SETTLING AN ESTATE
Estate appraisals
An inherited home usually needs a date-of-death value for Pennsylvania inheritance tax. Revenue accepts an appraisal as one way to support that value. Confirm the date with your adviser.
WEST CHESTER & CHESTER COUNTY · APPRAISAL SERVICES
Which appraisal does your West Chester home need?
Settling an estate, dividing a home, or deciding what to do with a property? We provide residential appraisals in West Chester and Chester County. Tell us the address, why you need the report and your deadline. We'll talk through which service fits.
1442 Pottstown Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
PREPARING THE INVENTORY
Probate appraisals
Chester County estate inventories go to the Register of Wills with the personal representative's statement of date-of-death value. Pennsylvania does not insist on an appraiser for that figure; a report is one way to document it.
DIVIDING A HOME
Divorce appraisals
We value the home for equitable distribution. In Chester County, those claims go through Family Court. Agree on the valuation date with your lawyer before we begin.
ESTABLISHING AN HEIR'S BASIS
IRS step-up appraisals
An heir's federal basis generally rests on the home's value at the owner's death. We can look back to that date. There is no federal inheritance tax; your tax adviser determines how to use the value.
MAKING A PROPERTY DECISION
Residential appraisals
A list price, refinance, PMI question or Chester County assessment appeal: discuss a report for your purpose. We appraise twins, rowhouses, condominiums and single-family homes in the borough and surrounding townships.
FACING A CLOSE DEADLINE
Rush appraisals
Tell us your hearing, filing or appeal date first. Our calendar, access to the home and the assignment's scope determine whether faster delivery is realistic. Confirm availability before relying on a delivery date.
Not sure which service fits? Start with the address.
Call (484) 882-0355 or send a quote request with the property address, who will use the report and your deadline. We provide a written scope, fee and delivery estimate before anything is ordered.
The valuation date is the date the report's opinion of value applies to; it may be earlier than the report deadline. For an estate, probate, divorce or tax matter, have your attorney or tax adviser confirm that date before work begins.
A West Chester mailing address can be in the borough or a neighboring township. Share the property address so we can discuss coverage.
An independent opinion of your home's value
Most appraisals include an interior and exterior visit to photograph, measure and take notes. Scope varies: desktop appraisals use other information and questions about the home; drive-by appraisals assess the exterior without going inside.
We research comparable sales and adjust for differences between homes. Sales comparison commonly carries the most weight in residential work. A cost approach is typically more reliable for newer construction; an income approach may apply where there are enough rental properties.
An appraised value is an opinion, not a promised sale price. A buyer's or seller's circumstances and urgency can affect what the home ultimately sells for.
CONTINUE READING
LET’S TALK THROUGH THE PROPERTY
A clear next step starts
with your address.
Tell us why you need the appraisal and when the report is needed. We’ll discuss coverage, timing and a quote.