On 21/07/2010 08:56, Edward wrote:
My family has an interest in a piece of farmland which we wish to sell
to another beneficial owner. We have instructed valuers to provide a
value, but they have given an estimate for providing the valuation of
between £750 and £1200 (priced at £120 per hour). I am not a
surveyor, but given that the plans show the area, and that calculators
are cheap (I've got a free one on my computer), how can this involve
anything more than a) visiting the plot and determining the quality of
the land, and b) having decided what the price of that type of land in
that area generally goes for, multiplying cost-per-acre x number-of-
acres.

The plot is less than half an hour's driving time from the surveyor's
office. I can't see how this could involve more than three hours
work.

Thoughts?

You don't say how large the plot is or whether there is any development
potential. If it is just farmland and being sold as such the value is
not likely to be much above the average for bare land which (last time I
checked the Valuation Agency website) was about £5000 an acre in most
parts of the country.

'Plot' tends to suggest something small and maybe valuable in which case
a valuation by a knowledgeable valuer is surely a must particularly if
it is a subdivision of an existing field for which accurate dimensions
are required.

If OTOH it is only farmland and what is being sold is one or more fields
then the farmer should have the land registered with the RPA who will
have measured the plan area of each field to the nearest 0.01 of a
hectare which is surely accurate enough for farmland transactions and
your valuer may not need even to leave his office to make his valuation.