Property valuers and quantity surveyors are riding a wave of demand created by changes in the way insurance companies assess their liability for residential properties.
Many New Zealand insurers are changing the basis of their home insurance policies from total replacement to "sum insured" as a result of the Christchurch earthquakes.
The sum insured figure is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay to repair or rebuild a home if it is damaged or destroyed, and it is the responsibility of the homeowner to advise the insurer what the cost of rebuilding their home would be.
Some insurance companies are providing online calculators to help people assess the rebuild cost, however many people are opting to employ the services of property valuers or quantity surveyors to get a more accurate estimate.
Roger Charnock is one of nine directors for Prendos, a national property consulting firm, and regional manager of the Tauranga branch.