A desktop appraisal reaches a credible, USPAP-compliant opinion of value without a physical inspection — ideal for estate work, where the effective date is in the past and access to the property is often limited.
Built for Retrospective Value
Date-of-death assignments ask a specific question: what was this property worth on the day the owner passed away? Answering it depends far more on the closed sales, public records, and market conditions of that period than on a walk-through today. Orange County’s deep, well-documented MLS and assessor records make the desktop method a natural fit for reconstructing that historical value.
Accepted Where It Counts
A desktop report prepared by a California Certified Residential Appraiser to USPAP standards is accepted by the IRS for estate tax filings and stepped-up basis, by probate courts, and by the CPAs and attorneys administering the estate. The report clearly states the scope of work and the extraordinary assumptions relied upon, exactly as USPAP requires.
Faster and More Affordable
Without scheduling and travel, a desktop appraisal is typically delivered in three to five business days at a flat rate. For an estate settling multiple matters at once, that speed and cost predictability matter. When a property’s condition on the date of death is unusual or disputed, photographs and other documentation can be incorporated to support the analysis.
When a Fuller Report Is Warranted
Some assignments — highly unique estates, contested valuations, or properties with significant condition issues — call for a more extensive report or additional documentation. We will tell you plainly if your situation calls for more than a desktop report rather than sell you something that will not hold up.