“What was it worth
when they died?”
Tell us the date of death and what the estate’s adviser has requested. A retrospective appraisal looks back to an earlier effective date.
FOR EXECUTORS, HEIRS & THEIR ATTORNEYS
Estate appraisals
in Allentown.
An inherited home. A value tied to the date that matters.
Call with the property address, purpose and any deadline—even before the paperwork is together.
Handling local estate paperwork? The Lehigh County Register of Wills is a public starting point. Confirm the appropriate office and requirements with your adviser.
The Appraising Group Allentown
3300 Lehigh St · Allentown, PA 18103
Atwngirl / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
THE HOME, AS IT WAS THEN
Today’s condition may
tell only part of the story.
If the house has been emptied, repaired or updated since your relative died, tell the appraiser what changed and when. Dated photographs, an old listing and repair records can help document the home as it stood at the requested date.
An estate appraisal connects the property’s condition with comparable sales around that date. It gives the estate a reasoned opinion of value for the purpose identified in the report.
In Allentown, a rowhouse, a twin and a detached home can call for different comparisons. A citywide median or an online estimate cannot account for this home’s particular condition and history.
MAKE THE REQUEST CLEAR
One house. Different reasons for a value.
“What was it worth
“One of us wants
to keep the house.”
For an heir’s buyout or a later sale, ask your adviser whether the estate needs a current value, an earlier value or both. State the purpose before ordering.
“Our adviser needs
a supported figure.”
Share the instructions for the report and who will rely on it. Your attorney or tax adviser determines the estate’s reporting requirements.
BEFORE THE INSPECTION
You don’t need
a perfect file.
Start with what you have. These details help define the appraisal and identify any gaps before work begins.
- The address and type of homeInclude the unit number, if there is one.
- The relevant date and intended usePass along any written instructions from the estate’s adviser.
- Photos and records from that timeOlder listings, inspection reports and repair bills may help explain changes.
- Access and any deadlineWho has the keys, who can arrange entry and when the report is needed.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you arrange an estate appraisal.
How much will it cost, and how long will it take?
A private estate-appraisal fee is not published on this page. Ask for a written scope, fee and delivery estimate for the property. The type and size of the home, access, the requested valuation date and your deadline all affect the assignment. Mention any filing deadline on the first call.
Can the appraisal use a date in the past?
Yes. A retrospective appraisal provides a value as of an earlier effective date. Tell us the date needed and share records that show the home’s condition at that time. The report explains the evidence, assumptions and limitations.
Is an estate appraisal the same as a probate appraisal?
The work can overlap. If the report is for probate, say so at the outset and share the attorney’s instructions about its use. See our probate appraisal page for that request.
Will this tell us what tax the estate owes?
The appraisal supports an opinion of the property’s value. Your attorney or tax adviser determines how that value is used and what the estate must report. For an inherited property’s basis, see IRS step-up appraisals.
LET’S START WITH THE ADDRESS
A clear next step
for the inherited home.
Tell us where the property is, why you need a value and the date it should reflect. Ask about the scope, availability and a written quote.
(610) 798-1017Request an estate appraisal quote →
The Appraising Group Allentown
3300 Lehigh St
Allentown, PA 18103