Private Client Valuations London 


Probate and Insurance specialists


Our London team provides discreet, accurate and fully compliant valuation services for private individuals, solicitors, executors and wealth managers across London.

Whether you require a single artwork assessed, a full residence valuation, or specialist advice for probate, insurance or estate planning, Sworders delivers clear, confidential guidance tailored to London-based clients and collections.

Speak directly with our London team to discuss your requirements and arrange a visit or initial assessment.

 

 

 


'I have instructed Sworders to assist with section 160 Inheritance Act 1984 valuations across a diverse range of estates. Unfailingly helpful, their technical expertise paired with a refreshingly practical and approachable manner makes the team at Sworders a delight to deal with.' 

Amanda Jardine-Viner | Private Client Solicitor - Payne Hicks Beach

 

Our Valuation Services

 


Open Market Valuations

Drawing on our international art market experience, we provide valuations informed by current trends and prices and offer year-round specialist auctions for consignment.


Probate Valuations in London

Expert HMRC-compliant valuations for Inheritance Tax (Probate), Capital Gains Tax, gifts and asset transfers. Our London team works sensitively and efficiently with solicitors, executors, families and tax professionals to support estate administration and long-term planning.

 

Family Division & Trust Valuations

Equitable, independent valuations for trustees, family offices and legal advisors, ensuring fair distribution and clear documentation.

 

Insurance Valuations for London Homes and Collections

Ensure your collection is accurately protected with detailed, replacement-value reports. Ideal for private households, high-value items and multi-generational collections. Includes full photographic documentation.

Our Process

 

We make the valuation process straightforward and transparent:

Step 1 - Initial Contact

Complete the call-back form, or contact our London team directly.

Step 2 - Consultation

We discuss your requirements and advise on the most appropriate approach and fee structure.

Step 3 - Visit or Remote Review

Depending on your needs, we can arrange a home visit or undertake a digital assessment.

Step 4 - Report Preparation

A formal, purpose-specific valuation is prepared by our experts, delivered to you within 10 working days.

Step 5 - Follow-Up Guidance

We can advise on insurance, tax planning, or potential sale through Sworders’ specialist departments.

Why Instruct Sworders?

 

  • HMRC-compliant valuation reports, delivered with precision and clarity

  • Trusted by leading law firms, executors and family offices across the UK and beyond

  • Specialist knowledge across fine art, books, ceramics, clocks, glass, furniture, paintings & sculpture, silver, Asian art and collectors’ items

  • Market-led insights informed by our ongoing auction performance and research

  • Discreet and efficient service, with fast turnaround times

  • Full Estates valued, not just selective items

  • Delivery of bequests via our in-house delivery service and reputable partnered carriers - the delivery cost can be covered by the estate executor, the recipient, or shared between both parties

  • Our valuers travel extensively across the UK (including London), Europe, the US and the rest of the world, working with multiple geographical jurisdictions


Our team handles each instruction with professionalism, sensitivity and a deep understanding of Private Client requirements.


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Selling with Sworders

 

Should you or your client choose to sell with Sworders, you will benefit from the following:

  • Our deep expertise and unwavering commitment to achieving the strongest auction results;

  • Precise, strategic marketing that reaches buyers worldwide, transcending geographic and market boundaries;

  • Targeted, high-impact promotional campaigns designed to engage global audiences;

  • Access to an extensive international network of collectors, dealers, decorators and institutions;

  • A diverse and competitive buyer base that drives stronger bidding and maximises sale prices.


'We were impressed with the Sworders team throughout – with the care they took in identifying items for sale and overseeing their removal, with the pre-sale viewings and marketing of the sale, and ultimately with an excellent result in the sale room.' 

Richard Berns & Mark Giddens | Trustees of the Maurice Turpin Will Trust

 

Meet the Team


Sworders London benefits from the combined expertise of its specialist departments. Find out more about our specialists here.

Lizzie Lardner

Lizzie Lardner

Head of Sworders London

 


T 0203 971 2500
E lizzielardner@sworder.co.uk

Madeleine Armstrong

Madeleine Armstrong

Gallery Manager

 


T 0203 971 2500
E madeleinearmstrong@sworder.co.uk

Contact our London Team 

Contact Sworders London Gallery, conveniently located minutes from The National Gallery, to discuss your needs.

020 3971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk

GET IN TOUCH

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Our specialists cover a broad range of categories, including:

  • Fine Art, Paintings & Sculpture
  • Jewellery & Watches
  • Silver & Metalware
  • Furniture & Works of Art
  • Asian Art
  • Ceramics & Glass
  • Books, Manuscripts & Archives
  • Wines & Spirits
  • Collectibles, Decorative Arts & Heritage Items

Whether contemporary or traditional, individual pieces or full estates, Sworders provides authoritative expertise.

This will depend on the size of the property and/or the specific contents to be valued. Our Valuations Manager can discuss these details with you to determine the complexity of the valuation and provide an estimated timescale.

Open Market valuations for potential consignment are provided free of charge.

For professional valuation reports, e.g., for Inheritance Tax or insurance purposes, Sworders charges £300 + VAT for the first hour and £200 + VAT for each subsequent hour. This includes administration costs and mileage within a 100-mile radius. We also offer a full-day rate of £1,500 + VAT per valuer (8 hours).



 

Valuation reports are submitted within 10 working days of our visit. For complex collections requiring additional research, we will agree on timescales and keep you fully updated throughout the process.

For items that are not suitable for auction, Sworders can arrange for their clearance. This may involve referring the items to a third party for sale, for which we will obtain your written consent to pass on your contact details, donating them to charity, recycling, or disposing of them, depending on the nature of the items.

Prior to conducting our valuation, we ask you to provide details of any bequests or items of shared ownership to ensure these are dealt with correctly and accounted for on the valuation.

We offer an in-house delivery service so can facilitate the delivery of any bequests to their recipients via our reputable partnered carriers. The delivery cost can be covered by the estate executor, the recipient, or shared between both parties.

We will help you plan and execute a successful sale, offering expert advice, targeted guidance and a seamless service that includes safe item removal and storage, delivery of bequests, and full house clearance where required.

Sworders charges a commission on the sale of the Goods calculated as a percentage of the Hammer Price at 17.5% plus VAT, except for Fine Wines and Spirits which will be 8% plus VAT, unless we agree with you otherwise. There is a minimum commission charge of £10.00 plus VAT per lot.

We reserve the right to photograph all lots for use in cataloguing and marketing unless you specifically request us not to and charge a small fee for this service. The charge will vary depending on the requirements of the illustration. 

All items are covered by Sworders comprehensive insurance policy whilst on our premises, at mid-auction estimate. There is no additional charge for this service.