Valuation in motion

In a real estate landscape marked by shifting values, rising ESG standards and increasingly complex transactions, valuation is no longer just about calculating a fair market value. It’s about delivering clarity, confidence and context - fast. At CEUSTERS, Vincent Gommers leads a Valuation & Advisory team that does just that. We sat down with him to explore how CEUSTERS is strengthening its approach to data, speeding up delivery without sacrificing accuracy and becoming a go-to partner for M&A transactions and financing cases involving real estate.

In a market where financing terms can shift overnight, speed matters. “(Almost) every request we get is labelled urgent,” Vincent notes.

“That’s because valuations often come at the very end of a financing negotiation. The rate is locked, the lender is ready and then there still is the need for a valuation. Our clients rely on us to deliver both quickly and professionally, in accordance with all necessary regulations, both in general and individually, depending on the specific needs.”

Thanks to lean workflows, hands-on leadership and strong internal coordination, CEUSTERS regularly delivers within two weeks, sometimes even within a few days, “although we prefer the latter to remain the exception”, Vincent adds. “It’s not just about being fast, it’s about being available for our clients, as part of the service proposition. That personal touch is still a differentiator.”

While sustainability has long been a talking point in real estate, it has lately usually become a condition for access to financing.

“If you want to buy a dated office building and don’t have a clear renovation or redevelopment plan, getting a loan is becoming challenging.” Vincent says. “Banks themselves are obligated to follow up on and report about energy ratings and renewable energy sources, thus so are their clients.

This shift has created the demand for valuations to consider ESG-related risks and opportunities. Although CEUSTERS is still further developing its strategic sustainability reporting capabilities as a service for clients, the team sees potential to evolve towards integrated ESG advisory soon.

“In the near future we want to offer a forward-looking report that not only shows value today but outlines how that value can grow through targeted sustainability investments,” Vincent adds.

CEUSTERS’ valuation practice has also become a trusted partner in mergers, acquisitions and succession planning. “In M&A, consultants cover accounting, goodwill and enterprise value, but they are usually not specialized in real estate,” Vincent explains. “That’s where we step in. We know property. We know how to value it independently and contextually. And we know how to move quickly within the deadlines of these deals.”

This makes CEUSTERS an ideal valuation partner for financial advisors, M&A consultants, family offices and legal counsels, especially when navigating real estate asset-heavy transactions. “Whether it’s a SME expanding, a founder transferring assets to the next generation or a foreign fund acquiring Belgian sites, we’re there to support the real estate side of the equation,” says Vincent.

From mixed-use assets and ageing industrial sites to ESG compliance for offices and M&A readiness, CEUSTERS’ Valuation & Advisory team is ready to assist. “Being close to the markets enables us to understand them. We use that knowledge to service our clients with their evolving, specific real estate needs.”

While CEUSTERS is known for its national presence, the firm is also an active member of Praxi Valuations, a European alliance of independent experts. This allows the team to support cross-border portfolios for Belgian clients and international clients in need of local expertise.

“We recently handled an Italian company’s valuation in Brussels and introduced our French partner to a client with a vast portfolio across France,” Vincent says.