What It Is
A date-of-death appraisal is a certified opinion of a property's fair market value as of the date a person passed away, even if that was months or years ago. The value can help set the new cost basis for inherited property and gives your CPA or attorney a documented number to review.
Why You Need It
When a property is inherited, its tax basis often steps up to the value on the date of death. Establishing that value with a certified appraisal protects the estate and the heirs, and gives your CPA the documentation they expect. Without it, the family may be relying on a guess, an online estimate, or a number that is hard to support later.
How It Works
We do this as a desktop appraisal. That means no one has to visit the home, no scheduling, and no waiting for inspection access. Mark uses MLS records when available, public records, property data, and comparable sales from the relevant time period to develop a certified, signed value. The final report is prepared by an Arizona Certified Appraiser and delivered as a PDF, usually the next business day.
What It Costs
The appraisal is $149, plus $50 for a historical effective date. Flat pricing. No hourly billing. No surprise add-ons for standard properties. If a property is unusual, luxury, rural, heavily remodeled, or difficult to compare, Mark will review the scope before work starts.