Appraisal service
Appraisal Services in Los Angeles
Randy M. Sonns provides appraisal services for residential, estate and divorce purposes in the Los Angeles area, and each service page explains which appraisal fits which purpose. Pick the purpose that matches your situation, then request a quote from the matching service page.
At a glance
Which appraisal fits your purpose
An appraisal always has a purpose and a date. The same house can be valued for different reasons, and the report is written for the reason you give. That is why a sale, an estate and a divorce each have their own page.
| Your purpose | Who usually asks | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Buying, selling or deciding about a home | Owner, buyer or seller | residential appraisal |
| Settling an estate or trust | Executor, trustee or heir | estate appraisal |
| Dividing a home in a divorce | Spouse, attorney or mediator | divorce appraisal |
| Land, a mobile home or commercial property | Owner | other property appraisals |
At a glance
How the services differ
The differences come down to the date the value applies to, who relies on the report and what you provide.
| Residential | Estate | Divorce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date the value applies to | Current market date | A stated date, often the date of death | A date agreed with counsel or set by the court |
| Who relies on the report | Owner, buyer or seller | Executor, trustee, heirs | Both spouses and their attorneys |
| What you provide | Access and property details | Access and the records the estate holds | Access, agreement on the date and the recipients |
For an estate, the Internal Revenue Service says the tax basis of inherited property is generally its fair market value at the date of death, subject to exceptions and elections that a tax adviser can explain. For a divorce, California Family Code section 2552 has the court value assets as near as practicable to the time of trial, or at an earlier stated date on motion and notice. These are reasons to settle the date before you order, not legal advice, so ask your attorney or tax adviser how they apply to you.
Overview
What every appraisal has in common
Whatever the purpose, each report names the property, states the value and the date it applies to, and shows the evidence behind the number. Randy publishes the same five steps for every residential request: a consultation, a property inspection, a market analysis, a written valuation report and electronic delivery. Knowing the steps lets you plan access to the property and the documents you will want to hand over.
If you are not sure which purpose applies, read the appraisal FAQ or call (310) 429-3569. Describing what the value will be used for is usually enough to point to the right page.
Next step
Request an appraisal
Request an Appraisal and say which purpose applies. Randy confirms the scope and schedules the visit. Call (310) 429-3569 Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Closed on Sunday.