an AVAA Certified Valuer is designed to verify that an individual is active, experienced, insured and able to demonstrate professional-quality reporting through real examples of valuation work.  The role of a valuer typically includes:

• Inspecting and identifying items accurately, including condition, age, provenance where relevant and features influencing demand.
• Researching market evidence, such as comparable sales or industry data, rather than relying on assumptions or guesswork.
• Applying appropriate valuation methodology, aligned to the purpose of the valuation, such as market value or replacement value.
• Producing a written valuation report, explaining evidence, reasoning, limitations and the final valuation conclusion.
• Providing independent, objective judgement, free from bias, conflicts of interest or client pressure.

To qualify, the AVAA Board requires that valuers must be actively conducting valuations on a regular basis and working as a valuer of goods at the time of application. Clients benefit because regular valuation work supports current market awareness and strengthens accuracy in professional judgement.

The experience requirement to become an AVAA Certified Valuer is substantial. Applicants must have worked as a valuer of goods for at least five years before applying, or otherwise satisfy the AVAA Board as to competence, experience and suitability. For clients, this indicates the valuer has likely handled a wide range of categories, understands valuation risk and can manage complexity with confidence.

Professional indemnity insurance is mandatory to become an AVAA Certified Valuer. Under AVAA’s criteria, members must not act until evidence of professional indemnity insurance has been provided and approved. This is important when a valuation is relied upon by an insurer, accountant, solicitor, executor or court.

Applicants must also satisfy the AVAA Board as to competence as a valuer and as to good character. Importantly, new applicants are required to submit two recent valuations that meet minimum valuation reporting standards. Depending on their level of technical competence, applicants may also be asked to complete AVAA valuation training to support consistent capability and quality.

So, looking to engage an valuer?

The first step to protect yourself is to choose an AVAA Certified Valuer. They will ask you about the intended use of the valuation, the scope and evidence base, the reporting format, timeframes, fees and current professional indemnity insurance coverage. In a polite but realistic sense, using a valuer who cannot demonstrate strong professional standards may increase the risk of receiving a report that is challenged by third parties, unsuitable for its purpose or difficult to rely upon when it matters most.