- 480.390.1979
- mark@acclaimedappraisal.com
- 2140 E El Parque Dr, Tempe AZ 85282
Date of Death Appraisals in Phoenix, Arizona
A date of death appraisal establishes what a property was worth on the day its owner passed away. Executors, trustees and beneficiaries use that value for IRS tax purposes, the stepped-up tax basis and probate.
We are a husband-and-wife appraisal team who have worked in the Arizona market for over 20 years. We specialize in date of death work.
Request a Date of Death Appraisal
5.0 on Google · 26 reviews20 years in the Arizona marketRush service available
One Date Sets the Value
The appraisal is dated to the day of death, no matter when we inspect the property or write the report. Every report states three dates, and only the first one decides the number.
Value is set here
Effective Date
The date of death. Comparable sales and market conditions come from the market as it stood on this day.
Months or years later
Inspection Date
The day we visit. We document the condition and reconstruct how the property stood on the effective date.
After the inspection
Report Date
The day the report is signed. It never changes the value; it only records when the work was finished.
Why Executors and Heirs Order One
Estate Tax Returns
Estates above the federal exemption file Form 706, and the real estate value on it needs a qualified appraisal behind it.
Stepped-Up Tax Basis
Inherited property takes a new basis equal to its value at death (IRC §1014). A dated appraisal documents it for the day the heirs sell.
Arizona Probate Inventory
Personal representatives list each asset at its date of death fair market value (A.R.S. §14-3706), within 90 days of being appointed. A professional appraisal supports the real estate entries.
Defensible Tax Numbers
Attorneys and CPAs need a figure that holds up before they calculate what, if anything, the estate owes.
Fewer Disputes Between Heirs
A neutral third-party value gives siblings and beneficiaries one number to work from when property is split or bought out.
Trust Administration
Trustees who skip probate still need asset values to inform beneficiaries and complete the trust inventory.
What the Appraisal Protects
A home bought decades ago for $200,000 and worth $900,000 at death gives the heir a $900,000 basis. Sell soon after at about that value and little or no capital gain is taxable.
Without a dated appraisal, that basis is hard to prove if the IRS questions it.
Illustrative figures
Original purchase price
$200,000
Value on the date of death (new basis)
$900,000
Estate and Retrospective Appraisals We Complete
Tell us what the report is for and we scope it to match. Different uses call for different reports.
Date of Death Appraisal
Fair market value on the day of death, for basis, estate tax and probate.
Alternate Valuation Date
Value six months after death (IRC §2032). Available only with a Form 706 and only if it lowers both estate value and estate tax. It applies to every asset in the estate.
Trust Distribution Appraisal
Current or date-specific value when a trust divides or transfers real estate.
Estate Tax Appraisal
Reports built to the content standards an estate tax return requires.
Retrospective Appraisal, Any Date
Value on a past date for gifting, divorce, litigation or a missed inheritance year.
Current Market Value
Often ordered alongside a date of death report when heirs plan to sell or buy out co-owners.
How It Works
Step 1
Share the Property Details
Send the address, the date of death, who is ordering and when you need the report. We confirm scope and schedule before work starts.
Step 2
We Inspect and Research the Past Market
Expect an interior and exterior inspection. We then pull sold comparables from around the date of death and adjust for size, location and condition as it was then.
Step 3
You Receive a Signed Report
A full-color PDF report with comparable sales, adjustments explained in plain language, photos and condition notes. Rush service is available if you need it faster.
Meet Your Appraisers
We are a husband-and-wife team in the Phoenix area, and we are local to the Valley, unlike management companies that send appraisers from out of the area.
Jen Green, CREA
Date of death specialist · Arizona Certification 1046370Lynette Jennifer Green is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser in the State of Arizona and a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. She specializes in private work, especially date of death appraisals.
Mark Green, SRA, GREEN
Arizona Certification 22309Mark has completed real estate appraisals in the Valley since 2005. He holds the SRA designation from the Appraisal Institute, which requires continuing education beyond what a licensed or certified appraiser needs, and the GREEN designation from the National Association of Realtors.
Google review · 5.0 from 26 reviews
We had to value the estate for probate purposes. Mark was prompt and thorough and would definitely recommend.
Jacqueline Fawcett, March 2026Have These Ready When You Call
- The exact date of death
- The property address and a deed or trust document showing ownership
- Any changes since the death, such as remodeling, repairs or damage
- Photos or notes on the condition of the home at the time of death
- Contact details for the estate attorney or CPA
- The date you need the report and a time that suits an inspection
Questions to Ask Any Appraiser
- Are you state licensed or certified, and can I see the license number?
- How many date of death assignments have you completed in this market?
- Do your reports follow USPAP and meet IRS qualified appraisal content requirements?
- When will I have the signed report?
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a date of death appraisal needed?
Whenever real estate will be sold, transferred to heirs or used in a capital gains calculation, you need a defensible value at death. Estates large enough to file a federal estate tax return need a qualified appraisal as well.
What if the home was remodeled after the death?
The report values the property as it stood on the date of death. We document what changed since and leave later upgrades out of the value. Photos, receipts and permits from that time help.
How far back can a date of death appraisal go?
There is no fixed limit. What matters is whether reliable sales, public records and condition information exist for that period. Records get harder to find the further back the date is, so earlier is easier.
Do you use sales that closed after the date of death?
Our analysis centers on sales and market conditions at the date of death. Where data is thin, we disclose any later information we considered and how we treated it.
How fast will I get the report?
We offer rush service when you need the report sooner. Call 480.390.1979 and we will confirm timing for your property.
What if the appraised value looks too low?
Talk to your attorney or CPA about a review or second appraisal. Any challenge needs comparable sales from the same time period as the date of death.
Is a date of death appraisal the same as a retrospective appraisal?
A date of death appraisal is a retrospective appraisal done for an estate. The broader category covers any past date, such as a separation date, a gift or a damage event.
What is the Arizona probate inventory deadline?
The personal representative must prepare an inventory of the estate, with each item at its date of death fair market value, within 90 days of first being appointed (A.R.S. §14-3706). Confirm timing for your estate with your probate attorney.
Date of Death Appraisals Across the Valley
We cover Ahwatukee, Anthem, Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Cave Creek, Casa Grande, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Gold Canyon, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Scottsdale, South Mountain, Sun Lakes, Sun City, Sun City West, Tempe, Tolleson and Youngtown. If you do not see your area listed, please call us at 480.390.1979.
Send Us the Date and the Address
We confirm the schedule, usually within 24 hours.
All appraisal services are performed in compliance with USPAP and applicable state and federal regulations. Mark Green, Arizona Certification 22309. Jen Green, Arizona Certification 1046370.This page gives general information about appraisals, not legal or tax advice. Consult your attorney or CPA about your estate.