Valuer
Qualified professional assessing market value. Independent of seller and lender.
What is Valuer?
A valuer is a qualified professional (usually API-certified) who assesses the market value of real estate. Different from real estate agents (who market properties) and buyer's agents (who buy for you). Valuers are independent and paid for their assessment, not their outcome.
Why it matters for you
Every lender has a panel of approved valuers. Same property, different valuers, different outcomes are common — up to 10% variance on the same asset. Your broker can (sometimes) request a specific valuer from the lender's panel if the first comes in light.