Valuing equipment in place or for removal
- Topic
- Equipment valuations
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Last reviewed
On this page
Equipment valued in its current working place may be a different proposition from equipment a buyer must remove. Confirm the premise of the valuation before using its figure for a sale with different site conditions.
In place is sometimes described as in situ, and for removal as ex situ. Those terms are useful only when the accompanying assumptions are clear. They do not automatically tell you which rights, services or costs the transaction includes.
Put the premises into the brief
| Question | Information to confirm |
|---|---|
| Can the buyer keep using the equipment where it stands? | Actual proposed arrangement and relevant property advice |
| Who owns or controls the premises? | Responsible party and any unresolved permission |
| What services or shared equipment does operation require? | Known dependencies and specialist questions |
| If removal is required, when must it finish? | Confirmed access and departure dates |
| What condition or operation is assumed? | Evidence, inspection scope and limitations |
| Who bears which costs? | Agreed responsibilities and stated valuation treatment |
Do not assume that selling a machine transfers a lease or a right to occupy the building. Those matters require specific advice and agreements.
Think about the buyer's actual acquisition
A buyer considering removal may need quotations, access information and technical advice before making a sensible offer. The transport-cost guide explains how that wider commitment affects the commercial discussion without supplying invented moving prices.
The presence of services or supporting infrastructure can also affect a package. For a linked system, use the whole-line valuation comparison to identify what would and would not travel with it.
Do not interpret this as a rule that a removal sale is always worth a fixed percentage less. Different assets, buyers and circumstances produce different questions. The valuer needs evidence for the actual scenario.
Avoid cost double counting
An opinion for a removal sale may already reflect that premise. It does not follow that you should subtract every possible buyer cost again. Ask which costs are reflected in the value and which are separately payable by the seller.
Read the cost-treatment guide before turning the reported figure into expected cash. If the report does not say how an expense is handled, request clarification rather than choosing the most convenient interpretation.
HSE's loading guidance also shows why work involving several parties needs coordination. The valuation discussion can identify a constraint, but it does not provide a lifting or removal plan.
Revisit the premise when the plan changes
If continued use on site is no longer possible, or the removal deadline changes, return to the valuer. Use the assumptions guide to document the difference between the original instruction and the new circumstances.
When approaching UK Auction Group, describe the proposed transaction as well as the machines. A photograph shows where the equipment stands today. The brief needs to explain what the buyer would actually be allowed and required to do with it.
Explore the valuations guides.
Professional reference: RICS.
Sources
- UK Auction Group: valuations Checked
- RICS Valuation: Global Standards, effective January 2025 Checked
- HSE: loading Checked
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.