Professionals
Working With an Appraiser on a Retrospective Estate Valuation
What CPAs, executors, and estate professionals can do to help a date-of-death assignment go smoothly.
Estate professionals coordinate a lot of moving pieces — here's what specifically helps when a date-of-death property appraisal is one of them.
Four Things That Help Most
Confirm the Effective Date
Almost always the decedent's date of death, but confirm whether a different date applies for your specific estate planning or accounting purpose.
Gather Historical Property Records
Prior tax assessments, past appraisals or CMAs, and any records of the property's condition around the date of death help the appraiser research that specific point in time.
Identify the Requesting Party's Purpose
Basis documentation, estate tax filing, equal distribution among heirs, or trust accounting each have slightly different emphasis — sharing that context helps scope the assignment appropriately.
Coordinate Property Access
For an occupied or vacant estate property, confirm who can grant the appraiser access, especially if multiple heirs or a trustee are involved.
Why the Basis Conversation Comes First
If the appraisal is meant to support a basis calculation, confirming that purpose with the appraiser upfront ensures the report is scoped and effective-dated correctly. See our related guide on step-up in basis for the underlying concept this assignment often supports.
When Multiple Heirs Are Involved
If there's any possibility of disagreement among heirs, a single, neutrally ordered independent appraisal is generally more productive than multiple heirs seeking separate opinions. See our related guide on resolving heir disagreements over property value.
What This Does Not Mean
This isn't tax or legal advice, and it doesn't calculate basis, estate tax liability, or trust accounting figures — those remain the CPA's or attorney's work, informed by the appraiser's independent value.