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A professional probate valuation of house contents typically costs between £250 and £500 + VAT, depending on the size of the property. At Aubreys, fees start at £295 + VAT for a one-to-two-bedroom home, and every fee is confirmed in writing before we visit.
A professional probate valuation of house contents typically costs between £250 and £500 + VAT, depending on the size of the property and the nature of its contents. At Aubreys Auctioneers, our fees are fixed and transparent: £295 + VAT for a one-to-two-bedroom property, £395 + VAT for three to four bedrooms, and £495 + VAT for five to six bedrooms. Larger or more complex estates are quoted individually, and in every case the fee is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
When someone dies, their executors must establish the value of everything in the estate — including household contents, jewellery, art and antiques — as at the date of death. HM Revenue & Customs requires this to be an open market valuation prepared in accordance with Section 160 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984. It is a formal document, quite different from an insurance valuation or an informal estimate, and it forms part of the inheritance tax return submitted to HMRC.
A properly conducted probate valuation should include a home visit by a qualified valuer, a room-by-room inspection of the contents, individual assessment of items of value such as jewellery, watches, silver, paintings and collections, and a formal written report suitable for submission to HMRC and for use by your solicitor. At Aubreys, the fee covers all of this, and our team can attend properties throughout Surrey, London and the South East. You can read more about our probate valuations in Surrey and Guildford and our probate valuations in London.
Executors are personally responsible for the accuracy of the figures submitted to HMRC. An undervaluation can lead to enquiries, penalties and interest; an overvaluation can mean paying more inheritance tax than necessary. Free or nominal valuations offered by house clearance firms are rarely prepared to Section 160 standard and are seldom accepted without question. A fixed, modest professional fee is inexpensive insurance against a far more costly problem later.
Yes — and this is often where a specialist auction house adds the most value. Items identified during the probate valuation can, once the executors are ready, be consigned to auction, where they achieve open market prices in front of thousands of bidders. Because Aubreys handles both the valuation and any subsequent sale, executors deal with one firm throughout, and the figures used for probate are consistent with the eventual sale. Our probate and estates service explains the full process.
Call our probate specialist directly on 07939 133427, telephone the Guildford saleroom on 01483 963250, or request a visit online. We will confirm the fee in writing, arrange a convenient time, and handle everything with the discretion and care these circumstances deserve.
Where an estate is subject to inheritance tax reporting, HMRC expects contents to be valued at open market value under Section 160 IHTA 1984. For estates of any substance, a professional written valuation is strongly advisable and is usually requested by solicitors. It also provides peace of mind that you have satisfied your duties as an executor correctly.
Most home visits take between one and three hours depending on the size of the property. The written report typically follows within a few working days.
Yes. Jewellery, watches, silver and coins are among the most commonly undervalued categories in estates, and our specialists examine them individually during the visit.
We cover the whole of Surrey, Greater London and the wider South East from our Guildford saleroom and Mayfair office.
Free, confidential advice from our valuation team, with home visits across Surrey and London.
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