Date of Death Appraisal in Atlanta, GA (2026): Could the Wrong Appraisal Create an IRS or Estate Tax Problem?

What Executors, Heirs, Attorneys, and Property Owners Should Know Before Hiring a Real Estate Appraiser for a Date of Death Valuation

A Date of Death (DOD) appraisal can become an important part of settling an estate, establishing a property's historical fair market value, determining a potential stepped-up tax basis, or supporting information reported for federal estate tax purposes.

But not every appraisal—or every appraiser—is necessarily appropriate for every IRS-related assignment.

If you are searching for an IRS qualified appraiser near Atlanta, wondering whether you actually need a date of death appraisal, or trying to determine what the IRS expects from a real estate valuation, the important question is not simply:

“How much does a date of death appraisal cost?”

The better question is:

“Will the appraisal I receive be appropriate for its intended tax, estate, or legal use?”

That distinction matters.

Depending on the circumstances, an estate may need to establish the fair market value of real estate as of the property owner's date of death, even when that date occurred months—or years—before the appraisal was ordered. This is commonly referred to as a retrospective appraisal.

For property owners, executors, heirs, accountants, and attorneys throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area and Georgia, understanding the appraisal process before hiring an appraiser can help avoid an unsupported valuation, an inappropriate report format, or unnecessary complications when the valuation is later relied upon for tax or estate purposes.

Before Ordering a Date of Death Appraisal, Follow These Steps

Step 1 — Determine why the appraisal is needed.
Is the valuation being requested for estate administration, stepped-up basis, Form 706 reporting, gift tax planning, a charitable contribution, probate, or another tax-related purpose?

Step 2 — Identify the correct date of value.
A Date of Death appraisal generally requires the appraiser to develop an opinion of value retrospectively as of the applicable historical date—not today's market value.

Step 3 — Determine what appraisal qualifications are appropriate.
IRS requirements can differ depending on whether the valuation relates to an estate, gift, or charitable contribution. The appraiser's credentials, experience, independence, and appraisal methodology should be considered in relation to the intended use.

Step 4 — Confirm the appropriate appraisal report before ordering.
Do not assume that every appraisal report format is appropriate simply because it contains an opinion of value. The intended use and applicable reporting requirements should be established at the beginning of the assignment.

Step 5 — Ask the appraiser what information will be needed.
Property records, prior transfers, leases, improvements, historical property conditions, photographs, estate documents, and other information may become relevant when reconstructing market conditions as of a historical date.

Step 6 — Understand the appraisal before relying upon it.
A credible Date of Death appraisal should provide sufficient support for the value conclusion and clearly communicate the effective date, intended use, property characteristics, market evidence, and valuation methodology.

5 Questions to Ask Before Ordering a Date of Death Appraisal

1. Do I Need a Date of Death Appraisal?

You may need a Date of Death (DOD) appraisal when inherited real estate requires a supportable opinion of its fair market value as of the owner's date of death. The valuation may be needed for estate administration, determining the basis of inherited property, tax reporting, probate, or a future sale.

A Date of Death appraisal is retrospective—the appraiser develops an opinion of value based on the property and market conditions that existed as of the historical date of death, not today's market.

2. Who Does a Date of Death Appraisal—and What Should I Look For?

A Date of Death appraisal should be completed by a licensed or certified real estate appraiser with appropriate competency for the property type, market area, and retrospective valuation assignment.

When searching for a Date of Death appraiser near Atlanta, Georgia, consider the appraiser's credentials, local market knowledge, experience with retrospective valuations, independence, and ability to support the value conclusion with relevant historical market evidence.

3. What Is an IRS Qualified Appraiser?

The IRS uses the term “qualified appraiser” under specific tax provisions, particularly those involving qualified appraisals for charitable contributions. Requirements can address an appraiser's education, experience, competency, independence, and other criteria.

Because requirements can differ between estate, gift tax, and charitable contribution appraisals, tell the appraiser exactly why the valuation is needed before ordering the appraisal.

4. What Are the Form 706 and Qualified Appraisal Requirements?

For estates filing IRS Form 706, real estate must be appropriately identified and valued, and the IRS instructions require supporting information concerning how the reported value was determined. Copies of applicable appraisals may also need to accompany the filing.

Requirements can differ for estate tax, gift tax, and charitable contribution purposes. Your attorney, CPA, or tax professional should determine the applicable filing requirements, while the appraiser develops the real property valuation appropriate for the identified intended use.

5. How Much Does a Date of Death Appraisal Cost?

There is no universal Date of Death appraisal cost. Fees depend on the property type, complexity, historical effective date, availability of historical market evidence, intended use, and required scope of work.

When comparing appraisers, don't focus solely on the lowest fee. Consider whether the appraiser has the competency, market knowledge, and experience necessary to develop and support a credible retrospective opinion of value.

Need a Date of Death Appraisal in Metro Atlanta?

R.E.I. Valuations and Advisory provides independent Date of Death, estate, and retrospective real estate appraisal services throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area and surrounding Georgia markets.

Initial Consultation: We can discuss the property, historical valuation date, intended use, and information needed before the appraisal begins.

ACT EARLY: Historical valuations can require additional research to identify relevant market evidence from the applicable Date of Death.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY: Assignments are accepted based on property type, location, competency, and current appraisal scheduling.

Call R.E.I. Valuations and Advisory:404-692-3878
Email:REIValuations@gmail.com

Need to establish a property's historical value? Contact us today to discuss your Date of Death appraisal needs.

September 6th 2026 4:06pm