RealVals prepares real estate appraisals for estate planning, probate, trust and family law attorneys in Marin County and San Francisco. Austin Fernald, a California Certified Residential Appraiser (license AR3002942), inspects every property and signs every report. Attorneys can order on a client's behalf, and RealVals sends a fee quote and turnaround time within one business day.
Appraisals attorneys order most
- Date of death appraisals value the home on the day the owner died, for the estate, the trust and each heir's stepped-up basis.
- Trust administration appraisals support trust accounting and distribution to beneficiaries, including funding subtrusts.
- Gift tax appraisals set the value on the date of a lifetime transfer for Form 709 gift tax reporting.
- Divorce appraisals give fair market value for dividing community property, as of the date of separation, the date of trial, or both.
- Retrospective appraisals value a property as of any past date, sometimes ten years or more back, for estate, tax or litigation questions.
- Property tax appeal appraisals support an assessment appeal in Marin or San Francisco.
What the appraisal report includes
Every report is a written appraisal prepared under USPAP. It states the purpose, the effective date and the intended users on the first pages.
The value comes from comparable sales around the effective date, adjusted for differences and explained in plain language. A client, an opposing attorney, a CPA or a judge can follow how the number was reached.
Austin is a state certified appraiser, and each report states the purpose, the effective date, the method and the appraiser's qualifications, which is what the IRS looks for when an appraisal supports an estate or gift tax return.
How to order an appraisal for a client
- Send the property address, the purpose and the effective date (date of death, date of separation or gift date) through the quote form, or call or text 415-233-6925.
- RealVals replies within one business day with the fee and the turnaround time.
- Austin schedules the inspection with whoever has access to the property, whether that is the executor, the trustee or your client.
- Most reports are delivered 4 to 5 business days after the inspection.
Appraisal fees and turnaround
Fees start at $500 for a single-family house or condo and $700 for a 2 to 4 unit building. Estate, divorce, tax appeal and retrospective work is quoted by scope, so a date far in the past or a complicated property can run above the starting fee. Full details are on the pricing page.
RealVals accepts credit card, check, cash, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle.
Where RealVals works
RealVals is based in San Rafael and covers every city and town in Marin County plus all of San Francisco. The full list of towns is on the service areas page.
Questions attorneys ask
Does a probate referee's value replace an independent appraisal?
Not always. In a California probate, the court-appointed probate referee values the assets for the Inventory and Appraisal. Many executors still order an independent appraisal for the tax return and the heirs' basis. The referee and the independent appraiser serve different purposes. A private appraiser cannot prepare the court inventory. Attorneys hire RealVals in probate estates for an independent value for the estate tax return or the heirs' basis, a second opinion on the referee's value, or a current value for a sibling buyout or sale.
Can the home be appraised after it has been cleaned out or repaired?
Yes. A retrospective appraisal values the home as it stood on the effective date, not as it looks at the inspection. The strongest reports still come from appraisals ordered while the property is in its inherited condition, so earlier is better.
Does RealVals work with CPAs on the same file?
Yes. The report is written so the estate's CPA can use it directly. RealVals also works with CPAs who order appraisals for their own clients.
Reviews from estate and retrospective appraisal clients
Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 29 reviews. Read them on Google and Yelp.
When my father passed away, I found myself needing a date of death appraisal, a process that was completely new to me. Austin made what felt overwhelming much more manageable. He was responsive and thorough in all of his communications, answered my questions with patience, and was flexible on timing. As someone who lives in a different county, with the house in Marin, it was reassuring to have someone local who was easy to reach and very responsive.
Look no further, Austin is great! I needed his help with a date of death appraisal in Mill Valley. He responded quickly to my email request. We spoke by phone and the appraisal was set up that week. He arrived on time and performed a thorough inspection. He gave me the date the appraisal would be ready, only three business days. The appraisal arrived that morning. It was a thorough report with comps, pictures, and great explanations. I researched other appraisers, glad I went with Austin at Realvals.
A big thank you to Austin at Realvals for his excellent service with retrospective date of death property appraisal. He is professional, effective and highly responsive even during the holiday season. I was most impressed with his market valuation expertise, flexibility and the speedy turnaround. The appraisal report is very well documented with comparable, pictures and detailed research. Austin’s appraisal website blogs are very helpful and highly educational. Likewise, the pricing disclosure is transparent and his quotes are most competitive. I look forward to working with Austin on future appraisals and will refer you again and again.
I needed a retrospective appraisal following a death in the family. Austin was responsive and flexible with scheduling. His appraisal was thorough and prompt. He was a pleasure to work with.
I just had a real estate appraisal completed by Mr. Fernald. This was an appraisal of a house for a prior year, not the current one. He made a comparable sales analysis to determine the house's fair market value back then. He was very professional, detailed, and prompt in his work. I highly recommend his services. In addition, he charged me about $200 less than other licensed appraisers, which was another bonus.
Austin completed appraisals for our portfolio of over a dozen properties spanning the North Bay and East Bay. The properties include single family homes, condo's and multi-units. Very professional, great communication, and very prompt. Highly recommended.