As one of the players dealing with property appraisal in Kenya, we have interacted with situations calling for different property valuation methods. The valuers act cap 532 laws of Kenya provide the framework for offering valuation services in Kenya. In this article, I would want to look at four property valuation Kenya methods that are available not only to real estate investors but also to finance seeking to use a property as security for financing.
Why you need a Property Valuation in Kenya
Property valuation is very important to determine and understand ahead of purchasing a property. The value of your property is usually affected by several factors and it’s only a valuer who understands that well. As a property valuer in Kenya, we always advise our clients or landlords and also enlighten them on the importance of obtaining the services of a property appraiser in Kenya.
A good number of people rely on only the location and square footage of a property as determinants of the property value and this may be misleading. A property may look a good one for investment on the basis of location and square footage you need to be sure of its value. Normally, a property valuation is conducted for taxation purposes, mortgage purposes, sales, bookkeeping, bookkeeping and many more reasons.
As a company offering commercial valuer in Kenya, We rely on a scientific approach to property valuation. This calls for use of calculations and careful estimates based on the values of neighbouring properties.
As an experienced commercial valuer in Kenya, we have used three traditional methods of valuation. The three traditional property valuation methods include;
- Comparable sales approach
- Income approach
- Cost Approach
Comparable sales approach
This method identifies past transactions of comparable properties or rental comps as a basis to determine the value of a property. As a Kenya home valuer firm, we have found this method helpful especially where the properties have most of the characteristics.
As a Kenya home valuer, our first step with this method is to find nearby properties similar to the property in question and which were recently sold.
To provide a valid and useful comparison, each property must;
- Be as similar to the subject property as possible in terms of property type, square feet, number of beds/baths, etc.
- Have been sold within the last year in an open, competitive market
- Have been sold under typical market conditions
As a Kenya real estate valuer, we always go for three or four comparable or comps in our real estate valuation process. We also consider any recent upgrades or new amenities to the properties. Location still plays a key role in the valuation of a property and even in picking appropriate comparables. You should know that location of a property can look good at first glance but may be deceptive if you are looking at the long-term valuation of a property.
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We have experienced and we know as Kenya real estate valuer that there are no two identical properties. Therefore you need to make adjustments to the comp prices to take care of the dissimilar features.
Other factors that would affect the value of a property include:
- Property size
- Lot size
- Property age and condition
- Physical features and amenities, including landscaping, type and quality of construction, number and type of rooms, square feet of living space, hardwood floors, a garage, kitchen upgrades, a fireplace, a pool, central air, etc.
- Location desirability
- Proximity to property in question — the closer, the better. You especially will want to rule out comps on the other side of a busy street, as there tend to be large discrepancies. It might even be better to look at the houses down the street rather than the ones directly across the street.
- Date of sale (Remember: the more recent, the more accurate)
The valuation for the subject property will fall within the range formed by the adjusted sales prices of the comps.
You should have in mind that the adjustments made on the sales price of the rental comparable will be more subjective than others. This method of property valuation that we use as Kenya property valuers can be very subjective and not accurate because of the element of guesswork that is applied in varying the sale price. So minimum variance and chance of error, a lot of consideration is normally given to properties with near zero or minimal adjustment.
Income approach
This method of income approach is also termed as income capitalization approach. It’s a valuation of real estate commonly used for rental properties as well as commercial real estate properties. Many estate valuers in Kenya use this method by converting the income of a property into an estimate of its value.
The income capitalization approach, or income approach, is a valuation of real estate commonly used for rental properties and commercial real estate properties. This method converts the income of a property into an estimate of its value. Doing housing appraisal in Kenya over the past ten years has exposed us to different valuation scenarios with unique characteristics but in many cases, the income approach has proven so helpful in establishing the value of a property.
This is a good method to use especially if you want to invest in a real estate property and you decide to know also what is likely to come out as returns from it. In the income approach, you use a formula called IRV as follows;
Net operating income (I) / capitalization rate (R) = value (V)
To understand this formula better, you need to break it down into simpler steps, by first calculating Net Operating Income (NOI).
How to Estimate the Net Operating Income
1. Calculate the annual potential gross income
The potential gross income is the potential rental income of the property when rented at 100% capacity.
For example, if an apartment in Nairobi attract a monthly rental income of Ksh.300,000, then your annual potential gross income is 12 x Ksh300,000 = Ksh.3,600,000.
2. Calculate the effective gross income
This number, which usually is expressed as a percentage, is the appraiser’s estimate from the market for these kinds of buildings in the local area. The effective gross income is the potential gross rental income plus other income minus the vacancy rate and credit costs. As a player in housing appraisal Kenya, we have seen how this is important.
For example, the vacancy rate of property could be 10% and the additional income might be Ksh10, 000 per month, or Ksh.120, 000 annually.
At this point: A property with a potential gross income of Ksh.3, 600, 000 – 10% vacancy (or Ksh.360, 000) + additional income (or Ksh.120, 000) = Ksh.3, 360, 000.
3. Calculate the net operating income (NOI)
As one of the leading Kenya building valuer, we usually advocate that you begin by deducting annual operating expenses such as real estate and personal property taxes, property insurance, management fees (on or off-site), repairs and maintenance, utilities, and other miscellaneous expenses (accounting, legal, etc.).
