Question: Can a property owner testify as to the value of their property?
Answer: Yes, the owner of property can be shown to be competent to testify as to its value. See below.
In order for any witness to be allowed to testify as to the value of property, the court must find that the witness is qualified through some special knowledge to form an opinion of value. Generally, the owner of property is, by virtue of ownership alone, permitted to give their opinion as to the value of said property. If the witness is not the owner of the property, they may give their opinion if they demonstrate “special knowledge” of the values in question, but not otherwise. A non-expert witness may testify by opinion to prove the value of property, if they have knowledge of the property and state the facts upon which they base their opinion. If the witness has no knowledge of the property in question, their opinion as to its value is not admissible, but if they have some knowledge, the extent of that knowledge goes to the weight of their testimony, and not to its competency. However, the opinion of value is merely given to them by others, that opinion would not be admissible.