Clear pricing, confirmed before you commit
The fees below cover most single-family homes and condominiums. Location, complexity and the level of responsibility the assignment carries can raise the fee; your written quote states the final amount and the delivery date.
Single-family homes & condominiums
Basic Desktop Appraisal
A complete desktop analysis delivered in a concise report.
- Comparable sales analysis with adjustments
- No property visit
- Shorter, summary-style report
- Often used for date-of-death and estate values
Desktop Appraisal
Our most-ordered report: a full narrative desktop appraisal.
- Detailed property description
- Location and neighborhood maps
- Comparable sale photographs
- Market conditions analysis and property history
Drive-By Appraisal
The desktop report plus an exterior visit to the property.
- Everything in the Desktop Appraisal
- Exterior photographs of the subject
- Observation of the street and neighborhood
Standard Appraisal
A full appraisal with an in-person interior and exterior inspection.
- Interior and exterior inspection
- Interior and exterior photographs
- Detailed condition and quality assessment
- Strongest choice for contested matters
Duplexes, triplexes & fourplexes
Desktop Appraisal — 2 to 4 Units
Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes valued from records, MLS data and supplied information.
Standard Appraisal — 2 to 4 Units
A full appraisal of a 2–4 unit property with inspection of every unit.
Add-ons
Laser measurement of the living area during a Standard appraisal.
Rush delivery when the schedule allows; confirmed before you commit.
Testimony, deposition preparation, consulting and appraisal review.
Which report fits your situation?
Common choices by purpose. When in doubt, choose "Not sure" on the request form and the quote will recommend a report type.
| Situation | Commonly chosen |
|---|---|
| Step-up in basis or estate inventory, house unchanged since the date of death | Basic Desktop or Desktop |
| Trust distribution with beneficiaries who may disagree | Desktop or Standard |
| Proposition 19 parent-to-child transfer | Desktop |
| Divorce with both spouses cooperating on access | Standard |
| Divorce where one party controls the home | Desktop or Drive-By |
| Bankruptcy schedules or a trustee's equity review | Desktop or Standard |
| Motion to value a junior lien, or any matter likely to be litigated | Standard |
| Bail bond collateral on a short deadline | Basic Desktop or Desktop |
| Cash or off-market purchase | Desktop, Drive-By or Standard |
| PMI removal (after confirming servicer rules) | Standard |
What every report includes
- A USPAP-compliant opinion of market value
- The effective date you need — current or past
- Selected comparable sales with explained adjustments
- Neighborhood and market-conditions analysis
- A description of the property and its condition
- The appraiser's signed certification
- A PDF delivered by email
- Answers to reasonable follow-up questions
How fees are set
Three things move a fee: how unusual the property is compared with recent sales, how much research the effective date requires (older retrospective dates take longer), and the level of responsibility tied to the intended use — reports prepared for litigation or tax filings carry more of it. Large acreage, very high-value homes and properties far from the nearest sales are quoted individually.
Payment
After you approve the written quote, you receive a secure online invoice. The assignment is scheduled once it is paid.
GroundWork Report — $99 market data report
Not ready for an appraisal? The GroundWork Report, offered through our parent site, lays out every qualifying nearby sale, the county record for the parcel and twelve months of market trends. It is a data report, not an appraisal or an opinion of value, and the $99 is credited toward a Desktop or Standard appraisal. Learn about the GroundWork Report on brianward.com.
Appraisals by purpose
Date-of-Death Appraisals
Retrospective values fixed to the day of passing, for step-up in basis, estate returns, probate and trust administration.
Details →Estate & Trust Appraisals
Independent values for probate inventories, trust funding and distributions, and buyouts among beneficiaries.
Details →Divorce Appraisals
Neutral valuations of the family home for settlement, mediation or trial, with retrospective dates when the case calls for them.
Details →Bankruptcy Appraisals
Supported market values for Chapter 7, 11 and 13 schedules, exemption planning and lien questions.
Details →Proposition 19 Appraisals
Market values for parent-to-child and grandparent transfers, so families can see how a reassessment under Prop 19 will play out.
Details →Property Tax & Gift Tax Appraisals
Evidence for assessment appeals and decline-in-value reviews, plus values for gifts of real estate reported to the IRS.
Details →Pre-Purchase Appraisals
An independent value before you commit — especially for cash, off-market, unusual or family purchases with no lender appraisal.
Details →Pre-Sale Appraisals
A defensible list price before you go to market, whether you sell with an agent, on your own, or to a family member.
Details →Family Transfer Appraisals
Fair market value for sales, gifts and buyouts between relatives, documented for the IRS and for the rest of the family.
Details →Insurance Dispute Appraisals
Market-value evidence for claims and coverage disputes, including pre-loss and post-loss values and diminution in value.
Details →PMI Removal Appraisals
A current value showing the equity you have gained, for servicers that accept a borrower-ordered appraisal.
Details →Bail Bond Appraisals
Fast, supported values that confirm the equity in real estate pledged as collateral for a bond.
Details →Expert Witness & Litigation Support
Litigation-grade appraisals, deposition and trial testimony, and consulting on contested residential values.
Details →Appraisal Review & Second Opinions
A formal, standards-based review of another appraiser's report when the value or the method is in question.
Details →Ready for a firm quote?
Requests are handled online so every quote reflects the property, the purpose and the effective date. You will receive a written quote by email, usually within one business day.