Estate Appraisals

Settling an estate is an important and sometimes stressful job. As an executor you have been entrusted to carry out the wishes of the deceased as swiftly and exactly as possible. You can count on us to act quickly and with sensitivity to the feelings of everyone involved.

Attorneys and Accountants rely on our values when calculating real property values for estates, divorces, or other disputes requiring a value being placed on real property. We understand their needs and are used to dealing with all parties involved. We provide appraisal reports that meet the requirements of the courts and various agencies. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion.

Settling an estate usually requires an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the property involved. Often, the date of death differs from the date the appraisal is requested. We are familiar with the procedures and requirements necessary to perform a retroactive appraisal with an effective date and Fair Market Value estimate matching the date of death. 

In many instances, the interest in the property being appraised is an undivided interest.  Our firm is a recognized expert in the appraisal of undivided interests.  We have performed studies of the sales of undivided interests in real properties comparing them to market fee simple sales in their areas in order to determine discounts for undivided interest sales situations. 

Opinions of value used in documents filed with the revenue authorities should be supported by a detailed report as to how the appraiser arrived at his conclusions.  Such a report will certainly demonstrate to the authorities that the numbers used are well founded and substantiated.  Our estate reports are formatted to accomodate the appraisal of any number of properties under one cover, with each property appraised separately and organized so that valuation of each property can be easily followed.

Our estate appraisals provide the executor solid facts and figures to work with in meeting IRS requirements.  It assures peace of mind to everyone concerned because we are there to stand behind the appraisal if it is challenged and have proven experience in doing so.