Property investors and home owners alike generally have a strong interest in the value of the property they are holding.

Apart from it being a topic of passionate national interest, the value of a property will determine whether you choose to buy, hold, sell, or reinvest.

The lenders employ professional valuers to price properties so they know how much they can safely lend. Hence these valuations as a rule err on the side of conservatism.

The Real Estate industry in Queensland is one of the most tightly monitored in the nation – there are strict guidelines agents must follow when listing a property for sale.

The seller has to sign a document called a 22A, authorizing the agent to sell the property.

The agents under law have to attach what is called a CMA to the form ( a comparative market analysis). The CMA is proof of the research undertaken by the agent to put the correct price on the home.

It exists for the protection of the seller – who may not be fully aware of the property’s value - it also prevents agents from inadvertently inflating or undervaluing the price range.

The CMA report should include a list of similar properties sold recently in the area. It can get tricky at times because there are intangible factors in determining a property value as well as the local sales history.

The land value is a large part of determining the value of a property – often driven by location which is crucial in the criteria of savvy investors.

Proximity to amenities also adds value – are there hospitals, shopping centres, transport and a "coffee club" within reach?

Fixtures, fittings, bathrooms, number of bedrooms and capacity of the garage also determine a valuation report.

There are a few things you can do economically to increase the value of the property – look at the overall presentation and appearance of the property from a buyer's perspective.

Declutter, clear rubbish from the gardens, splash on a coat of paint and visit the auctions for some bargain tap fittings – they can all make a difference in the bigger scheme of things.

If you would like some handy hints for adding value, or you are thinking of listing your home for sale, call us for an obligation free market appraisal.

We currently have a shortage of properties in all price brackets due to an active selling start for 2008, and some very interested buyers registered for immediate notification on our new listings.