PROPERTY NEWS - Being a property owner can be stressful, not only when you decide to put up your property for sale, but luckily help was offered to ensure that they could put up a fight in regard to their municipal property valuations.

Owners of properties in Johannesburg, Ethekweinin and a number of other municipal areas were racing against time to lodge objections regarding the municipal valuations of their properties - as well as the rates charged on these valuations - as this will come into effect from July.

However, Chas Everitt International property group stepped up to the plate and offered free independent valuations to all owners that needed supporting documentation for their objections.

The group CEO, Berry Everitt, stressed the importance of home owners checking any new General Valuation Rolls (GVRs) that are compiled by local authorities and says that objections should be filed if they believe that the valuation is wrong.

Not doing this could result in owners paying far too much in municipal rates on a monthly basis, or even worse, being unable to afford the new rates put in place.

This movement can also have a major impact on the property market, as incorrect valuations can result in it becoming difficult to sell properties in certain areas, or even cause them to eventually lose value.

Due to the large amount of red tape, there are many who shy away from contesting the valuations, Everitt added, but he believes that a small investment of time could end up in a big saving for some over the next few years, as well as ensures that their property remains an attractive option in the market.

Many prospective buyers nowadays, whether dipping into residential or commercial property, will often request the municipal charges of the properties that they look at, and are put off by rates that are too high.