Questions clients ask before ordering

We prepare residential appraisals for purposes other than mortgage lending: date-of-death and step-up in basis, estate and trust administration, divorce, bankruptcy, Proposition 19 transfers, property tax appeals and gift tax, family transfers, insurance disputes, PMI removal, bail bonds, litigation and appraisal review. Our reports are not intended for mortgage lending.

Use the online request form. Tell us the property address, why you need the appraisal and the date the value should be effective, and we will reply with a written quote and the delivery timeline. There is no obligation until you approve the quote.

Single-family and condominium appraisals start at $299 for a Basic Desktop Appraisal, $449 for a Desktop Appraisal, $649 for a Drive-By and $699 for a Standard Appraisal with an interior inspection. Two-to-four unit properties start at $549 (desktop) and $799 (standard). Large, unusual or high-liability assignments may cost more, and every fee is confirmed in writing before work starts.

Yes. A desktop appraisal follows the same professional standards (USPAP) and the same comparable-sales analysis as any other appraisal; the difference is that the appraiser does not visit the property. Instead, the description comes from public records, MLS listing history, aerial imagery and the photos, plans or information you provide. Where the condition of the home is uncertain, the report says so and explains how that was handled.

In-person Drive-By and Standard appraisals are available throughout San Diego and Riverside Counties. Desktop appraisals are available for property anywhere in California.

Yes. Retrospective appraisals are a large part of our work — the date of death, the date of separation, a bankruptcy petition date, a January 1 lien date or the day before an insurance loss. The analysis uses the sales and market conditions that existed on that date.

Your quote states the delivery date before you commit. Timing depends on the report type, the season and whether an inspection is needed. Rush delivery is available for an additional 30% when the schedule allows.

Once you approve the quote, you receive a secure online invoice. Work is scheduled when the invoice is paid.

Someone with access needs to let us in for a Standard appraisal; it does not have to be the owner. A Drive-By appraisal only requires that the exterior be visible from the street. Desktop appraisals involve no visit at all.

Our reports are prepared under USPAP by a California Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser and are written for the stated intended use — estate and tax reporting, family-law proceedings, bankruptcy court and similar purposes. Acceptance is ultimately up to the reader, which is why we confirm the intended use and intended users before we begin.

No. Lenders order their own appraisals through their approved channels. Our work is for private, legal, tax and planning purposes.

Automated estimates rely on public data and statistical models and can miss what makes a specific house different. A broker's opinion is a marketing estimate. An appraisal is an independent, credentialed opinion of value supported by selected comparable sales and documented adjustments, and the appraiser can be asked to explain and defend it.

The property address, the purpose of the appraisal, the effective date, and contact details for the people who will rely on the report. For desktop appraisals, recent photos, a floor plan, or a list of updates and known problems make the report more precise.

Send us the specific comparable sales or property information you believe was missed. If the data supports a change, we will revise the report. We cannot change a value without supporting evidence, and we never agree to a value in advance.

Yes. Permitted ADUs are analyzed against sales of similar properties. Unpermitted additions or conversions are identified and treated according to market evidence and the intended use, and the report explains the approach so the reader understands how the space was valued.

Yes. Brian Ward testifies about his appraisals in depositions, mediations, arbitrations and trials, and reviews opposing appraisals for attorneys. Litigation work is quoted individually.

325 Appraisal is operated by Brian Ward, the certified appraiser behind Brian Ward Appraisal (brianward.com). The same appraiser prepares and signs every report; this site focuses on making it easy to request and quote an appraisal online.

We handle new requests in writing so that every quote has the property details, dates and intended use in one place. Use the request form or email [email protected], and we will reply promptly, usually within one business day.