As per VPS 1, Terms of engagement (scope of Work and limitations) Red Book Global (rics.org) – page 44 of the 2025 edition
Any limitations or restrictions on the inspection, inquiry and/or analysis for the purpose of the valuation assignment must be identified and recorded in the terms of engagement...
A client may require a restricted service; for example, a short timescale for reporting may make it impossible to establish facts that would normally be verified by inspection, or by making normal enquiries; or the request may be for a valuation based on the output of an automated valuation model (AVM). Note that the provision of an AVM-derived output would be regarded as the provision of a written valuation for the purpose of these standards (see PS 1 paragraph 1.4). Accordingly valuers should be alert to, and aware of, the implications of either accepting or manually modifying an AVM output. A restricted service will also include any limitations on assumptions made in accordance with VPS 2
It is accepted that a client may sometimes require this level of service, but it is the duty of the valuer to discuss the requirements and needs of the client prior to reporting. Such instructions, when related to real estate, are often referred to as ‘drive-by’, ‘desk-top’ or ‘pavement’ valuations.
It is also accepted that an original valuation that involved a site visit may need to be 'extended' and a desktop valuation is often appropriate in these circumstances e.g. How to repay your equity loan when you sell your home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The IVSC has been looking at the changing market, client expectations and automation in this Perspectives paper of June 2024 which mentions desktop and drive-by valuations https://www.ivsc.org/pdfviewer/perspectives-paper-inspection-of-tangible-assets-as-part-of-the-valuation-process/?auto_viewer=true#page=&zoom=page-fit&pagemode=none