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Why Traditional SMSF Valuations are Costing You Time and Money

By Darren Wathen (MBA), CEO | February 16, 2026

For years, Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) trustees and auditors have been stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to property compliance.

The Problem with the Status Quo

The traditional way of obtaining a property valuation for an SMSF audit is often slow, expensive, and manual. Many trustees either rely on free Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) from banks, which are frequently rejected by auditors for lacking sufficient evidence, or they pay upwards of $500 for a full physical inspection that can take over a week to coordinate.

Under the ATO guidelines and SISR regulation 8.02B, the onus is on the trustee to provide "objective and supportable data." A simple one-page estimate without context simply does not cut it anymore. This is where the compliance bottleneck begins.

The hovr Advantage: Speed Meets Compliance

hovr was built to bridge the gap between unreliable free estimates and over-engineered physical valuations. By leveraging a desktop-first approach, we provide a professional, independent valuation report within 24 to 48 hours for a flat fee of $85.

Unlike the old way of doing things, there are no phone calls, no waiting for quotes, and no coordinating site visits with tenants. You simply enter the address and receive an audit-ready document.

Total Evidence: Capital Value and Rental Income

One of the most significant benefits of using hovr is that our reports address the two critical pillars of SMSF property compliance in a single document:

  • 1. Capital Valuation: We provide a current market value backed by recent, relevant comparable sales data. This ensures the auditor has the "objective evidence" required to verify the fund’s assets.
  • 2. Rental Yield Analysis: Auditors now increasingly require evidence that the property is earning a market-rate return, especially in related-party tenancies. hovr reports include a rental assessment based on local market benchmarks, satisfying both sides of the audit in one go.

By providing both figures, hovr eliminates the need for trustees to hunt through real estate portals to find "similar" listings to justify their numbers. We do the heavy lifting for you.

Streamline Your Next Audit

Whether you are a trustee looking for a quick solution or an accountant managing 50 funds, hovr offers a level of certainty that traditional methods cannot match. Our reports are independent, evidence-rich, and designed specifically to meet the scrutiny of an SMSF audit.

Order Your $85 Audit Report