Consumer behaviour in the valuation of residential property: A comparative study in the UK, Ireland and Australia

This paper reports the results of empirical investigations that examine behavioural aspects of residential property valuations. Following the house price collapse of the late 1980s in the UK, there was considerable criticism of the valuation methods used by residential valuers. In particular for the current research, the valuation methods employed by valuers had not taken account of buyer behaviour in the valuation process, which contributed to inaccurate valuations. This research investigates both the attitudes of the consumers of residential property and the actual valuation methods used by valuers to determine whether they account for buyer behaviour accurately. The study was undertaken on a cross‐national comparative basis in the UK, Ireland and Australia and pursued on a qualitative basis. Overall, the research concludes that although valuers believe that buyer behaviour is an important part of the valuation process they simply do not consider buyer preferences. In effect, valuers have reduced the valuation task to a confirmation of bid price and, because of lender pressure which occurs worldwide, valuers overlook the economic sustainability of the property asset, which has severe implications for housing markets and national economies that interact with these markets.