When a property owner passes away, the real estate they leave behind often needs to be valued as of the date of death — not what it might be worth today, but what it was worth on a specific day in the past. This matters for step-up in basis calculations, estate tax filings, and distributing assets fairly among heirs. Executors and estate attorneys frequently discover that standard market data services aren't built for this purpose, and that using a current value instead of a historical one can create problems with the IRS or with beneficiaries who feel the number doesn't reflect the right moment in time.
Estate and date-of-death appraisals require pulling comparable sales that closed around the effective date and analyzing market conditions as they existed then — not as they look today. Slater Appraisals, Inc. prepares these retrospective reports to standards that hold up under review by attorneys, CPAs, and taxing authorities. The report format is structured to answer the questions that probate filings and estate tax returns generate, so the executor and the attorney aren't fielding requests for additional documentation after submission. Robin works directly with estate counsel and executors throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County to coordinate timing and make sure the report arrives when it's needed.
Families navigating probate in West Palm Beach and the surrounding area often find the process more complicated than expected, and the last thing an executor needs is an appraisal report that raises more questions than it answers. A well-prepared estate appraisal delivers a clear, supported value as of the required date, with documentation that stands behind the conclusion. The result is a report an accountant can file with, an attorney can cite in court if needed, and heirs can review without disputing the methodology. Slater Appraisals, Inc. handles this work with the discretion the situation calls for and the rigor the legal context requires.
What's Included
Every estate & date-of-death appraisals visit includes
Retrospective value as of date of death
Historical comparable sales
Formatted for estate and probate filings
Works directly with attorneys and executors
Fee quoted per assignment
Service Area
Serving Palm Beach & Broward County
West Palm BeachBoca RatonDelray BeachBoynton BeachWellingtonJupiterFort LauderdalePompano BeachCoral SpringsHollywood
The Process
How a date-of-death appraisal works
1
Establish the effective date
The value is tied to the date of death (or an alternate valuation date your attorney or CPA specifies) — not the date of the inspection.
2
Inspect the property
Robin documents the home as it exists, then works backward: condition on the effective date is reconstructed from records, photographs, and family input where needed.
3
Research historical sales
Comparable sales are pulled from the market as it stood on the effective date. Today's prices are irrelevant to a retrospective value — the data has to match the date.
4
Deliver the report
The written appraisal states the retrospective value with full support, in a format attorneys, CPAs, and the IRS are accustomed to seeing.
Who Orders These
When an estate needs a date-of-death value
Executors, trustees, surviving spouses, and their attorneys order these reports to answer questions that come up in nearly every estate:
Establishing the stepped-up cost basis for inherited property
Supporting values reported on estate tax filings
Dividing property fairly among heirs, especially when one heir keeps the home
Probate filings where the court or personal representative needs a documented value
Resolving disagreements among beneficiaries with a neutral number
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this service
Yes. A retrospective appraisal can be prepared for an effective date well in the past. Sales records, MLS archives, and county data from that period still exist, and the analysis is built entirely from them.
That's common and workable. The appraisal reconstructs the property's condition as of the effective date using prior listing photos, permits, county records, and information from the family, and values it in that condition against that era's market.
Inherited property generally receives a new cost basis equal to its fair market value at the date of death. When the heirs later sell, capital gains are measured from that stepped-up value — so a well-documented appraisal can substantially affect the taxes on a future sale. Your CPA or attorney can advise on your specific situation.
The report is a complete, USPAP-compliant appraisal with a defined effective date and full market support — the standard documentation accountants and estate attorneys rely on for filings. Robin has prepared these reports for South Florida estates for decades.
Complete appraisal reports for single-family homes and residential properties throughout Palm Beach and Broward County, prepared with more than four decades of local market knowledge. Includes a full interior and exterior inspection, photographs, sketch, market analysis, and comparable sales research specific to the subject's neighborhood. Reports are written to be defensible for lenders, attorneys, or private use. Typical turnaround is a few business days after inspection, depending on complexity. Every report is prepared personally by Robin Slater.
Independent, unbiased valuations for equitable distribution. Clear, well-supported reports that stand up in negotiation and in court. Robin works with attorneys on both sides and with mediators, and can serve as a neutral joint appraiser when both parties agree. Reports include full supporting documentation and can be accompanied by testimony if the case requires it. Confidential handling, professional communication with counsel, and turnaround that respects court and mediation deadlines.
Know what your home is really worth before you list. An objective valuation that helps sellers price with confidence and avoid leaving money on the table, or chasing the market down with price cuts. Unlike a broker's opinion, a pre-listing appraisal is prepared by a disinterested third party with no commission at stake. Useful for owners considering a sale, negotiating with a buyer directly, or evaluating an offer that came in below expectations.
An independent appraisal to support a property tax appeal when your assessed value looks out of line with the market. Palm Beach and Broward County assessments can lag or overshoot actual values, especially in fast-moving neighborhoods. A defensible appraisal, prepared as of the assessment date, gives you the evidence needed to petition the Value Adjustment Board or negotiate directly with the property appraiser's office. Timing matters, so call early in the appeal window.
Current-value appraisals homeowners can use to petition their lender to remove private mortgage insurance once equity supports it. Many South Florida owners have gained enough value to drop PMI but don't realize the lender will accept an independent appraisal as evidence. The report is prepared to standard lender format so it can be submitted directly to your servicer. In most cases the appraisal fee is recovered within a couple of months of PMI savings.
Valuations for condos and townhomes across South Florida's condo-dense coastal markets, with attention to association factors that affect value. That means looking at HOA financials, reserves, special assessments, milestone inspection status, insurance, and rental rules, all of which move the number in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and points between. Comparables are drawn from within the building or complex where possible, and adjusted carefully for view, floor, and exposure.
