Invasive weeds like Giant Rats Tail Grass (GRT), parthenium and African lovegrass can have a significant effect on the valuation of your property. This is because an invasive weed can decrease the carrying capacity of your property and require significant investment (in time and money) to contain and overcome the infestation.
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If the property is being used for farming or grazing, the amount of income (or profit) that can be generated from that property, will directly affect what someone is prepared to pay for it. Therefore, the more profitable the property, the more it is worth.
If the extent of an invasive weed decreases carrying capacity and requires extra costs to manage the property, it will affect the profitability of the property and make it less valuable.
Hypothetically, if two cattle grazing properties were identical country and location, but one property was 20 per cent bigger and ran 20pc more stock then it would be worth more money than the smaller property, because it generates a higher income and is more profitable.
If the larger property was heavily infested with an invasive weed profitability may be less than the smaller property and would be viewed as less valuable than a property with no invasive weeds.
From a valuation and business point of view, early detection can save long term management costs.
If an outbreak of an invasive weed is unrecognised and is allowed to spread over large areas, the cost of control and impact will have a greater impact on the property’s valuation compared to early detection and action.
Early detection and action will minimise the spread, area impacted and ultimately will minimise the effect on the valuation of the property. To book a valuation consultation, call AgForce on 07 3236 3100. – John Moore, AgForce Rural Property Valuer
