Desktop vs. Full Inspection Valuation

What each one involves

Desktop Assessment

A professional valuation completed using available property information, market data and comparable sales evidence — without a physical inspection. It's faster and typically lower cost, prepared by a property valuation professional using the same underlying evidence base as a full valuation, minus the site visit.

Full Inspection Valuation

A qualified valuer physically inspects the property, assessing its condition and improvements in person before undertaking market analysis and preparing the report. It's the more comprehensive option, and generally the more defensible one for complex or higher-value properties.

What a valuer actually looks at during a full inspection

A physical inspection lets the valuer verify things public records and online listings often miss: the true condition of the dwelling, any renovations or extensions that haven't been formally recorded, structural or maintenance issues that could affect value, and a direct, on-the-ground read of how the property compares to recent local sales. This is the layer of evidence a desktop assessment can only infer.

When each is appropriate

• •Desktop tends to suit: straightforward residential properties with good available market and property information
• •Full Inspection tends to suit: unique or renovated properties, properties where online information may be incomplete, higher-value properties, or complex circumstances

Turnaround and scope differences

A Desktop Assessment is typically faster to turn around since no site visit needs to be scheduled. A Full Inspection takes longer but directly verifies the property's actual condition and any improvements, which a desktop assessment can only infer from available records.

Will the ATO accept either option?

There's no single category the ATO mandates — the focus is on whether the valuation is independent, evidence-based and appropriately supported for the purpose and date required. That said, the more complex or higher-value the matter, the more a Full Inspection valuation's direct verification of the property's condition tends to strengthen the evidentiary position.

How to choose

If your matter is straightforward and time-sensitive, a Desktop Assessment may be sufficient. If the outcome is significant — a large CGT event, a legal matter, or a unique property — a Full Inspection generally provides a stronger evidentiary basis.