Velox Valuations Phoenix Metro
What Was the Home Worth on the Date of Death?
Historical residential appraisals for estate records and advisor requests throughout Maricopa County.
The home an estate holds today may not be the home that existed when its owner died. A date-of-death appraisal addresses what the residential property was worth then, using its condition and the market on that date even when the appraisal is prepared later. It gives an executor or advisor a dated property value to work with, rather than asking them to rely on today's number.
Katya develops an independent opinion of the home's value without favoring one heir. The people responsible for the estate and their qualified advisors decide how to use the report.
The date-of-death value
The date of death is the value date for this appraisal, not the day Katya visits or prepares the report. Later renovations or damage belong to the property's history, but they cannot be treated as though they were present on the earlier date. A current online estimate does not establish the home's value in that specific past market.
The distinction matters even for a familiar home. A sale from the right period may be a poor comparison if it had already been renovated and the estate property had not. The report needs to explain the earlier home's features and condition in relation to sales from that time, not simply attach a number to today's address.
Why an estate may need the earlier value
An attorney, accountant or executor may ask for the home’s value as of the date the owner died, even when the appraisal is ordered months or years later. The estate may need that historical value for estate administration or probate, while heirs may need a shared property-value record for settlement discussions.
If the question is what the property is worth for a sale or retention decision now, that is a separate current-value question. The estate and trust appraisal service explains the broader choices; this page is about the value on the date of death.
How the earlier property is understood
A retrospective appraisal does not assume the home looked the same on the date of death as it does today. Available photographs, property records, plans and improvement information can help Katya distinguish later changes from what existed on that date.
The sales research must also reflect the earlier market. A sale from the right period is not automatically a useful comparison if that home had renovations, additional living area or other features the estate property did not yet have. Katya connects the earlier property to the market evidence relevant then, rather than applying today's condition or market backward.
What if the home has already been remodeled?
A later remodel does not change the date being appraised. Tell Katya what is known about the work and its timing so she can consider the available evidence about the earlier property.
Common Questions
Can a date-of-death appraisal be completed months or years later?
Yes. The appraisal can be prepared later because the value question is tied to the earlier date. Katya uses available information about the property and market as they existed then rather than treating today’s condition or market as the answer.
Do I need all the old records before I call?
No. Start with the property address, date of death if known, and any photographs, records or advisor instructions already available. Missing details are common, and Katya can help identify what information would be useful.
Discuss the Date-of-Death Appraisal
If the estate needs the home’s value as of the date of death, contact Katya with the property address. If you are unsure whether the estate needs a historical or current value, ask through the same contact form or call. She serves residential clients throughout Maricopa County.