Published: 27/03/2026 By Harriet Andrews
Harriet Andrews MRICS is a Rural Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer at Symonds & Sampson. She is also an Auctioneer within the Agricultural Auctions department and combines these skills to provide valuations not just of land and property, but for machinery, livestock, and diversified enterprises.Modern farming businesses are complex operations. A typical farm may include a farmhouse, dwellings, land, diversified enterprises, livestock and machinery. Each of these elements forms part of the taxable estate and must be valued appropriately and transparently. Machinery and livestock require specialist knowledge. Values fluctuate depending on age, condition, breed, market demand and seasonal factors. Our firm is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive valuations of mixed-asset businesses, with experts across a range of disciplines.
As RICS Registered Valuers, our residential, commercial, and agricultural valuers and livestock and machinery auctioneers can ensure that clients have the specialist input required to produce our valuations. We are bound by the RICS “Red Book” standards, ensuring consistency, independence, and professional integrity.
Valuations may be required for IHT, succession planning, business restructuring, insurance or many other purposes. An accurate valuation is not simply about establishing a figure but must take in factors such as the correct basis of value, eligibility for Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), that assets are correctly categorised and provide clear documentation suitable for HMRC review. Errors or informal estimates can lead to delays, disputes, or unnecessary tax exposure.
As a long-established West Country firm, Symonds & Sampson has acted for generations of farming clients in the smooth running of their rural business. Like most things, forward planning is key, so if you would like to discuss valuation or any other aspects of your business, please do get in touch with Harriet on 01935 382909 or our rural agents in your nearest Symonds & Sampson office.
