A Guide to Estate Real Estate Appraisals in Riverside
An estate appraisal is a written, independent opinion of what a home was worth on a date that matters to the estate, usually the date of death. Your attorney or tax adviser uses it to settle the estate, divide it or file with the right agency. Tell us the address and what the estate needs, and we'll explain the rest.
Price guide: the VA's published fee for a single-family home in Riverside County is $750 (VA fee table), not our price. Written scope and fee before any work begins.
What it is, and which date it values
A state-credentialed appraiser walks the home, notes its size and condition, studies sales of similar Riverside homes from the right period, and explains how they support the number. The report follows USPAP, so an attorney, accountant or court can read the reasoning, not just the figure. It isn't a listing price. It answers what the home was worth then.
Usually "then" is the date of death, with the home in the condition it was in that day. That can differ a good deal from what you see now after a clean-out or repairs. In some federal estate tax cases the executor may elect a date six months after death instead, but only when it lowers both the gross estate and the tax, and the choice can't be undone (26 U.S.C. section 2032). That is for your attorney or tax adviser. Tell us the date they choose and we value that day. Our estate appraisals page covers dates and California property-tax rules in more depth.
Who uses the report
- The attorney or executor for the inventory and for dividing the estate among heirs, including a buyout between siblings.
- The tax adviser, because an heir's starting basis in an inherited home is generally its value on the date of death (26 U.S.C. section 1014; IRS Publication 551).
- The probate court, which appoints a probate referee unless it waives the referee (Probate Code sections 8901 to 8903). Ask your attorney whether an independent report would still help; see probate appraisals.
Name the purpose and everyone who will read the report when you first call. The report lists its intended users, and only they should rely on it.
What to gather
- The address and the date of death
- The recorded deed, or the trust documents
- The latest property tax bill
- Photos, old listings or inspection reports from around the date of death, and any work done since
- The attorney, accountant or trustee who will read the report, any deadline, and how to get into the home
Missing a few is normal. Bring what you have.
How it goes
- You call or send the details. We settle the valuation date, purpose, readers and deadline.
- You get a written scope and fee before any work begins.
- The appraiser visits, measures, photographs and notes condition.
- The appraiser researches sales from around the valuation date. A pre-war house in the Wood Streets and a 1980s home in Mission Grove call for different comparisons.
- You receive the report: the value, the date, the use, the intended users and any assumptions about earlier condition.
How long it takes
We don't promise a fixed number of days up front. It depends on availability, access, complexity and how much historical research is needed. We give a delivery estimate when we scope the job. For a close date, see rush appraisals.
What it costs
As a price guide, the VA's published fee for a single-family home in Riverside County is $750 (effective May 1, 2026; VA fee table). A private estate appraisal can cost more or less depending on the property and the assignment. Call for a quote, or read what an appraisal costs in Riverside.
If you disagree with a report
Read it for factual errors first: wrong square footage, a sale that isn't comparable, a feature missed. Send those to the appraiser with support, such as an invoice, permit or listing. Appraisers can reasonably differ, so if you still want another view, ask your attorney about a second appraiser. Raise it early.
Confirm valuation dates and tax treatment with your attorney or tax adviser.