Hi-fi and home cinema probate valuations from £49
HMRC-compliant valuations
delivered in 2-3 days
No visit required in most cases.
Send us your photos. Our experts do the rest.
Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google and Trustpilot
Online or in person valuation? Both Available
At Swift Values we provide complete probate valuations whichever route you choose. Most estates suit our online service well, though if your circumstances need a valuer on site, we offer that too.
Online Valuation
£49 up to 5 items – £99 for 6 or more
Ideal for most hi-fi systems, speakers, amplifiers, turntables, AV receivers, projectors and home cinema equipment. In most cases, we can value equipment from clear photographs showing the make, model number, rear connections, condition, remotes, boxes and accessories. You photograph the system, we identify the equipment and provide an HMRC-compliant probate valuation, delivered in 2-3 days.
In-Person Valuation – from £298
Recommended only where a home visit is genuinely useful, such as large collections of hi-fi equipment, extensive home cinema installations, multi-room audio systems or estates where there are many separate components to record. Most individual items do not need physical inspection, as model numbers and photographs usually give us what we need. If a visit would not add value, we will tell you.
What we can value
We provide specialist probate valuations for hi-fi equipment, home cinema systems and related audio-visual items. Whether the estate includes a single valuable amplifier, a pair of high-end speakers or a full room of separates, our valuers can assess the equipment for HMRC from photographs in most cases.
ITEMS WE CAN VALUE FOR PROBATE
Hi-Fi Separates
Amplifiers, pre-amps, power amps, CD players, streamers, DACs, tuners, cassette decks and complete separates systems from brands such as Naim, Linn, Arcam, Cyrus, Quad, Marantz and Technics.
Speakers & Subwoofers
Floorstanding speakers, bookshelf speakers, centre speakers, surround speakers, active speakers and subwoofers, including brands such as Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, Monitor Audio, REL and Bang & Olufsen.
Turntables & Vinyl Equipment
Record players, tonearms, cartridges, phono stages and vintage hi-fi equipment, including Rega, Linn, Technics, Thorens, Garrard and other collectable or specialist audio brands.
Home Cinema Systems
AV receivers, surround sound systems, projectors, projection screens, media players, soundbars and cinema room equipment from brands such as Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Pioneer, Epson, JVC and Sonos.
High-End & Specialist Audio
Valve amplifiers, audiophile systems, studio monitors, premium headphones, multi-room audio equipment and more unusual specialist equipment where brand, model, condition and market demand can make a significant difference to value.
“Valuations are the biggest single area of risk, accounting for a large part of our compliance checks. You are strongly advised to instruct a qualified independent valuer.”
Source: Inheritance Tax Toolkit, HMRC, Published July 2018
Your hi-fi probate valuation in 3 easy steps
Swift Values provides a simple, cost-effective way to meet your probate valuation obligations. Here’s how it works:
Take photos
Photograph the hi-fi equipment or home cinema system with your phone. Clear images of the front, back, model numbers, speakers, remotes, boxes and accessories are usually enough.
We value the items
Our valuers identify the make, model, specification, condition and current second-hand market value, drawing on comparable sales and specialist market knowledge.
Receive your HMRC compliant report
Typically delivered within 2–3 working days and prepared under Section 160 IHTA 1984, ready to submit with confidence.
See exactly what you’ll receive
Every Swift Values report is a professionally formatted PDF, ready to submit with your probate application. It includes:
Fully illustrated PDF reportHigh-value item breakdown for IHT 407Valuer notes to detail specificsSection 160 compliance statementSigned declaration for IHT400Valuer bio
Trusted by
Why executors choose
Swift Values
Hi-fi equipment can cost a fortune new, but probate value is not the same as retail price
Trusted by thousands of executors
Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google. Over 1,000 valuations completed UK-wide.
What’s included in your probate valuation?
Our online valuation starts at just £49 for a few items (up to 5) and £99 for a larger collection (6 or more), which suits the vast majority of estates.
If anything requires specialist input, we’ll tell you early and confirm any additional costs before proceeding. No surprises.
Service
A few items (up to 5)
A larger collection (6 or more)
Price (inc. VAT)
£49
£99
Fair use policy
Is there a limit to what’s covered in our fee?
No. Whether you choose our £49 option for a few items or £99 for a larger collection, you’ll always receive a valuation and a report for everything you submit. Last year, 99% of our valuations were completed at the headline price and needed no further research.
In the 1% of cases that need more work, the only thing that changes is how precise the figure is. Most systems are straightforward, whether it’s one or two pieces or ten. If the equipment turns out to be high-end, with individual pieces worth thousands, we’ll still value it within your fee, but the initial valuation may need to be expressed as a wider range, for example, £10,000 to £25,000. That gives you a reliable indication of where the equipment sits in the market, but narrowing it further may require more detailed research into individual models and their condition, comparable auction results or an inspection in person.
If the estate is comfortably below the inheritance tax threshold, a wider range usually makes no practical difference. You can use the top figure and move on. If inheritance tax is due, a narrower figure can make a big difference. For example, further research might narrow a range of £10,000 to £25,000 down to £16,000. Using £16,000 rather than the £25,000 top figure takes £9,000 off the value of the estate, and at 40% inheritance tax that means £3,600 less tax to pay. Our valuer will explain what would be needed to narrow the figure down and what that would cost. You can then decide whether to go ahead. Nothing extra happens without your agreement.
Ready to start your probate valuation?
From just £49. Delivered in 2-3 working days.
HMRC-compliant – guaranteed, or your money back.
Questions? Call the office on 0330 088 4099
Hi-fi equipment is often one part of a wider estate. See everything we can value for probate, from house contents and jewellery to cars and number plates.
Swift Values FAQs
How much does a hi-fi probate valuation cost?
What photographs do you need of hi-fi and home cinema equipment?
Why is my hi-fi worth so much less than it cost new?
Does the equipment need to be in working order?
Can I use eBay prices for my hi-fi valuation?
What about speakers or projectors built into the house?
Will HMRC accept your hi-fi probate valuation?
How long does a hi-fi probate valuation take?