Any ideas how to ensure the house valuation is on the low side?

[Iliveinahovel]

I need a valuation to be on the low side for the house I now live in. Not out-of-this-world low, but somewhere realistic, i.e. 10% to 15% lower than an "average" similar house would be valued at. Currently the house is probably "average" with respect to the overall appeal and condition.

Have around 6 months until the valuation will be done. Any ideas? Let the garden overgrow?

OP are you going to benefit from his pension?

I've heard of agreements where the EH gets a % of the house when the wife co habits, moves or re marries-, or when youngest child reach age 25 but he shouldn't be able to force you to hand over money to buy him out (when it's your house!)

Also the surveyor who did mine said that the condition of the house etc made almost no difference at all to the valuation - it is all to do with what similar decent condition properties in generally good repair sold for in that area. There could be all sorts of reasons that yours might be better or worse than those, but it isn't taken into account in that kind of valuation. It's just assumed to be in good condition. So definitely don't do anything to damage it! It also didn't matter whether it looked good and had superficially nice features; gardens, tidiness, etc. don't matter in the way they do for selling it and having it valued by an estate agent.

The RICS valuation is a very particular thing, it seems, and quite different from what I expected 'valuation' to mean, as i assumed it was more about what it would actually sell for and based more on opinion as a result. But it wasn't. It had to totally be based on evidence on previous sold property in the area.

Be friendly to the person that comes to value it, give them tea and nice biscuits then just ask them to make it as low as they can.

Tell the surveyor exactly what the situation is, including the lack of child support, and ask for their best help.

There are surveyors and you could ask a few whether they can do this for you. Since it’s you paying for them, I bet someone will agree.

And clowns, as many clowns as you can fit into the decor.

See what you are able to borrow and see what you think the difference may be ro the actual 20% of the value. Remember it should be 20% of the equity not the value too.

@AutomaticMoon

There are surveyors and you could ask a few whether they can do this for you. Since it’s you paying for them, I bet someone will agree.

This is what I'd go for

Make sure the estate agents know theyre not getting any business from a valuation.

Two of my friends in this exact situation ripped out their kitchens. One of the dh’s had fucked off to the other side of the world. No maintenance paid. No parenting done. Disgrace he got a penny.

And ask for a valuation survey as the rics building survey is almost £1000 but valuation is cheaper.

@nanbread

And clowns, as many clowns as you can fit into the decor.

I was ‘lucky’ that the building I’m purchasing is apparently so bad that it would be cheaper to tear it down and build anew, according to rics survey. Negotiated more off the price which is extremely low anyway, perhaps cause it’s not a residential building currently. I wish you and your DC the best of luck 🌺

I also don't think that you should be selling your house for him. From what I can see the house pre dates him and he paid two years worth of mortgage repayments. You need the house to bring up the kids... At the most you need to pay back his two years of mortgage repayments. I know I'm probably wrong and a solicitor would be able to advise you on this, I wouldn't be getting the house valued and remortgaged without proper legal advice and I would be going to court and challenging this.

@nanbread

And clowns, as many clowns as you can fit into the decor.

😃 Definitely clowns! Isn’t there a rule about sinks? If there’s no sink you can’t get a mortgage or something but not sure whether it affects value

@meganorks

If it is for probate estate agents will usually value it low for you. In fact if you are asking for the valuations they will value it low if you ask.

When we had to value our house for probate there were no valuations being done so we used Zoopla and took the lowest of their range.

Offer the surveyor tea & cake, pour out your heart to him, ask him for a low valuation.

I don't approve of helping people to diddle others out of their rights.

@lapasion Good advice. Just become a hoarder for a while, OP and if you’re really desperate perhaps spray some water on some walls 😃

@Viviennemary Did you not read OPs posts, he never contributed towards this property nor is he contributing to the upkeep of the DC.

I feel like carefully chiseling a few diagonal "cracks" into the plaster around your windows/doors is a decent way to get a £0 valuation

@maddening

Did you get valuations at the time? I wonder if you would be able to use the value then as I can't see how he can claim on appreciation in value or increase in equity by your payments since the agreement was made? I would get mote advice and push for the values at the time of the divorce be used for calculations.

This is a good idea!

If not, speak to your neighbours, get them to help/tell them it’s temporary. Also ask the people who value you for their lowest/tell them why.

you need a good lawyer.

If you divorced a while ago then surely the value is needed from the time of the divorce, not what its valued at now? And as it was a short marriage where you owned the house previously then he'd possibly only be due half of the difference between the valuation when you married and when you divorced, so half of how much it went up in those two years rather than the entire house valuation at today's price? I don't know, that's why you need a lawyer. Its also his children's primary home, he shouldn't be able to force a sale.

If he wants half the current value as it is now, then equally you are entitled to half his assets at their current value (pension, savings, investments, everything he owns).

I'm guessing all the above, so it could all be bollocks. Try posting in the Legal Advice section, look for a poster called @prh47bridge

He will be entitled to get a valuation himself, also.

And there are criminal penalties for fraud / false misrepresentation

I think get another legal opinion.

If all else fails dark dark colours on all walls, feel free to go for different contrasting colours to really make it an eyesore, let the garden and drive go a bit, and gather loads of free stuff from Facebook marketplace to clutter it right up. But I do think legal advice may be better. Sorry you’re in this position.

Unfortunately, it was a clean break and cannot be reviewed

Then surely it was based on the house value at the time of the divorce, not on accrued value since?

You need legal advice if seven years have passed and he has not paid any child support. You need someone qualified to look at all the facts of your case to see what options you have.

Otherwise, shabby houses with overgrown gardens and looking in need of a bit of doing up will reduce the price you can get on just about any property.