What is Valuation?
A valuation is an independent assessment of a property's market value — ordered by the lender before approving your loan. Types include full inspection (most reliable), kerbside (drive-by), desktop (data-only) and automated (AVM). Lenders use valuations to calculate LVR and confirm the property is adequate security.
Why it matters for you
Low valuations are one of the most common deal-killers. If your contract is $1M but the valuation comes in at $950K, the lender treats the LVR higher — often triggering LMI, rate changes or a rejected loan. A broker who knows which lender uses which valuer (and for which suburbs) can meaningfully improve valuation outcomes.
Last updated: April 2026