Net Operating Income (NOI) = Effective gross income – operating expenses
At this point: Our Effective gross income is Ksh.3, 360, 000 for this property. Let’s say all the additional operating expenses are Ksh.860, 000 for the property. This means the NOI is Ksh.2, 500, 000.
Now that you have your NOI calculated, you can continue on to estimate the valuation of your chosen property.
4. Compare similar cap rates
A capitalization rate is the same as a rate of return, that is, the percentage that investors hope to get out of the building in income.
Look at similar properties’ cap rates to estimate the price an investor would pay for the income generated by the particular property. As a commercial valuer in Kenya, we have often adopted a cap rate of 10% though sometimes we use the Central bank of Kenya base lending rate.
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5. Apply the cap rate to the property’s annual NOI
This last step allows you to form an estimate of the property’s value, and where the formula is used.
All you have to do now is divide the NOI by the cap rate.
To finish the example: Ksh.3, 360, 000 / 0.10 = Ksh.33, 600, 000.
Ksh.33, 600,000 is the estimate of the valuation of this property, using the income capitalization approach. As Kenya housing appraisal expert, this value looks so fair and a true reflection of the cost of putting up such a property.
Key Takeaways:
- The income approach is a real estate valuation method that uses the income the property generates to estimate fair value.
- It is calculated by dividing the net operating income by the capitalization rate.
- This method requires the most calculations to be done, which can be tricky, but gives some of the most accurate results and as Kenya property appraisal firm, we will always advocate for it.
- When using the income approach, a buyer should pay special attention to the condition of the property, operating efficiency, and vacancy rates. The higher the vacancy rate, the lesser the earnings will be and vice versa.
- For a buyer, a higher vacancy rate may be beneficial in getting a lower valuation for a property but the source of high vacancy should be interrogated and investigated to ascertain what needs to be done to reverse it.
Cost approach
The cost approach takes the view that the price a buyer should pay for a property, land or building, should equal the cost of building an equivalent building. The market price for the valuation property is equivalent to the cost of the land, plus the cost of construction less depreciation.
As a commercial valuer in Kenya, we have seen this method yielding the most accurate market value only when the property is new. As one of the leading property consultants in Kenya, we can accurately apply the cost approach to determine the value of your property.
The cost approach does not focus on comparable properties or income generated by the property like the two methods previously discussed.
Instead, the cost approach values real estate by calculating how much the building would cost today if it were destroyed and needed to be replaced. It also factors in how much the land is worth and makes deductions for any loss in value, otherwise known as depreciation. Kenya real estate valuation practitioners concur that this method is more appropriate for a new property.
The wisdom behind this method is that a buyer may only want to pay an equivalent amount adequate to build a similar property. However, it can be difficult for Land valuers in Kenya to use this method to value undeveloped land.
The weakness of this method is that it doesn’t take into account surrounding factors or factors that are specific to the property which ultimately affects the worth of the property. For example, the valuations of land are normally affected by what goes on on the neighbouring lands.
The most commonly used cost approach appraisals include:
- Reproduction cost – The cost to construct an exact duplicate of the subject property at today’s costs.
- Replacement cost – The cost to construct a structure with the same usefulness (utility) as a comparable structure using today’s materials and standards.
When all estimates have been gathered, the cost approach is calculated in the following way:
Value of the Property= Replacement or Reproduction Cost – Depreciation + Land Worth
Being a building valuer in Kenya, we have identified a few areas where the cost approach works best. The cost approach works best on the following property types:
- Rural properties – When there are no other properties nearby, it is impossible to value a property via the sales comparison approach. This calls for the adoption of a cost approach.
- New Construction – The cost approach is often used for new construction, too. Construction lenders require cost-approach appraisals to help appraise the type of equipment. This is because any market value or income value is dependent upon project standards and completion. As a firm offering residential properties valuation in Kenya, we see cost approach every approach for new constructions.
- Special use properties – Includes schools, shopping malls, government premises, motor vehicles, and hospitals. These properties generate little income and are not often marketed. This invalidates the income and comparable approaches. As a Kenya property valuer, we have done several valuations of schools and hospitals using this method. Property appraisal in Kenya has developed and even some clients understand why the cost approach is used in these special-use properties.
- Insurance – Insurance appraisals tend to use the cost approach. This is because only the value of improvements is insurable and land value is separated from the total value of the property.
- Commercial properties (sometimes): The income approach is the main method used to value commercial properties. However, as we have experienced as a Kenya commercial valuer, sometimes it’s not easy to use an income approach on certain commercial properties. Sometimes a cost approach may be implemented when design, construction, functional utility, or grade of materials require individual adjustments.
Do you need to do property valuation in Kenya? We at West Kenya Real Estate Ltd are here to help you out. We do a valuation for all needs, including but not limited to, a mortgage, security, bookkeeping, taxation, court bond, sale or acquisition and many other reasons. You need to know that any estate agent can be a valuer.
At West Kenya Real Estate Ltd, we have a big team of professional and licensed property valuers who are able to do valuations anywhere in Kenya. We normally avail valuation reports within 3-5 days of receiving valuation instructions. Talk to us today. You can email us on info@westkenyarealestate.com or call us at 0789-217-685 or 0798-952-518.
West Kenya Real Estate Ltd is one of the leading property consultants in Kenya offering Property Valuation in Kenya. Talk to us.